 | MINUTES COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD August 22, 2023 @ 6:30 p.m. 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order
Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Charlie Papillo; Maureen P. Dakin
Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager; Bryan Osborne, Director of Public Works
Others Present: Keon and Tsauna Menzies, Louis Beane, Harris and Cheryl Lousel, Jeremiah Ward, Denise and Marvin Stafferd, Libby Payne, Barb Staffoe, Larance and Wendal MaColds, Dane and Bridget McGrath, Debbie Rice, Steve Schoven, Ralph and Jeannie Perkins, Susan Lemines, Jeremy Wood, Gayle Pezzo, Sarah Jorgensen, Kathryn Gibbs, Wendy Simpers, Tom Murray, Luba Routsong, Toni Josey, Tammi and Charles Tandy, Tierney and Jordan McCallister, Christine Ryan, Holli-Jo and Paxton Brigante, Elisia Laramee, Mark and Kristen Cooper, Jackie Hutchinson, Debra Tamayo, Cathy Benware, Sarita Austin, Mike and Cindy Novick, Cara Cunningham, Phyllis Bryden
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Public Hearing | Route 2 & Clay Point Rd Safety
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to open a public hearing to consider safety improvements for the areas of U.S. Route 2 and Clay Point Road.
The MOTION carried.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger thanked everyone for attending; noted that several citizens have submitted their concerns via email; acknowledged the significance of the two deaths in the past year at this intersection; and explained that this public hearing will serve as a time for the Selectboard to hear residents’ concerns and suggestions about the safety of this intersection, after which the Selectboard will consider this and Town staff input in order to decide to make a request for changes at this intersection to the VT Agency of Transportation.
Keon Menzies shared his concerns of excessive speeds, especially at rush hour, that occur at the intersection and recommended installing a traffic light, lowering the speed limit to 40 or 45 miles per hour and leveling the hill around the intersection for better visibility. Jordan McCallister agreed that a stop light should be installed at the intersection, along with better signage for drivers, lowering the speed limit, and increasing police presence. Cara Cunningham shared similar suggestions of lowering the speed limit to improve the safety at this intersection, but also expressed her desire to install rumble strips and flashing signage in this area. Toni Josey noted she has altered the route she takes to and from her home because of the traffic and limited visibility at this intersection and asked that drastic changes be made by the state to improve its safety. Mark Cooper suggested exaggerated jug handles, protective guardrails, and a stoplight be added to this intersection. Luba Routsong thanked the Town staff and Selectboard for their efforts after the first crash at this intersection and asked the Selectboard notify residents if there are more people they should be reaching out to in order to ensure their concerns are being heard by the state. Elisia Laramee added that her concerns regarding the safety of this intersection are increasing as more housing is being developed in that area, which leads to more traffic, people, and school busses crossing that intersection, and requested increased police presence in that area.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger closed the public hearing.
3. Citizens to be Heard*
Gayle Pezzo presented the petition for an incorporated village of Westbury Park, also known as the Village Project, and provided it to Town Manager Aaron Frank.
Phyllis Bryden shared her concerns with road safety along East Lakeshore Drive, and suggested that installing rumble strips and increasing police presence in this area should be considered. She also asked about the entrance to the Colchester Recreation Center across from Laker Lane, and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained details can be found in the development plans available from the Development Review Board minutes online.
Sarita Austin shared she attended last week’s ceremony for the First Special Services Force and new historical marker, noted that is has been a four-year project, and thanked Town Manager Aaron Frank for his work on its completion.
4. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 7.25.2023 Selectboard Meeting
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin 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 July 25, 2023.
The MOTION carried.
5. Special Business Items
a. ACTION: Voting Delegate for VLCT Insurance (VERB and PACIF) and VLCT Board 2023 Annual meetings | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to select Aaron Frank, Town Manager as the voting delegate to represent the Town of Colchester Selectboard at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ 2023 Annual Business Meeting, the VLCT PACIF Annual Business Meeting, and the VLCT VERB Annual Business Meeting, per a memo dated August 14, 2023 from Aaron Frank, Town Manager and the informational letter from VLCT.
Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that the Town Manager and/or the Town Clerk attend these meetings, but that Selectboard ultimately makes the appointment.
The MOTION carried.
b. ACTION: Malletts Bay Sewer Project – Clean Water, Step II, Phase 2 Planning Loan Application | Bryan Osborne, Director of Public Works
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the filing of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, (CWSRF) Step II, Phase 2 Planning Loan Application for the Malletts Bay Sewer Project in the amount of $364,800 for final design work for service laterals on West Lakeshore Drive, main sewer lines and services laterals on East Lakeshore Drive and Goodsell Point, and authorize the Town Manager to execute the Engineering Services Agreement between the Town of Colchester and Aldrich+Elliott to provide these final design services as per a memo from the Director of Public Works, Bryan K. Osborne, dated August 22, 2023.
Director of Public Works Bryan Osborne explained this application is part of a series of loan applications relied upon for the advancement of the Malletts Bay Sewer project construction.
Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked where the funds are coming from, and Director of Public Works Bryan Osborne clarified they are federal funds.
Phyllis Bryden asked if the budget for this project has remained the same since first proposed, and Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger confirmed that is has.
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION: Public Hearing for Request for Refund of Fee Penalty | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to hold a public hearing regarding a request by Bryan Wilkinson for a refund of after-the-fact fee penalty. All information included in the packet related to this matter is considered part of the public hearing, and, whereby the Colchester Selectboard shall enter a deliberative session later in the meeting to consider the matter and then issue an approval or denial of the request in writing to Mr. Wilkinson via staff through the U.S. Mail.
The MOTION carried.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall explained a Bianchi Letter, requested by the homeowner and completed by the Planning and Zoning Department, revealed a missing permit for work completed in 2018 on this property on Meadow Drive that the owners are now selling. She noted that the owners have since acquired the building permit and have paid the after-the-fact fees, but are requesting a refund of the after-the-fact penalty because they assumed the contractor was responsible for obtaining the building permit. Deputy Manager Marshall stated that the contractor’s scope of work, provided by Mr. Wilkinson, does not reflect associated permitting costs.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger closed the public hearing.
6. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Liquor Control Commission
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to temporarily adjourn the meeting of the Selectboard and convene a meeting of the Liquor Control Commission.
The MOTION carried.
7. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
There were no further recommendations.
8. Informational Items
There were no questions on the informational items.
9. Announcements
Selectboard member Maureen P. Dakin shared her appreciation for those who have visited the schoolhouse as she has been volunteering there this summer. Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy shared how Boston Channel 5 highlighted Colchester and the Causeway. Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy added that she also has enjoyed volunteering on the Causeway for the boat ferry and appreciated the folks from all over who come to visit Colchester and its natural areas.
10. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #23-42 in the amount of $11,531.18 and Warrant #24-06 in the amount of $361,759.86.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall explained there was a question on Warrant #24-06 regarding two Goss Dodge charges for $43,601, and clarified that these are for two new police cruisers that were scheduled for replacement in FY24. She further explained that the Town is having to place vehicle/equipment orders well in advance due to continued supply chain issues and that the window to place orders is very short.
The MOTION carried.
11. Deliberative Session
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to meet in deliberative session under the authority of 1 V.S.A. § 312(e) for the purpose of considering a request for a Refund of Fee Penalty which was specifically noted on the agenda and for which a hearing was held earlier in the meeting. The Selectboard will issue approval or denial in writing to the applicant and via staff through the US Mail and will share the outcome publicly by placing the approval or denial as an informational item in the next Selectboard packet.
The MOTION carried.
12. Executive Session
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to find that premature general public knowledge of contracts, pending or probable civil litigation, and personnel issues would clearly place this Selectboard at a substantial disadvantage because the Selectboard risks disclosing its negotiation strategy if it discusses these topics in public.
The MOTION carried.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to enter executive session to discuss contracts, pending or probable civil litigation, and personnel issues under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313 (a)(1)(a)&(e) and (a)(3) of the Vermont Statutes, Executive Sessions.
The MOTION carried.
13. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.