 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD May 28, 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; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Charlie Papillo; Maureen P. Dakin
Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager; Bob Vickery, Town Assessor
Pledge of Allegiance
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger shared a few words about and held a moment of silence for the passing of Senator Dick Mazza.
2. Citizens to be Heard*
There were no citizens to be heard.
3. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of 5.14.2024 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 May 14, 2024
The MOTION carried.
4. Special Business Items
a. INFORMATION: Next Steps for Town-Wide Reappraisal Process and Request for Proposals | Bob Vickery, Town Assessor
Town Assessor Bob Vickery explained the State has mandated a Town-wide reappraisal and outlined the plan, processes, and timeline leading up to its proposed completion in April 2026.
Selectboard Vice Chair Tom Mulcahy asked if the Town’s CLA could increase again, and Bob explained that, currently, he does not believe this would be likely, as the real estate values would need to decrease and there is no inventory to allow this to happen. Tom also asked how the reappraisal would affect the school tax, and Bob explained that while the reassessment adjusts the CLA, it does not increase the taxes residents would pay, and instead adjusts the property to the fair market value.
Selectboard member Maureen P. Dakin asked about rolling reappraisals, and Bob and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that this method of conducting reassessments is still desirable because it may save the Town money, but it is only possible, after the reappraisal, and if State laws continue to permit it.
Selectboard member Charlie Papillo asked for clarification about how the rolling reappraisals work, and Bob explained that it would collect data on certain percentages of the properties in Town each year, and the actual reassessment would only occur every five years. Charlie also asked how residents will be notified about the results of the reappraisals, and Bob noted that homeowners are currently able to, and will continue to be able to see the results and details on their reappraisals via the map on the Town website, and that links for this information and more will be included in the notices sent to homeowners.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the State’s test that determines if the assessment is acceptable, and Bob explained there are three factors that are checked, including that every parcel value has changed, that sale properties and non-sale properties increased at the same rate, and that the CLA and COD have been adjusted accordingly.
b. ACTION: Authorization for Colchester Recreation Center Borrowing Agreement | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to execute a promissory note for a line of credit up to $6,907,000 in tax exempt financing for the Colchester Recreation Center through execution of a Borrowing Resolution, Promissory Note Line of Credit and a Promissory Note Tax Certificate with M&T Bank as outlined in a May 22, 2024 memo from Aaron Frank, Jeff Barton and Kristen Shamis.
Town Manager Aaron Frank noted that the voters approved funding from the Local Option Tax (LOT) for $16.9 million for the Colchester Recreation Center, of which $9 million was cash from the LOT and is expected to be expended in June or July of this year. These three documents being shared with the board are a part of the loan agreement that will fund the remaining $6.907 million that was authorized by voters to be repaid by future LOT, so it will not increase taxes.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the interest rate for the loan, and Aaron confirmed that the interest rate will fluctuate monthly.
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION: Presentation of Draft FY25-FY30 Capital Budget Program and Warn Public Hearing | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the draft Town of Colchester FY25-FY30 Capital Budget Program, as presented, per a memo from Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager, dated May 22, 2024; and warn the Capital Budget Program for a public hearing on June 25, 2024; and submit the draft to the Planning Commission for their comment, per state statute.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall defined the capital budget program and reviewed the capital projects in the coming fiscal year and the capital plans to be completed in the following five years. She discussed the funding, major changes since last year’s proposed plans, and authorization amendments.
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked if a Town-wide study of how to connect the Town’s current bike and pedestrian paths could be added to the list of eligible projects, and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that Public Works has a process for prioritizing new bike/pedestrian paths and that staff could present on priorities for current and future projects.
The MOTION carried.
d. ACTION: Authorization to Negotiate and Enter Contract with Town Manager | Pam Loranger, Selectboard Chair
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to authorize the Selectboard Chair, Pam Loranger, to negotiate and enter a contract with Town Manager, Aaron Frank for his continued service as Town Manager, with input from the Selectboard and subject to legal review by a Town attorney.
The MOTION carried.
5. Public Hearing | Licenses and Petitions
a. License Application
Carters License for Casella Waste Systems
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to hold a public hearing regarding the following Carters License:
Casella Waste Systems Inc., 220 Avenue B, Williston, VT 05495
All information included in the packet related to such application 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 a permit or denial in writing to each applicant via staff through the US Mail and will share the outcome publicly by placing the permit or denial as an informational item in the next Selectboard packet.
Selectboard member Charlie Papillo recused himself.
The MOTION carried.
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger closed the public hearing.
6. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
There were no further recommendations.
7. Informational Items
Selectboard Clerk Jacki Murphy asked about the GMT letter, and Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that because GMT’s expenditures have been exceeding their revenues, their services may decrease and their fees may increase. Aaron added that the Town can ask for ridership numbers from GMT to help determine how this will impact Colchester.
8. Announcements
There were no announcements.
9. ACTION | Warrants
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #24-33 in the amount of $399,464.91.
There were no questions on the warrants.
The MOTION carried.
10. Deliberative Session | Licenses and Petitions
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to meet in deliberative session under the authority of 1 V.S.A. § 312(e) for the purpose of considering licenses and petitions which were specifically noted on the agenda and for which a hearing was held earlier in the meeting. The Selectboard will issue a permit or denial in writing to each applicant via staff through the US Mail and will share the outcome publicly by placing the permit or denial as an informational item in the next Selectboard packet.
The MOTION carried.
11. Executive Session
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.
12. Adjournment**
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.