 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD April 23, 2024 @ 6:30 p.m. 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order | Roll Call | Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; 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; Brett McCreary, Environmental Engineer Technician; Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Others Present: Sarah Reeves, CSWD Executive Director; Alice Certa, CSWD, Jordan Hershman, Lisa and Mark Lagerquist, Peter Allair, and Anne Goldman
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. ACTION | Resolution Honoring Senator Dick Mazza
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve a resolution in honor of Dick Mazza and his 42 years of service to the Town of Colchester, Grand Isle and the State of Vermont.
Selectboard Charlie Papillo read the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Dick Mazza is a native son of Colchester, born on Malletts Bay Ave, and grew up assisting his father on the Shipman Hill vegetable farm; and
WHEREAS, when his father began a grocery business across from Malletts Bay in 1954, Dick decided, at age 17, to forego college to support his father in starting a new business venture, Mazza’s General Store; and
WHEREAS, Dick’s first introduction to the service of our State was driving with his father, our State Representative from 1961 to 1973, between Colchester and Montpelier; and
WHEREAS, from 1973 to 1976, Dick picked up his father’s mantle and was elected to serve in the House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, Dick returned to the Statehouse in 1985 as Senator Dick Mazza and continued to serve for 39 years in that capacity until his retirement on April 9, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Dick has provided first time employment to hundreds of Colchester youth who have learned firsthand the value of a good work ethic when serving others and have since been welcomed into the extended Mazza General Store family; and
WHEREAS, Dick can be sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face through his impeccable sense of fashion, which he has quietly been proud of, always adorning his outfits with memorable ties; and
WHEREAS, in countless deeds and uncounted ways, Dick has generously supported the Town of Colchester, local organizations, charities, and individuals, in broad unassuming donations of time, money, and goodwill, all of which were offered with humility, grace, and quiet dignity; and
WHEREAS, Dick has been a great friend to public safety throughout his career, regularly visiting the public safety departments and bringing food and goodies during his weekly visits and for holiday shifts, open houses and other events; and
WHEREAS, Dick’s contributions are especially notable, as at their bedrock is integrity, humanity and humor encompassed in a sincere, unwavering, and abiding commitment to the wellbeing of our community; that the breadth of his dedication stretches from the first early morning coffee sale to the wide-reaching policy decisions made on behalf of all Vermonters in the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Dick, has mentored, advised, and nurtured legions of people, and has been a champion and advocate, friend and statesman, leader and stalwart supporter of all people; and
WHEREAS, Dick embraced his community, his faith and his unwavering dedication to serving the public good through his selflessness and his ability to listen to people, helping him provide steady and thoughtful guidance with unending optimism; and
WHEREAS, throughout his life, Dick, quietly and humbly, contributed in too many ways to enumerate and has been an honorable and devoted servant to Colchester, Grand Isle and the State of Vermont; and now therefore;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in recognition of Dick Mazza’s selfless life of meritorious service, the Town of Colchester Selectboard members hereby express their sincere and heartfelt appreciation to Dick Mazza.
ADOPTED THIS 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2024 BY THE COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD.
The MOTION carried.
Selectboard Pam Loranger read a letter received from Governor Phil Scott addressed to and in honor of Dick Mazza.
3. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Board of Sewer Commissioners
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to temporarily adjourn the meeting of the Selectboard and convene a meeting of the Board of Sewer Commissioners.
The MOTION carried.
4. Citizens to be Heard*
There were no citizens to be heard.
5. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 4.9.2024 Selectboard Meeting
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo 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 April 9, 2024
The MOTION carried.
6. Special Business Items
a. ACTION: CSWD FY 25 Proposed Budget Presentation | Sarah Reeves, CSWD Executive Director
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve the Chittenden Solid Waste District budget for FY 2025 in the amount of $15,795,458 in revenue and $16,083,295 in expenses.
CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves presented information about the Chittenden Solid Waste District and what they offer, their revenues and expenses, the proposed FY25 budget, and facility updates.
The MOTION carried.
b. ACTION: Approval of Audit Terms and Objectives | Lara Alemy, Finance Director
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the scope of services outlined in a letter from Sullivan, Powers & Co. to perform an audit of the financial statements of the Town of Colchester as of and for the year ended June 30, 2024.
Finance Director Lara Alemy reviewed the multi-year proposal for the annual audit.
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION: Funds Transfer Request – Rescue Improvements | Aaron Frank, Town Manager & Scott Crady, Fire & Rescue Chief
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to authorize a transfer of $150,000 from the Rescue Enterprise Fund, to the Capital Equipment and Facilities Plan, a subset of the General Fund, for the purpose of improvements to the Colchester Rescue Building, including insulation, building envelope sealing, and siding, as outlined in an April 26, 2024 Memo from Aaron Frank and Scott Crady.
Town Manager Aaron Frank explained the benefit of completing the proposed improvements to the Rescue building and noted the available funding for these improvements from Rescue’s enterprise fund.
The MOTION carried.
d. Information: FY 24 March Financials | Lara Alemy, Finance Director
Finance Director Lara Alemy shared the March financials, including expenditures that are 4.4% under budget and revenues that are 1.4% over budget at 75% through the year; highlights from different departments for both expenditure and revenue streams; and the fund balance for the Local Option Tax through March.
7. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
a. Information: Malletts Bay Sewer Project Update | Bryan Osborne, Public Works Director
Public Works Director Bryan Osborne provided an update on the Malletts Bay Sewer Project, including the upcoming contracts that will be awarded, the project details for each contract, the planned construction for 2024 to 2025, and traffic control and communications efforts that will be implemented.
8. Informational Items
There were no comments on the informational items.
9. Announcements
In recognition of National Volunteer Week, Town Manager Aaron Frank thanked the Town’s selfless volunteers who work across the Town’s emergency services, at elections, on boards and commissions, and for youth and special events.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger reminded folks about Green Up Day on May 4th and to stop by the Police Station for bags and area assignments.
10. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #24-30 in the amount of $573,364.93.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall noted a question about line items one and five with the vender Handy Buick GMC Cadillac with the invoice amounts of $4,650 and $3,609 for extended warranties on new highway trucks, and clarified that the costs were for two highway trucks intended to be received in FY23, but due to delays and supply issues, they just arrived this month. She also clarified the question about line item 111 for Nolan Electric with the invoice amount $7,830, noting that it was to replace a light pole that was hit by a car and that the Town generally gets fully reimbursed, with the exception of a hit-and-run scenario, in which the Town would be reimbursed for all but the deductible.
The MOTION carried.
11. Executive Session
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo 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 Charlie Papillo 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.
12. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.