 | MINUTES COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD February 8, 2022 @ 6:30 PM 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order
Selectboard Chair Loranger called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call:
Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Herb Downing, Charlie Papillo
Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Manager; Kelly McCagg, Library Director; Cathyann LaRose, Planning & Zoning Director; Bryan Osborne, Public Works Director; Chief Doug Allen, Colchester Police Department; and Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Others Present: Carol and Clinton Reichard, Jeff and Nicole Chicoine, Don and Denise Race, Phyllis Bryden, Rich Paquette
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Citizens to be Heard*
Carol Reichard read her and husband Clinton Reichard’s statement of support for the Sewer Project.
Phyllis Bryden shared her view on the Sewer Project, asking for clarification on the affected properties and by who it is being funded. Phyllis also queried about the progress of two Town projects: the intersection roundabout and if there is any consideration for adding a public pool.
3. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 1.11.2022 Selectboard Meeting
b. Minutes of 1.26.2022 Selectboard Meeting
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Herb Downing to adopt the Consent Agenda as it may have been modified by the Board and to take the actions indicated for each item:
a. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of January 11, 2022.
b. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of January 26, 2022.
The MOTION carried.
4. Special Business Items
a. Colchester Burnham Memorial Library Update – Kelly McCagg, Library Director
Kelly McCagg, Burnham Memorial Library Director, shared updates from the past year. Kelly introduced new staff members, the limited, but well-utilized programming available during COVID times, the successes of the resurrected and improved poetry walks, and positive social media interactions. Kelly also shared the Library’s resources and collections and the statistics of their use.
b. Housing Update – Cathyann LaRose, Planning & Zoning Director
Cathyann LaRose, Planning & Zoning Director updated the Selectboard on the status of affordable and accessible housing in Colchester. Cathyann shared findings from the Grand list, census data, and the history of affordable housing in Colchester to explain current housing affordability and accessibility in Colchester in comparison to other towns. Cathyann also presented permitted or expected housing projects and additional areas of Town support for these projects. Cathyann concluded that Colchester is one of the more affordable places to live among the core towns in Chittenden County.
c. Action | East Lakeshore Drive Speed Limit - Chief Doug Allen and DPW Director Bryan Osborne
Bryan Osborne, DPW Director, summarized the three East Lakeshore Drive Speed Limit options, and Chief Doug Allen shared his perspective on the enforceability of an adjusted speed limit on this roadway.
The members of the Selectboard discussed their reasoning behind their votes for or against the speed limit change. Herb Downing stated that he supports reducing the speed limit to make this safer for the residents that live there. Jacki Murphy agreed with Member Downing and further stated that traffic studies are vehicle-centric and don't directly factor in safety for pedestrian and other types of uses. Vice-Chair Mulcahy shared that he has travelled this road for 50 years and it hasn't gotten better and feels something needs to be done.
Chair Loranger cautioned that this sets an expectation that reducing the speed limit will change behavior and might give a false sense of security to the residents that live there. Chair Loranger and Member Papillo shared they don't feel decreasing the speed limit will make it safer but there are other measures that can be utilized to slow traffic through that area.
MOTION was made by Herb Downing and SECONDED by Jacki Murphy to approve reducing the speed limit on East Lakeshore Drive from 30 mph to 25 mph.
The MOTION carried.
d. Action | Annual Certificate of Highway Mileage - DPW Director Bryan Osborne
Director Osborne explained the Annual Certificate of Highway Mileage and shared the 0.084 mileage that was added this past year for Vincenza Way.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve and sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for the year ending February 10, 2022 per a memo from Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer, dated 2.1.2022.
The MOTION carried.
e. Action | Mercier Drive (Macrae) Solar Farm Permitting
Deputy Town Manager, Renae Marshall, discussed the town’s goal to source 100% of the electric energy consumed in the provision of municipal services from local, affordable and renewable sources. She stated that we currently produce approximately 66% of our electric energy consumed between our first two solar farms on Roosevelt Highway and Malletts Bay Ave. Renae continued by outlining the proposed project on the 2.75-acre town owned parcel off of Mercier Drive and near Macrae Rd, and its estimated construction costs. Aaron Frank, Town Manager, added additional information about the timeline and permitting process.
Vice-Chair Mulcahy asked how residents will find out about this project. Manager Frank explained that the project was on the public Selectboard agenda with a link to the details and that more specifically through the Act 248 process, Aegis will send out notification to all of the abutters. Vice-Chair Mulcahy felt that the residents should hear this information from the town. Manager Frank said he would send a letter to the abutters informing them of this project in advance of the Aegis letter.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Herb Downing to authorize the Town Manager to enter in to a contract for up to $32,000 with AEGIS Renewable Energy, Inc to permit a solar power generating facility off of Mercier Drive for the proposed 2.75-acre site on land owned by the town.
The MOTION carried.
5. Monthly Finance Report
a. Report for December 2021 – Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Finance Director Lara Alemy presented the financial report for December 2021.
6. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
7. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Colchester Liquor Control Commission
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Herb Downing to temporarily adjourn the meeting of the Selectboard and convene a meeting of the Liquor Control Commission.
The MOTION carried.
8. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Board of Sewer Commissioners
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Herb Downing to temporarily adjourn the meeting of the Selectboard and convene a meeting of the Board of Sewer Commissioners.
The MOTION carried.
9. Informational Items
10. Announcements
Aaron Frank, Town Manager, welcomed new hires across several departments from the months of November and December.
Chair Loranger announced Early/Absentee Voting for Town Meeting Day starts tomorrow, February 9, and several other members of the board provided the timeline and other details for Early/Absentee Voting.
11. ACTION | Warrants
Deputy Town Manager Marshall responded to a question from a board member regarding winter salt expenses and how the amount spent to date compares with the same time last year.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Herb Downing to approve Warrant #22-22 in the amount of $754,483.15 and Warrant #22-23 in the amount of $226,544.09.
The MOTION carried.
12. Executive Session
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED BY Tom Mulcahy to enter into executive session at 8:45.
The MOTION carried.
13. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and seconded by Jacki Murphy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:34 pm.