Brookfield Selectboard Meeting of April 13, 2015
Town Clerk’s Office on Ralph Road
Selectboard: John Benson (Chair), Jeff Kimmel, Cory Haggett
Public Attendees: Teresa Godfrey (Recorder), Ray Peck (Road Foreman)
1. Call to Order:
Mr. Benson called the meeting to order at 7:07 p. m.
2. Adjustments to Agenda:
Mr. Kimmel presented the final paperwork needed for the PACE program, the Inter Municipal Agreement, to be signed, which had been discussed at the November 10, 2014 and January 12, 2015 Selectboard meetings.
3. New Business:
The Board discussed the Tri-Town Alliance Inter Municipal Agreement. The Board will review the agreement and submit concerns, comments, or questions to Mr. Haggett to have discussed at the next Tri-Town meeting before the Board votes on it.
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to approve the March 23, 2015 minutes as amended. Vote 3-0-0
The Board discussed the personnel policy concerning the Family Leave Act. The Town policy incorporates the VLCT standard language, which refers to the Federal and Vermont laws. It appears that Brookfield has too few employees for state requirements to apply. The Federal version states an employee can take up to 12 weeks off with no pay or use sick time if he has any accrued. However, this does not take effect until the employee has worked for 1 year with the Town.
4. Highway Report:
Mr. Peck is looking into purchasing sand for next winter. Doug Haggett will sell sand and gravel at $10.50/yard. Mr. Peck will discuss options with Mr. Haggett concerning quantity purchases.
Mr. Peck is going to submit grant requests for reconstructing West Street, paving Northfield Road/I 89 underpass, and for paving the rest of Ridge Road.
The Board approved Mr. Peck’s request to have a recycling dumpster, serviced by Casella, located at the garage for $35 a month.
FEMA will refund the Town up to $34,464 for tree clean-up from the December snow storm.
Mr. Benson is going to go over the numbers for the Capital Plan for Roads.
5. New Business:
The Board received a letter from Thor Christensen, through Kevin Joyal, 1st Constable, concerning a neighbor’s dogs constant barking. Mr. Benson will draft a letter to the dog owner concerning the dog ordinance and the dogs not being registered with the Town Clerk.
Mrs. Godfrey discussed with the Board the Delinquent Tax Policy. Currently, payments are applied to accrued interest first with the balance applied proportionately to the principal and penalty. Mrs. Godfrey would like to apply payments proportionately for principal, penalty, and interest for any given year. According to the VLCT delinquent tax handbook, it is up to the collector to create a policy for delinquent tax collection. Mrs. Godfrey will update the policy for the Selectboard to go over with her.
The Board received a letter regarding an application for installing a Verizon Cell Tower on Ray and Lora Churchill’s property. This letter was for information only.
6. Accounts Payable:
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to pay the warrants in the amount of $5,659.06. This amount included a payment to Clark’s Trucking for $678.82, Gillespie Fuels for $625.84, Whites Heating for $642.64, and Rouse Tire for $757.50. Vote 3-0-0
7. Other Business:
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, the Board voted to approve the Public Assemblage Permit for the Durham Family Wedding Reception with an amendment stating “no parking” signs will be erected along the west side of Stone Road within the village. Vote 3-0-0
On motion by Mr. Haggett, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, the Board voted to approve the 2015 Liquor License Renewal Applications for Ariel’s Restaurant. Vote 3-0-0
The Board discussed the Floating Bridge Celebration plans including possibly closing a portion of the road in the Village area and parking.
8. Adjournment:
On motion by Mr. Kimmel, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to adjourn at 9:50 p.m. until the next meeting on April 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Godfrey, Recorder