 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD October 10, 2023 @ 6:15 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 | 6:15 p.m.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to enter Executive Session for the purpose of an interview for consideration of an appointment to the Colchester Development Review Board 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; Karen Adams, Technical Services Manager; Bryan Osborne, Public Works
Director
Others Present: Toni Fortini Josey, Normand Thibault
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Citizens to be Heard*
Toni Fortini Josey noted that next week is National Friends of Libraries Week and thanked the many Colchester residents who give their time and financial support to the Friends of the Burnham Library. She noted The Friends increase the library's capacity to provide programming and resources to the community through fundraising and volunteer support and thanked them for their dedication and enthusiasm.
4. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 9.26.2023 Selectboard Meeting
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 September 26, 2023.
The MOTION carried.
5. Special Business Items
a. ACTION: Warning a Public Hearing to Consider Amendments to Chapter 18: Stormwater| Karen Adams, Technical Services Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to warn
a public hearing for November 14, 2023 to consider proposed amendments to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18 Stormwater, as recommended in a memo from Karen Adams, Technical Services Manager for Public Works dated September 27, 2023.
Technical Services Manager Karen Adams explained recent legislation that exempts certain farm properties from municipal stormwater fees and the proposed change to eliminate non-roadway “soft” impervious as a billing category for the stormwater program.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the loss of revenue from the implementation of these legislative changes that affect the Town’s stormwater fees, and Technical Services Manager Karen Adams explained staff will look to recover any revenue losses when completing the next stormwater budget.
The MOTION carried.
b. ACTION: Appointment of Member to the Development Review Board
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to appoint Chris Gendron as an Alternate Member to the Development Review Board for a 1-year term that will expire on September 30, 2024.
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION: Cancel Meetings and Warrant Authorization
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to cancel the Selectboard meetings on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 and Tuesday, December 26, 2023, and to authorize Aaron Frank, Town Manager, to sign the end-of-month warrants.
The MOTION carried.
d. ACTION: Approve Goals for Town of Colchester | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to
approve Goals of the Town of Colchester for 2023-2024 and Priorities, as outlined in an October 10, 2023 memo and attachments from Town Manager Aaron Frank.
Town Manager Aaron Frank presented Town goals that had been set and have been since achieved by each Town department for the time span of 2022 to 2023, and noted several future Town goals and priorities for each department for the remaining year and through 2024.
Selectboard member Charlie Papillo asked about the new fire engine to be purchased, about where to find out which roads will be paved next year, and about cemetery maintenance. Town Manager Aaron Frank explained the old fire engine will be sold before the new one is purchased, that the roads to be paved are listed in the Capital Paving Plan that is within the Capital Budget Plan, and that along with landscaping maintenance, the cemeteries have other maintenance needs, such as fencing replacement, that are additional needs to be considered. Selectboard member Charlie Papillo also shared his concern with having not yet received the accident report from the State regarding the accident and safety on Route 2, and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained he would continue to push for the report, as the goal remains the same to have this topic as an agenda item with a recommendation from staff at the next Selectboard meeting.
Selectboard member Maureen P. Dakin asked about who would be finding funding sources for the endowment fund to support the Recreation Center, and Town Manager Aaron Frank clarified a group of citizens is interested in being a part of this project, but the group would also be advised by Town staff.
Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked if it is feasible to add a goal of addressing the cleanup of the Bay and lake moorings, and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that due to other priorities the Town will not have time to engage the topic in the next year, but that he can continue to provide updates as they come up.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger asked about the goal of finding an off-taker for the solar credits, and Town Manager Aaron Frank clarified that there is a legislative limit to how much electricity an entity can use from what they produce with their own solar equipment, so since the Town will be over this threshold in the next year, the Town will need to find an organization to purchase some of its solar power.
The MOTION carried.
6. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Liquor Control Commission
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo 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
a. Pictures of Progress
Town Manager Aaron Frank presented photos of Emergency Service activities and events, a new Village Park sign, a new First Special Services Force Historical Marker located in Fort Ethan Allen, staff retirements, the annual Town employee appreciation picnic, a cemetery monument cleaning event, the fall market at Severance Corners, and a few community art projects.
8. Informational Items
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger highlighted a note from a resident who thanked previous Police Chief Doug Allen and current Colchester Police for their patient, professional, and supportive response to a recent call the resident made.
9. Announcements
Town Manager Aaron Frank congratulated the Colchester Lions Club who are celebrating their 60th anniversary, Mike's Auto Parts who are celebrating their 35th anniversary, and Vermont Nut Free Chocolates who are celebrating their 25th anniversary, and thanked them all for proudly serving residents and continuing to base their businesses in Colchester. He added that New Duds, located on Hercules Drives, has an upcoming open house with food, screen printing opportunities, and a warehouse sale on October 14, the company’s first since the pandemic.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger acknowledged the Governor’s 180 appointments signed in on October 6th, with several from Colchester, including John Wilkinson to the School Construction Aid Task Force; Danielle and Janette Bombardier to the State Workforce Development Review Board; Karen Adams to the Technical Advisory Committee on Wastewater Systems and Potable Water; Jefferey Alex Spencer to the Vermont Fire Service Training Council; Amy Minor as Chair to the Vermont Standards Boards for Professional Educators; and Jack Pensa to the Selective Service Board.
10. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #24-10 in the amount of $1,206,947.00 and Warrant #24-11 in the amount of $245,684.21.
There were no questions on the warrants.
The MOTION carried.
11. Executive Session II
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo 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 Charlie Papillo 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.
12. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.