|
| COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD December 10, 2024 @ 6:30 P.M. 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
1. Call Meeting to Order | 6:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call | Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Charlie Papillo; Maureen P. Dakin
Staff Present: Norm Baldwin, Public Works Director; Cathyann LaRose, Planning & Zoning Director; Jeff Barton, Project Manager
Others Present: Doug Bishop, Scott Wood, Jeff Conley, and Paul Pecor
3. Citizens to be Heard*
Jeff Conley, who owns a property near the Recreation Center, expressed concerns about noise, light pollution, and privacy. He stated that the current chain link fencing is insufficient to address these issues and asked the Selectboard and Town to remedy these problems.
Scott Wood shared that he is following up on his last appearance at the November 12, 2024 Selectboard meeting, where he raised concerns about light pollution and the security cameras, which he feels impinge upon his privacy, and that the Recreation Center occupies more space than it was depicted to residents in the public information. Wood proposed that the Town install privacy fencing.
Town Manager Frank responded to the Selectboard that he visited Mr. Wood, that the cameras have been redirected so that they do not view Mr. Wood’s property, that the Town ordered screening to insert in the chain link fence to address privacy, and that a state inspector reviewed the extent of the development and did not find that it exceeded the plans.
4. ACTION | Consent Agenda
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 November 12, 2024;
b. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of November 26, 2024, and;
c. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of December 3, 2024.
The MOTION carried.
5. Public Hearing | 6:40 P.M.
a. Proposed Amendments to Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10: Sewer |Norm Baldwin, Public Works Director
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to open a public hearing for proposed amendments to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10 Sewers.
The MOTION carried.
6. ACTION | Special Business Items
a. Approve Proposed Amendments to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10: Sewer | Norm Baldwin, Public Works Director
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to approve amendments to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10 Sewers, after holding a public hearing on December 10, 2024, and as outlined in a memo dated November 8, 2024 from Norm Baldwin, Director of Public Works.
Public Works Director Norm Baldwin explained that the proposed amendments provide sewer capacity allocations to properties served by the Malletts Bay Sewer; establishes that property owners can request an increase of their allocation by up to ten percent; and lastly, that there is a limited ability for transfer of allocations within the service area.
Selectboard Vice-Chair Mulcahy inquired about how allocations would be determined if a parcel were subdivided, or a transfer were to occur. Baldwin explained that undeveloped subdivided parcels would be proportionally allocated from the original total allocation. Town Manager Frank noted that allocation changes would also be subject to land use regulations which may limit the ability to move allocation among properties.
The MOTION carried.
b. FY26 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 14, 2025 for public comments on the proposed FY 2026 Municipal Services Budget, as presented by Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager on December 10, 2024.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall explained the process and approach to developing this municipal services budget that maintains the current level of municipal services to the community and shared that the proposed FY26 Municipal Services Budget, of $16,936,693, reflects a 6.3% increase compared with last year.
Marshall described the additional resources needed to maintain the current level of service and provided examples of external cost drivers impacting the budget and how non-tax revenues are utilized to offset the increase.
She stated that the estimated municipal services tax rate for FY26 represents a 4.86% increase compared with last year, explained how the rate is determined, and shared, based on that estimated tax rate, that an owner of a property assessed at $300,000, would pay approximately $96 dollar more in municipal services taxes compared with FY25, or $1.84 more per week.
Marshall noted that 42% of the FY26 municipal services budget is dedicated to the public safety services – Fire, Rescue, Technical Rescue, Police and Public Safety Dispatch, and highlighted information regarding each of those important services.
Doug Bishop asked about Colchester Rescue and whether the Town is reimbursed when members are deployed nationally. Town Manager Frank noted that Technical Rescue and Rescue are distinct groups. When members of Technical Rescue are deployed nationally, they are deployed as members of the Vermont State teams. Therefore, the State is reimbursed by other states.
The MOTION carried.
c. Program for Public Information: FEMA Community Rating System | Cathyann LaRose, Director of Planning & Zoning
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adopt the Colchester Program for Public Information, as amended and approved by the Program for Public Information Committee on November 6, 2024, to comply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Community Rating System to help reduce the cost for eligible property owners to access federally funded flood insurance, with said Program to be effective immediately
Planning & Zoning Director Cathyann LaRose presented information about the Colchester Program for Public Information related to the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS), which gives about forty Colchester property owners discounts on flood insurance. In order to maintain these discounts, the Town must engage in education and outreach.
Selectboard Member Jacki Murphy inquired about how the Town can increase awareness of the discounts. LaRose explained that the Town only receives information about how much property owners are saving, not the names and addresses of participants and nonparticipants which limits the Town’s ability to engage those who would most benefit.
The MOTION carried.
Selectboard Chair Loranger commented on the recent issues with Vermont Construction and thanked Town staff for responding and taking appropriate action. She described Vermont Construction’s actions as appalling and directed the Town Manager to reach out to neighboring municipalities regarding Vermont Construction’s negligence and code violations that could result in an incident requiring mutual aid response.
d. Purchasing Policy Revision | Jeff Barton, Project Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve an updated version of the Town Purchasing Policy as outlined in a December 4, 2024 memorandum from Aaron Frank, Town Manager and Jeff Barton, Project Manager, to be effective January 1, 2025.
Project Manager Jeff Barton presented an updated Town Purchasing Policy, noting the policy’s history, and explained that it must be adopted by the Selectboard.
Barton explained the new policy balances the need for accountability with the value of staff time, and simplifies smaller purchases while adding detail and requirements for larger purchases.
Selectboard Member Maureen P. Dakin asked why there were two categories of large purchase. Barton explained there were additional requirements for purchases over $250,000. Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked if grant related purchases were centralized or decentralized and whether there was a list of who was authorized to make which kind of purchase. Town Manager Frank explained that grant purchases are generally decentralized with support and reporting, and that there is a list of purchasing authority that is updated annually.
The MOTION carried.
e. Ratification and Authorization of Colchester Police Officer’s Association Contract | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to ratify and authorize the Town Manager and Selectboard Chair to execute a contract with the Colchester Police Officer’s Association (CPOA) for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027, subject to: 1) approval of the Town Labor Attorney and 2)the prior ratification and signature by the CPOA.
The MOTION carried.
7. 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
a. Pictures of Progress
Town Manager Frank presented “Pictures of Progress,” a summary of activities, and recent highlights in the Town.
9. Informational Items
Selectboard Member Dakin inquired about the KPMG office closure, and how many employees had worked there. Town Manager Frank shared that according to KPMG, there were fewer than ten employees.
10. Announcements
Selectboard Chair Loranger notes that this is the last Selectboard meeting of the year.
11. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #25-16 in the amount of $810,903.82 and Warrant #25-17 in the amount of $435,693.52.
All Warrants have been reviewed by the Selectboard, Finance Department and the Town Clerk & Treasurer’s Office and are available for in-person inspection by request.
The MOTION carried.
12. Executive Session
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.
13. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jackie Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.