 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD February 13, 2024 @ 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, Public Works Director; Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer; Cathyann LaRose, Planning and Zoning Director; Zachary Maia, Development Manager; Pete Hull, Police Chief
Others Present: Chad Hewitt, Bruce Bourgeois, Luba Routsong, Rich Paquette, Rebecca Arnold
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Citizens to be Heard*
Bruce Bourgeois shared his concerns with how stormwater would be affected by the solar panels being built on the Town-owned land off of Laura Lane.
3. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 1.23.2024 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 January 23, 2024
The MOTION carried.
4. Special Business Items
a. ACTION: Presentation of the FY23 Audit | Chad Hewitt, Sullivan, Powers & Co., P.C.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to accept the 2023 Audit Report dated June 30, 2023, as presented by Chad Hewitt, Sullivan, Powers & Co.
Chad Hewitt outlined the 2023 audit and shared that Colchester had another successful audit, earning an unqualified opinion, or a “clean report.”
Selectboard Tom Mulcahy asked if the Town could be investing better, and Chad explained that it depends on how much risk a Town may want to take on in order to potentially make more money and also how much staff resources the Town has to dedicate towards investing.
The MOTION carried.
b. INFORMATION: Update on US 2 Changes and Meeting with the Vermont Agency of Transportation | Bryan Osborne, Public Works Director
Public Works Director Bryan Osborne shared positive updates regarding the safety improvements on US Route 2 after holding a meeting with VTrans last month. He added that the Town has been able to implement several short-term improvements under their jurisdiction, and that VTrans agreed to work on short-term improvements under their authority and to collaborate with the Town to move forward with a scoping study to potentially reconfigure the intersection.
Selectboard member Charlie Papillo asked if there was any timeline provided from VTrans for progress on their work, and Bryan noted that short-term improvements were noted to take a few years, a scoping study may take several years, and that those evaluated as medium- to long-term improvements would take much longer, but ensured that VTrans is open to working towards their implementation.
Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked if there was any discussion on a speed limit reduction, and Bryan shared that the speed had been reduced to 50 mph, and that another reduction would need to go before the State’s Traffic Committee, which is separate from VTrans. Tom shared that he would like the speed limit reduced further.
Selectboard member Maureen P. Dakin added that she is happy to see some short-term improvements already implemented.
Town Manager Aaron Frank highlighted that VTrans shared they are open to substantial changes at the intersection, like a roundabout.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger thanked Town staff and VTrans for their collaborative effort on this issue and during the meeting last month.
Luba Routsong thanked Town staff and Selectboard for their work on this issue.
c. INFORMATION: Update on Malletts Bay Sewer Project | Bryan Osborne, Public Works Director
Public Works Director Bryan Osborne noted the project’s key information, including the service area and construction timeline, and shared the project’s progress since the last update and next steps over the next few years including service laterals, planned construction, pump station information, and bid dates.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked how it would be addressed if bids were returned with higher amounts than what was anticipated. Bryan explained that while it is a bit premature to confirm, the original construction estimates for this project included inflationary adjustments and a significant contingency, so with those and the recently-acquired funding for this project, they are prepared to adjust accordingly, if needed, when bids are received. Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy also asked about the screening around the pump stations, and Bryan explained they will be a combination of fencing and natural vegetative coverings.
d. ACTION: Warn Public Hearing for proposed amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations, Supplement 46| Cathyann LaRose, Planning and Zoning Director
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to warn a public hearing on March 12, 2024 for the proposed amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations, known as Supplement 46, and as reviewed and considered the evening of February 13, 2024.
Planning and Zoning Director Cathyann LaRose summarized the proposed amendments, including organizational and clarifying edits to language and definitions in the regulations and other statutory changes that need to be applied this year.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the new structure exemption regarding patios, and Cathyann explained that, after evaluation of patio sizes with the Colchester Planning Commission, they decided to place the regulation exemption at less than 300 square feet for patios and walkways at grade constructed of stone or similar materials.
The MOTION carried.
e. ACTION: Approve 2024 Certificate of Highway Mileage| Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve and sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for the year ending February 10, 2024 as per the recommendation contained in a memo from the Town Engineer, Amanda Clayton, dated February 2, 2024.
Town Engineer Amanda Clayton noted that this is an annual process in order to document the Town’s highway mileage to VTrans to help with the allocation of funding.
The MOTION carried.
f. ACTION: Cancellation of February 27, 2024 Selectboard Meeting and Warrant Authorization
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to cancel the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 and to authorize Aaron Frank, Town Manager, to sign the end-of-month warrants.
The MOTION carried.
g. ACTION: Approve Permit Renewal for Salvage Yard for Rathe Salvage Inc.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to renew a term of five years for a Certificate of Approval for Rathe Salvage Inc., for an auto salvage yard owned by Armand Rathe and located at 183 Rathe Road, Colchester, VT.
The MOTION carried.
5. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that the Town Clerk was notified of and is opposed to bills in the legislature regarding tax abatement and tax sales, and that the legislature is considering mandating meeting types for Towns, and is requesting the Selectboard to consider these topics. Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger agreed that the Selectboard will work to consider, and draft letters on these topics.
6. Informational Items
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger asked about the Route 15 safety concerns, and Public Works Director Bryan Osborne explained that the Selectboard cannot make changes, as Route 15 is a State highway, but that they can petition VTrans to make changes and/or contact the State’s Traffic Committee to address any speed reductions. Bryan also described past traffic evaluations of this roadway corridor and its traffic and safety patterns and noted that based on the information he reviewed, he could not recommend changes to the Selectboard.
7. Announcements
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger shared that the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announced that Colchester’s Niquette Bay State Park and Alburgh’s Alburgh Dunes State Park achieved the Lake Wise Award in 2023, which recognize the parks’ lake-friendly management strategies and their work to preserve the water quality of Malletts Bay and Lake Champlain.
8. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #24-22 in the amount of $760,479.94 and Warrant #24-23 in the amount of
$1,513,520.93.
There were no questions on the warrants.
The MOTION carried.
9. 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.
10. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.