Brookfield Selectboard Meeting of October 13, 2014 (edited)
Town Clerk’s Office on Ralph Road
Selectboard: John Benson (Chair), Cory Haggett, Jeff Kimmel
Public Attendees: Teresa Godfrey (Recorder), Ray Peck (Highway Foreman), Conrad Caldwell, Dave Jennings (Barre Town Ambulance)
1. Call to Order:
Mr. Benson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p. m.
2. Public Presentation:
Mr. Caldwell owns property near Allis State Park, VT RT 65 and Town Highway 20 (TH 20), which is a class 4 road. He would like the Selectboard to consider throwing TH 20 up since it doesn’t connect to anything and the power and telephone lines go through it. Mr. Benson said if the Town needed to reclaim it, they wouldn’t be able to very easily. Mr. Benson asked Mr. Peck to check into the location of the road and report back to the Board whether he felt it should be changed to a trail. If the Board feels it should be a trail, there is a legal process that has to be followed. Mr. Peck will report back at the next Selectboard meeting.
3. Old Business:
On motion by Mr. Haggett, seconded by Mr. Benson, the Board voted to approve the minutes of September 8, 2014 as written. Vote 2-0-1 Mr. Kimmel abstained due to not being able to attend the meeting on September 8, 2014.
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, the Board voted to approve the minutes of September 22, 2014 as written. Vote 3-0-0
Mr. Jennings, Barre Town Ambulance, wanted to see where the Selectboard was with dividing the Town’s E-911 service providers. The Board would like WRVA and Barre Town Ambulance services to meet and discuss where they feel the line should be according to response times. The actual cost will be based on the population coverage on each side of the line. Mr. Jennings said he would contact the new interim WRVA director and set up a meeting.
On motion by Mr. Kimmel, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to sign the purchase of a cemetery plot by Laurie E. Smith-Frailey and Andrew E. Smith as presented. Vote 3-0-0
4. Highway Report:
Mr. Peck has not heard from Lyn Wheatley or Keith Sprague on their expectations for completing the gravel pit reconstruction. Mr. Peck would like to finalize the project. The Board told Mr. Peck to let Mr. Wheatley and Mr. Sprague know that the Town will commit 40 more hours for completion. They need to let Mr. Peck know what they would like to see done in the 40 hours.
Mr. Peck reported the blue truck is ok for now. He has not seen the last 2 invoices from Reed Truck Service to see what they will do to reimburse the Town for the repeat repairs they have had to do.
The FEMA work is complete on West Street and the Highway crew will be working on Cemetery Street next.
Mr. Peck had Jim Infurna, a certified electrician, look at the lights for the garage. The Town will be eligible for a rebate if the lights are replaced with LED lights. Mr. Infurna will present the Board with an estimate for them to consider swapping the lights out or just repairing the current ones.
Mr. Peck is concerned with whom to call for help now that there are only 2 employees for the Highway crew. The Board gave him permission to contact the right contractor for his needs until they hire a new employee. The job applications are due to the Town Office on or before October 27th.
The Board received David Flint’s performance review from Mr. Peck.
Mr. Benson will speak to Mike McPhetres about submitting a letter of resignation from being Road Commissioner. Now that Mr. Haggett is on the Selectboard, part of his job will be staying in contact with Mr. Peck on how the Highway Department is doing.
5. Other Business:
Mr. Kimmel presented the Board with possible changes to the Dog Ordinance. The Board was in agreement with his recommendations and will adopt the new ordinance at the next meeting.
6. Accounts Payable:
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, the Board voted to pay the warrants in the amount of $35,551.32. This included payments to WRVA in the amount of $6,457.52, R. E. Tucker in the amount of $9,818.04, and to S. W. Wheatley & Sons in the amount of $3,697.50. This payment also included the donations to different organizations that were voted on at Town Meeting 2014.
7. Adjournment:
On motion by Mr. Kimmel, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to adjourn at 9:10 p. m. until the next meeting on October 27, 2014 at 7:00 p. m. Vote 3-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Godfrey, Recorder