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Town of Pittsford
Select Board Minutes 5/12/04
DRAFT
Thomas “Hank” Pelkey
opened the meeting at 6:30 P.M. The
Board members present were: Thomas “Hank” Pelkey, Larry Pomainville, Dave
Markowski, Allen Hitchcock and Joseph Gagnon.
Also present were Michael Balch, Roy Newton, Elizabeth and Matt Hart 247
Arch St., Robert Charbonneau 611 Arch St., Jill Maynard Nolan and Brian Nolan
608 Arch St., Peter Terwilliger 761 Arch St., Judi and Fred Reynolds 688 Arch
St. and Paula Bizon Recording Secretary.
MINUTES
The Board minutes of
4/28/04 were reviewed, discussed and approved.
ORDERS
The orders of 5/12/04 were
reviewed, discussed and approved. The Board asked if the order from Brad Russo
on the heating system repairs was a total bill or will there be additional
bills. M. Balch stated that it is a
current complete bill.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
M. Balch informed the Board
that he has spoken with AOT and they stated there is
no trouble with bridge #12 structurally. The
contract to do the engineering evaluation at the sewer treatment plant has been
signed. The information that the
contractors needed has been furnished and the work will be completed by June 30th.
Bonnie Stewart from the
McClure Library is requesting a page on the Town Web site for the library.
M. Balch stated that there would be very little cost associated with the
page. The Board discussed what and
who should be on the Town web page. The
Board was in consensus to allow the Library to have a page on the Town’s web
page.
M. Balch informed the Board
that he had researched the health insurance order from 4/28/04 and the
additional costs were due to the adjustment of two new employees.
M. Balch informed the Board that the 1989 Ford Truck is a Fire Department
vehicle with a special plate.
M. Balch presented the
Board with the updated wallet size Town contact information.
M. Balch informed the Board
that the security system for the Highway garage and sewer treatment plant has
been ordered.
M. Balch has drafted and
sent a letter to Fred Duplessis regarding the Town’s Compliance to GASB 34.
A copy of the letter was given to each Board member.
Roy Newton asked why there
isn’t any work being performed on Gorham Bridge at this time.
D. Markowski stated that the fisheries located near the bridge will not
allow the work, as it will disturb the spawning patterns of a particular fish.
The work will be started on June 15th.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No comments were made
tonight.
The Board recessed
from the Select Board meeting and went into Sewer Board at 7:32 P.M.
The Board reconvened as Select Board at 7:41 P.M.
OLD BUSINESS
Arch Street Traffic Flow
H. Pelkey stated that all
present should have received a letter that states the rights of the Town as it
pertains to this issue. The Board
requested any comments from the residents present on this matter.
P. Terwilliger addressed the Board.
He read a letter that he had prepared stating his opinion on the traffic
flow. (see attached) M.
Hart addressed the Board. He stated
he has spoken with the attorneys from VLCT and the Town.
He explained his position on the flow pattern. He feels there is an increased burden on this road.
He feels the guidance that was given to the Town is an interpretation of
the State statutes. He stated that with the Constables continuous presence and
enforcement it would help. He
volunteered his time to help formulate a solution. M. Balch stated that there are officers present at certain
times that are recording numbers of vehicles and speeds. Overall, the Town has every intention to continue to patrol
the area vigorously. There will be
officers there every day and the laws will be enforced.
M. Warfle stated that he has kept logs, written tickets and recovered one
stolen vehicle recently. The Board
asked the residents present if there has been a major increase in the amount of
traffic present on Arch St. The
residents stated that it has increased, especially during the morning.
A resident asked if the patrolling could occur during the morning
hours/school hours. M. Balch stated
that he would work an officer into the area during the times requested.
P. Terwilliger asked the Board if they had read the letter from the VLCT
attorney and if the Town was actually in violation of the statute.
The Board read the letter to the audience. P. Terwilliger felt that the interpretation of the letter
might be wrong. M. Balch
stated that there is a liability issue if there is an injury incurred from
improper signage. M. Balch offered
to replace the “no thru traffic signs” if requested by the residents.
The Board discussed the various different entrances that are possible off
of Arch St. There are trade offs
that need to be made to keep the traffic flow safe. The Board stated that the letter the residents received was
the latest correspondence the Town has received. The Board explained that the
Town Managers have spent a great deal of time researching and pursuing the
issue. P. Terwilliger asked how the
Town could change the traffic flow if the Town wanted to do it.
The Board stated that they would have to give the road back to the
landowner, which is not in the best interest of the Town.
The Board has tried through a good faith effort to find a solution, and
due to no fault of the Town, the State statutes will not allow the ordinance.
The Town will work within State statutes and within the authority of the
Town to keep the road safe. A resident asked if the speed limit could be
reduced. The Board stated the
options that the Town has authority to enforce.
The Board requested input from the Arch St. residents as to what they
would like the Town to do. The
options to solve the road issues were discussed.
Residents offered different solutions to the problem through lowering the
speed limit, stop signs, speed bumps, traffic lights, etc.
R. Newton asked if there was any possibility of giving the road in front
of the fire station to the fire station. The
Board stated that the Town does not have the right to give the road away, that
it has to revert back to the landowner. M.
Hart asked if anyone has looked into funding sources from the State to help fund
additional police patrols. M. Balch
stated that the Town does receive some additional funding at this time.
There is enough money in the budget to fund the patrolling needs of the
Town. M. Balch stated he felt that
at this point the best thing to do would be to keep the patrols going at various
times during the day and enforcing the laws.
The Board requested any additional comments from the residents.
At this time the Town will continue with the random patrols and solicit
any additional recommendation from the residents on what they would like to have
done. M. Balch stated that if any
residents have a location on their property that they are willing to allow the
officers to park their vehicles on patrol he would welcome the availability of
the area. A resident requested a
patrol between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. on occasion.
M. Balch stated that it could be arranged.
The Town will do some additional research on how to take over the road.
The Board requested that the residents come to a consensus and present their
recommendations to the Board. The
Board stated that they are willing to keep working on this issue with the help
of the residents. The Arch St.
residents departed at 7:32.
Jill Maynard offered her property to be used by a patrolling
officer.
Goals FY 2005
The Board tabled the
discussion on Town goals until the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Constable Report
The Board asked M. Warfle
if there is a better solution to the placement of the Depot Hill Road stop signs
located at Keith’s store to avoid potential accidents.
M. Balch recommended possibly putting a “stop ahead” sign.
The Board recommended getting a hold of AOT and researching what could be
done.
M. Warfle informed the
Board that he had a discussion with a landowner on Fire Hill Road about riding
his four-wheeler on the road and filling in an area near a brook with stones.
The resident stated that it is a privately owned road and the Town has no
say as to what happens on the road. M.
Warfle stated that he just wanted to inform the Board on this discussion.
The Board reviewed photos
of a road that may need to have a culvert rebuilt. The Board requested the Highway Foreman be present at the
next Board meeting. The Board
directed the dirt roads to be regraded.
Roy Newton departed at 7:36
P.M. Mike Warfle departed at 8:01
P.M.
Office Hours
The Board reviewed the
letter from M. Balch on his proposal of extended office hours one day a week.
M. Balch stated that having one evening available after normal business
hours is very beneficial to residents. The
hours on Fridays would then be shortened. The
Board discussed the pros and cons of the various departments working hours.
The Board discussed what night of the week would be best.
M. Balch stated his concerns considering Saturdays and alternate
weekends. The Board discussed the
employee contract and how this trial period would affect the contract. The Board recommended presenting the employees different
options on the potential hour changes and requests their input.
The Board was in consensus that extended hours were a good idea and the
trial period will allow for review and changes if necessary.
The Board recommended that the resident’s input be requested through
the Town Newsletter requesting recommendations on the program after the trial
period. D. Markowski moved and J. Gagnon seconded a motion to change the Town
office hours, effective May 27, th to Thursday from 8a.m.-6 P.M. and
Friday 8a.m.-3 P.M. on a trial basis subject to suitability.
Unanimously approved.
May 31st
Parade
D. Markowski moved and H.
Pelkey seconded a motion to approve the Memorial Day Parade activities from
12:30 to 1 P.M. on May 31st. US
RT 7 will be closed from the Historical Society to the Town Green. Unanimously
approved.
Bridge #12
M. Balch informed the Board
that the State has notified the Town that there is not an immediate problem with
Bridge #12. However, the Town
Highway Foreman feels there might be a problem. The Board noted that the State will be inspecting the bridge
within the next couple of months and will wait to see that report before taking
any action.
Without any further
business, the Board adjourned at 8:37 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted:
Thomas
“Hank” Pelkey, Chair
Larry
Pomainville, Vice-Chair
Dave
Markowski, Selectman
W.
Joseph Gagnon, Selectman
Allan Hitchcock, Selectman
Paula
Bizon, Recording Secretary
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