COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD
OCTOBER 22, 2024 @ 6:30 PM
____________________
781 Blakely Rd
3rd Floor Conference Room
Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Charlie Papillo; Maureen P. Dakin
Staff Present: Town Manager Aaron Frank, Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall, Town Engineer Amanda Clayton, Town Assessor Bob Vickery, Planning & Zoning Director Cathyann LaRose
Others Present: Nick Warner, Scott Wood, Judith Massis-Sanchez, Maury Kost, Susan Gilfillan, Cole Hayes
Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger called for citizens to be heard.
Scott Wood shared concerns regarding lights that are left on during the night at the recreation center and how it impacts him.
Town Manager Frank stated that he would be happy to look into the matter and get back to him.
Next, Cole Hayes stated that he was before the Selectboard in September regarding a dog hearing and that he had not received a citation for a dog running at large yet. He stated that he is not expecting an immediate answer, but would like to receive the citation.
Town Manager Frank explained that the Selectboard’s decision regarding the potentially vicious dog and the citation and waiver in the ordinance are separate things. The decision issued by the Selectboard allowed a path to have the fine waived, if Mr. Hayes met certain requirements outlined in the order within a specific time period.
Maury Kost stated that neighboring communities have drafted and sent resolutions to Washington, D.C. requesting that the F-35 missions are relocated, and requested the Colchester Selectboard to consider doing this as well.
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 October 8, 2024.
The MOTION carried.
a. Information |Winooski Valley Park District Update | Nick Warner, WVPD Executive Director and Susan Gilfillan, Colchester Representative to WVPD
Nick Warner presented to the Selectboard a review of the Winooski Valley Parks District’s (“WVPD”) activities over the past year. Mr. Warner stated that they presently do not have their budget numbers prepared yet and will consequently only be reporting on operations this evening and not their budget.
Mr. Warner noted that the pandemic, flooding, and changes in parks use has brought changes as well as new challenges to their operations. Mr. Warner gave an overview of the land managed by WVPD, noting that Colchester has some of the most highly valued ecological areas in Vermont and that the majority of land managed by WVPD is in Colchester.
While reviewing the land in the care of the WVPD, he made note of the Wolcott Family Natural Area and the recent passing of Mr. Wolcott, thanking him for his involvement with the WVPD and hard work.
Mr. Warner explained that while flooding has presented challenges for their management of natural areas, the WVPD has adapted and grown from these challenges; their team has gotten better at managing floodplain lands and have developed their skills in management of floodplain areas.
Chair Loranger noted Mr. Warner’s many years of service with the WVPD and recalled his first day.
Clerk Jacki Murphy suggested that there be more prominent signage for the Wolcott Natural Area. Mr. Warner responded that this is something the WVPD team can look into. Clerk Murphy also suggested that they highlight the work and contributions of the late Mr. Wolcott.
b. ACTION | Surplus Property Bid Awards and Proposed Notices of Conveyance, Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to accept the bid received from Jason Andreasson and Hutton Dart of 722 Bean Road, in the amount of $61,144, for 0 Mercier Drive, Parcel #39-004002, and the bid received from Brian Vorse of 26 Parsons Road, in the amount of $150,000 for 0 Macrae Road, Parcel #37-051002, understanding that the Town is not warranting that any property is suitable for development, and that purchasers are fully responsible for obtaining all required state and local permits, and direct staff to send notifications to the winning bidders and post the Notice of Winning Bids at Town Hall and on the Town website. In addition, the Colchester Selectboard approves a Notice of Conveyance that indicates the location of the property to be conveyed, the purchaser, and amount of the bid. The Notice of Conveyance will be posted at the Town Offices, Dick Mazza’s Store, Colchester Post Office, and published in Seven Days Newspaper.
Deputy Town Manager Marshall gave an overview of the process to date for the sale of surplus property.
She shared at the July 23rd Selectboard meeting, the Selectboard adopted a resolution to offer these surplus properties for sale, after which a notice of conveyance was warned on July 31st, with bids due on October 1st.
Deputy Town Manager Marshall explained that if the Selectboard awards these bids this evening, there will be public notices of the winning bids and conveyance.
She outlined the next steps and explained the longer public process for the sale of municipal property, as opposed to private. Marshall stated that closing would take place no later than 60 days from the date the bids are awarded, which would be December 22, 2024, if approved this evening.
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION | First Reading and Warn Public Hearing on Amendments to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Traffic | Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve for First Reading the following amendments to be added to the Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Traffic: Spear lane
- A speed posting of 25 mph;
- No parking designation along the non-sidewalk (northerly) side of the street;
- Placement of a Stop Sign at the intersection of Spear Lane at Butternut Lane.
Butternut Lane:
- A speed posting of 25 mph
- No parking designation along the non-sidewalk (westerly) side of the street;
- Placement of a Stop Sign at the intersection of Butternut Lane at Blakely
And to warn a public hearing for December 10, 2024, per the attached memo from Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer, dated October 10, 2024.
Town Engineer Amanda Clayton presented to the Selectboard the reasons for the proposed amendment. Clayton explained that as the housing development, Blakely Meadows, on Blakely Road, approaches completion, the Town will take over the newly constructed roads in the development and adopt them as public roads.
Before the roads become public, the Town must amend the Colchester Code of Ordinances in order to give the Colchester Police the right to enforce. These amendments, if approved, will enable the Town to place stop signs and establish speed limits on the new roads. The Selectboard must authorize the amendments first.
The MOTION carried.
d. ACTION | Authorize the Selectboard Chair to Send a Letter Including a Financial Commitment to the Colchester Historical Society Regarding the 250th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to authorize the Selectboard Chair to send a letter including a financial commitment to the Colchester Historical Society regarding the 250th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence.
Town Manager Frank offered context; there is a statewide request for local groups to become involved in the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Frank stated that he consequently reached out and delegated the matter to the Colchester Historical Society, who recruited two members for the anniversary project. Frank met with the Historical Society, who requested funding to fund an author to talk about the beginnings of the State of Vermont as it relates to the Declaration of Independence.
Maureen P. Dakin asked whether the state-wide group that is organizing the 250th Anniversary celebrations will be notified of this. Frank stated he will keep the group apprised of what Colchester is doing.
The MOTION carried.
e. ACTION | Errors and Omissions | Bob Vickery, Town Assessor
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the errors and omissions to the Grand List, as recommended in a memo from Robert Vickery, Town Assessor, dated October 22, 2024.
Town Assessor Vickery presented to the Selectboard the items which required correcting on the Grand List, such as acreage adjustments, the addition or removal of trailers, and the recording of a mobile home that had not been previously recorded. Selectboard Vice Chair Mulcahy inquired about acreage, with respect to taxes. Assessor Vickery clarified that taxes are adjusted if there is a change in acreage for this year, but not for prior years.
The MOTION carried.
f. Information | Housing Update | Cathyann LaRose, Planning and Zoning Director
Planning & Zoning Director Cathyann LaRose presented an update on the state of housing in Colchester. The last update was two years ago and did not include data from the 2020 Census or the most recent updated Grand List data. LaRose reviewed the data from previous studies on affordability in the Chittenden County area, which give a picture of affordability both within Colchester and Colchester in comparison to neighboring towns. LaRose defined what is meant by the terms “affordable” and “very affordable” in these studies, as it relates to owner-occupied housing and rental housing.
Compared to other towns in Chittenden County, Colchester tends to fall in the middle of the pack in terms of owner-occupied housing affordability. Town Manager Frank elaborated on how the Common Level of Appraisal (“CLA”) is used to adjust the data to accurately compare different towns to each other.
According to data from the 2020 census, Colchester ranked third in rental housing affordability, when compared to other Chittenden County towns.
Town Manager Frank stated he had no additional recommendations.
Chair Loranger announced the Trunk or Treat Halloween event with the Burnham Library, taking place on Saturday, October 26th. Chair Loranger also announced that tomorrow, Wednesday October 24th, the State will be running a test alert through the VT-Alert system.
Town Manager Frank announced that the Colchester Rescue Banquet took place, in recognition of the members of Colchester Rescue and Colchester Technical Rescue. Frank commended the inspirational work of volunteer and staff responders. Clerk Murphy shared that this year, there were two occasions on which responders delivered babies, which has not happened in 16 years. Chair Loranger commended the hard work and dedication of Colchester Rescue and Technical Rescue.
Chair Loranger noted that this week is National Friends of Libraries Week.
Chair Loranger congratulated Cathyann LaRose, Director of Planning & Zoning, on the Growth Center designation and the progress made. She expressed displeasure at the Sunderland Woods Project, particularly the unsightly soil piles and accumulation of construction materials and construction vehicles by the developer.
In contrast, Maureen P. Dakin noted the nice appearance of solar farm located on Route 15. Town Manager Frank thanked the Selectboard for their input on fencing and landscaping for the solar site.
MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #25-12 in the amount of $1,638,897.78. 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.
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.
MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to exit executive session.
The MOTION carried.
MOTION was made by Tom Mulcahy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15.