| | MINUTES COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD Colchester Town Offices 781 Blakely Road, COLCHESTER, VT Outer Bay Conference Room, 3rd Floor __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order / Roll Call
Chair Nadine Scibek called the meeting to order 6:00 PM.
Selectboard: Chair Nadine Scibek, Tom Mulcahy, Herbert Downing, Jacki Murphy in attendance and Jeffrey D. Bartley arrived at 6:25 PM.
Staff: Dawn H. Francis, Town Manager; Aaron Frank, Deputy Town Manager; Sarah Hadd, Director Planning and Zoning
Others in Attendance: Robin Jeffers, Scott Ireland, and Peter O’Brien from S.D. Ireland; Brian Haas, Amy Demetrowitz, Champlain Housing Trust; Rick and Bonnie Bartlett; Jacobi Lafferty; Michaela Halnon
2. Possible Executive Session (6:00 p.m.)
a. Employee Contract
b. Possible Inter-municipal Service Contract
At 6:00 PM MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to find that premature general public knowledge of an employee contract and an Inter-municipal Service Contract would clearly place this Selectboard at a substantial disadvantage because the Selectboard risks disclosing its negotiation strategy if it discusses the contracts in public.
The MOTION carried 4-0
MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy that the Selectboard enter into executive session to discuss an employee contact and Inter-Municipal Service Contract under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313 (a)(1)(A) of the Vermont Statutes, Executive Sessions.
The MOTION carried 4-0.
Jeffrey Bartley joined the executive session by phone until 6:25 PM when he arrived at the meeting.
At 6:40 PM MOTION was MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to exit executive session.
The MOTION carried 4-0.
3. Reconvene meeting / Pledge of Allegiance (6:30 PM)
The meeting was reconvened at 6:41 PM.
4. Citizens to be Heard
None came forward.
5. Public Hearing
a. Winchester Place CDBG Project Update and Final Public Hearing – Champlain Housing Trust
Amy Demetrowitz presented an update on $4.3 million in improvements made at Winchester Place on Route 15, to 166 affordable priced apartments. Improvements included replacement of 30 year old windows and trim; addressing stormwater issues, paving and construction of a new playground. A VCDP Grant for $500,000 was received by the Town to assist with the improvements, plus $43,000 in loan proceeds held by the Town assisted in convert the street lights to LEDs to reduce energy consumption and costs. Ms. Demetrowitz complimented the Town’s staff for their efforts and recordkeeping.
MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Herbert Downing to close the public hearing after no public commented.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
6. Consent Agenda (Action is to approve all consent agenda items via a single motion)
a. Minutes of Selectboard Meeting of April 25, 2017
b. Adoption of 2017 All Hazards Mitigation Plan and Annex 5 to the 2017 Chittenden County Multi- Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan
c. Quit Claim Deed on Glebe Land
d. Certificate of Appreciation for Rick and Bonnie Bartlett
e. Certificate of Congratulations for Jacobi Lafferty
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Herbert Downing to adopt the consent agenda as it may have been modified by the Selectboard and to take the actions indicated for each item:
a. Approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of April 25, 23017
b. Adopt the 2017 Chittenden County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazards Mitigation Plan and Annex #5 and the 2017 Town of Colchester All-Hazards Mitigation Plan per a memo from Dawn Francis dated May 9, 2017
c. Approve the Quit Claim deed for 227 Colchester Pond Road per a memo and recommended action from Aaron Frank dated May 1, 2017
d. Certificate of Appreciation for Rick and Bonnie Bartlett
A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to the Bartletts for their contribution to the community of picking up trash every day when they walk in the Airport Park area.
e. Certificate of Recognition for Jacobi Lafferty -A Certificate of Recognition was presented to Jacobi for his accomplishment of making 49 out of 50 free throws in a national free throw competition. He demonstrated his prowess by making a free throw on a mini hoop provided.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
7. Special Business Items (7:00 PM)
a. S.D. Ireland – Severance Corners Growth Center Plans Update – S.D. Ireland Representatives Robin Jeffers, Scott Ireland, and Peter O’Brien gave a presentation on the Severance Corners Growth Center plans. The following suggestions/requests were made by the representatives:
· S.D. Ireland would like the support of the Town for a right turn-in to the complex from Route 7.
· Growth Center designation is important to be updated and maintained by the Town.
· A horseshoe/Town green design for egress only is desired.
· They would like connection of their recreation path to Blakely Road all the way to the Bay.
· Building Affordable housing with non-profit groups is an interest.
b. Planning and Zoning Quarterly Report – Sarah Hadd
Ms. Hadd, Director of Planning and Zoning gave a quarterly report on Planning and Zoning business and activities.
c. ACTION: Draft Selectboard Operating Guidelines – Dawn Francis
Herbert Downing said that he disagrees with the concept, purpose or function of guidelines. He feels that guidelines will not fix a bad board and that the Board is functioning well now. It was noted by other board members that they are guidelines only.
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to adopt the proposed Selectboard Operating Guidelines for Orderly Conduct of Business as presented at the May 9, 2017 meeting per a memo from Dawn H. Francis and as edited by the Selectboard at a previous work session.
The MOTION carried 4-1, with H. Downing opposed.
d. ACTION: Engagement of Sullivan, Powers & Co., P.C.
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to approve the scope of services outlined in a letter from Sullivan, Powers, and Co. to perform an audit of the financial statements of the Town of Colchester as of and for the year ended June 30, 2017, per a memo from Aaron Frank dated May 9, 2017
The MOTION carried 5-0.
8. Town Manager’s Monthly Report – D. Francis
a. Report for April 2017
Ms. Francis presented the Manager’s Report for the month of April, 2017.
9. Approval of Petitions & Licenses
a. ACTION: Carter’s License for Casella Waste Systems
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to approve a Carter’s License for Casella Waste (All Cycle) located at 220 Avenue B, Williston, VT, 05495.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
10. Old Business
a. ACTION: Library Community Meeting Rooms Policy - Tabled from meeting of April 25, 2017
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adopt the attached Library Community Meeting Rooms Rules for Use as proposed by the Burnham Library Trustees and Kelly McCagg, Library Director, per the attached policy and memo dated March 19, 2017 and revised per the suggestions of the Selectboard at the meeting of April 25, 2017 to allow political party meetings as long as they were open to the public.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
b. ACTION: Town Offices Meeting Rooms Policy - Tabled from meeting of April 25, 2017
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adopt the attached Town Office Conference Rooms Policy per the attached policy and memo from Dawn Francis, dated April 25, 20172017 and revised per the suggestions of the Selectboard at the meeting of April 25, 2017 to allow political party meetings as long as they were open to the public.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
c. ACTION: Resolution in Opposition to the Legalization of Marijuana –Tabled from meeting of April 25, 2017
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Herbert Downing to adopt the Resolution in Opposition of Legalization of Marijuana in Vermont.
The MOTION carried 3-2, with Herbert Downing and Jacki Murphy opposed. Mr. Downing believed marijuana should be highly regulated and taxed.
11. Additional Business – Manager’s Recommendations
a. Solar Update
Aaron Frank is researching the potential for solar generation at various town owned properties.
b. Burlington Airport
BTV airport officials wish to meet with town officials including a board member to ensure a communications plan is effective. Jacki Murphy offered to meet with Dawn Francis and a communications consultant regarding the subject.
c. Phasing-in of Regional Dispatch
The Town of Colchester is exploring a partnership with South Burlington on a joint dispatch service. This would be a pilot project for a regional dispatch but outside of the countywide regional dispatch effort. It may be six months before we sort through the details, but it would be a support of the countywide effort by showing it is a workable plan.
12. Informational Items
a. For the week ending May 5, 2017
· The Selectboard thanked Karen Purinton for her work on analytics for the stormwater utility.
· The Selectboard asked whether muzzling should be added to the Public Health Emergency Order regarding Marley, a vicious dog.
13. Future Agenda Items
May 23, 2017
· Board of Sewer Commissioners: Public hearing and proposed FY18 Stormwater Budget and Stormwater User Fees - B. Osborne
· CWSD Budget Presentation 6:30 PM - Sarah Reeves
· Update on Regional Public Safety Dispatch Implementation Initiative – A. Frank
June 9, 2017
Organizational Summit
June 13, 2017
· Proposed revisions to Animal Ordinance
· Review Proposed Tax Warrant / Tax Rate
14. Announcements
· Colchester Rescue is having their annual Open House on Wednesday, May 24, 6-8 PM.
15. Warrants
a. Warrants #17-31 and #17-32
MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Herbert Downing to approve Warrant #17-31 in the amount of $721,865.28 and #17-32 in the amount of $244,841.39.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
16. Adjournment
At 8:35 PM MOTION was made by Jeffrey Bartley and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Linda Gustainis, Recording Secretary.