 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD December 12, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m. (Public portion beginning at 6:30 p.m.) 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order | Executive Session I | 6:00 p.m.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to enter Executive Session for the purpose of interviews for consideration of appointments to the Colchester Conservation Commission and Planning Commission as authorized under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313 (a) (3) of the Vermont Statutes, Executive Sessions.
The MOTION carried.
2. Roll Call | Pledge of Allegiance | 6:30 p.m.
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; Peter Hull, Interim Chief of Police; Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer; Lea Sanguinetti, Assistant Town Engineer; Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Others Present: Miranda Lescaze, Lauren Morlino
3. Public Hearings | 6:35 p.m.
a. VCDP Grant Closeout for Stuart Avenue Apartments | Miranda Lescaze, Champlain Housing Trust
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to open a public hearing regarding the $650,000 Vermont Community Development (VCDP) grant funding that was sub-granted to Champlain Housing Trust to support the construction of the Stuart Avenue Apartments, located at 111 Stuart Avenue, in the Sunderland Farms development at Severance Corners.
The MOTION carried.
Miranda Lescaze from the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) thanked the Town for applying to the Vermont Community Development Program for this funding, as it would be impossible to create the construction this new development without it. She also detailed the apartments, noting there are 36 total and they have been fully occupied since October. Selectboard member Maureen P. Dakin asked how many applicants there were for these apartments, and Miranda explained she did not know the exact number as applications are screened first-come, first-served, and noted there is a year and a half waiting list. Selectboard member Charlie Papillo asked if applications are screened or awarded first-come, first-served, and Miranda confirmed they are screened first-come, first-served and awarded based on income eligibility. Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked about CHT’s next project, and Miranda shared there is a reconstruction project, named the 10th Cavalry Apartments, progressing at Fort Ethan Allen that will produce 65 apartments. Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked if these apartments will be more than one-bedroom, and Miranda explained they will be two- to one-bedroom apartments.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger closed the public hearing.
b. Sleep Vermont Permit Fee Refund
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to hold a public hearing to consider a refund for permit fees submitted by Sleep Vermont. 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 via staff through the U.S. Mail.
The MOTION carried.
Town Manager Aaron Frank summarized the Planning and Zoning staff is recommending that the refund be completed as the permit was not acted upon.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger closed the public hearing.
4. Citizens to be Heard*
There were no citizens to be heard.
5. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 11.14.2023 Selectboard Meeting
b. Minutes of 11.28.2023 for Selectboard Budget Work Session
c. Minutes of 12.04.2023 for Selectboard Budget Work Session
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo 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 November 14, 2023;
b. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the Budget Work Session of November 28, 2023;
c. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the Budget Work Session of December 4, 2023.
The MOTION carried.
6. Special Business Items
a. Information: Colchester Police Department Update | Peter Hull, Interim Chief of Police
Interim Chief of Police Peter Hull presented an update on the department, including staffing levels and positions, trends in call volume, types of calls and activity levels, total number of incidents in the past year, and changes through the years that have helped better support the Colchester Police Department.
Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked how many calls are first picked up by CPD versus Community Outreach, and Interim Chief of Police Pete Hull explained that CPD is the first to respond to the majority of calls. Selectboard member Charlie Papillo also asked how the state could get involved, and Interim Chief of Police Pete Hull explained they are aware of the increased number of mental health calls and they have regular, state-wide meetings on the issue. Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked about CPD’s participation in Meals on Wheels and the Hello, How Are You? programs, and Interim Chief of Police Pete Hull shared they are both still active and that numbers of users have grown.
b. ACTION: Emerald Ash Borer Assessment and Plan | Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer and Lea Sanguinetti, Assistant Town Engineer
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve the Emerald Ash Borer Assessment and Plan and authorize staff to proceed with the Management Strategy as outlined in the plan and described in a memo from Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer, and Lea Sanguinetti, Assistant Town Engineer, dated December 1, 2023.
The MOTION carried.
Town Engineer Amanda Clayton and Assistant Town Engineer Lea Sanguinetti presented information about the history of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the community, the public safety risk from infestations that deteriorate ash trees and make them a hazard, the ash tree inventory in Town, the potential management options and strategies to address the public safety risk, and the implementation of these strategies.
Selectboard member Charlie Papillo asked if the requested $495,000 includes the cost for tree replacements, and Town Engineer Amanda Clayton and Assistant Town Engineer Lea Sanguinetti confirmed it does. He also asked if the state has any involvement with addressing this issue, and Town Engineer Amanda Clayton explained they provide grant opportunities and educational resources and outreach for the general public. Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the grant opportunities that will be pursued, and Town Engineer Amanda Clayton explained that there are a large number of grants at different funding levels and that they would first apply for ones to address the dead or deteriorated trees, and will then pursue those for replanting. Town Manager Aaron Frank added that this motion will authorize staff to proceed with the preventative plan, but any financial aspects will need to be authorized by the Selectboard over time.
c. Information: October 2023 Financial Report | Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Finance Director Lara Alemy reviewed the October 2023 financials, up-to-date investment information, and the current local option tax collection fund balance.
d. ACTION: FY25 Municipal Services Budget Presentation and Warning for Public Hearing | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to warn a public hearing on January 9, 2023 for public comments on the proposed FY 2025 Municipal Services Budget, as presented by Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager on December 12, 2023.
The MOTION carried.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall explained the process of developing the budget and shared that the proposed FY 25 municipal services budget of $15,937,217 maintains the current level of Town services and addresses: additional resource needs in the Colchester Police Department; expanding needs in public safety and other Town departments to address increased cybersecurity threats, departmental specific software and network connectivity; a sustained higher rate of employee turnover due to societal changes; and funding for a fourth full-time firefighter that was hired in June 2023 but not included in the FY 24 budget. She noted the tax impact of the municipal service budget, along with previously approved capital items, is a 4.63% increase to municipal service property taxes. The estimated FY 25 municipal services tax rate would result in an annual increase of $84 in municipal services taxes, compared with FY24, for the average homeowner of a property with an assessed value of $300,000.
e. ACTION: Selectboard Operating Guidelines 2023 |Aaron Frank, Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to authorize an update to the Selectboard Policy titled Selectboard Operating Guidelines as described in a November 29, 2023 Memo from Aaron Frank and Renae Marshall following two meetings to evaluate changes with the Selectboard Chair and Selectboard Clerk.
The MOTION carried.
Town Manager Aaron Frank summarized the proposed update, including changes to include the written Citizens to Be Heard option, several language changes for clarity, and other revisions to align Selectboard conduct and roles with other Town policies and procedures.
f. ACTION: Appointment of Member to Boards and Commissions
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to appoint:
· Lauren Morlino as a Member to the Colchester Conservation Commission for a 4-year term that will expire on September 30, 2027
· Vladimir Smirnov as a Member to the Colchester Planning Commission for a 2-year term that will expire on September 30, 2025
The MOTION carried.
g. Presentation: Renewable Energy Update | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
Town Manager Aaron Frank reviewed renewable energy projects completed through the years and highlighted recent and future efforts, including a third solar farm, energy efficient lighting, public EV chargers, and solar components to the Colchester Recreation Center.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the heating and cooling planned for the Recreation Center, and Town Manager Aaron Frank confirmed there will be electric and gas components to it initially, but these may change in the future, and as more information about geothermal heating and cooling is available.
7. 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.
8. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
There were no further recommendations.
9. Informational Items
Town Manager Aaron Frank highlighted that the Broadband Update in the informational items shares that the fiber provided by Fidium Fiber has cut the number of underserved households in Colchester by half.
10. Announcements
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy shared that ornaments made by Colchester High School students were displayed on Washington, D.C.’s Christmas tree at the National Christmas Tree Lighting, which displays ornaments from each state.
11. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #24-16 in the amount of $726,184.21 and Warrant #24-17 in the amount of $463,488.63.
There were no questions on the warrants.
The MOTION carried.
12. Deliberative Session
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to deliberative session under the authority of 1 V.S.A. § 312(e) for the purpose of considering a request for a Permit Refund 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.
13. Executive Session II
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin 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 Maureen P. Dakin 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.
14. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.