Town of Pittsford
Select Board Meeting
December 17, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Thomas “Hank” Pelkey, Chairman.
Select Board members present: Jane Cornell, David Trombley, Thomas Hooker, W. Joseph Gagnon, and Thomas “Hank” Pelkey. Also present: Linda Fox, Melanie Parker, Helen McKinlay, Jeff Biasuzzi, Bob Foley, Roberta Enright, Abby Mattera, John Haverstock and Kelly Giard, Recording Secretary.
AGENDA ADOPTION
- Haverstock stated that there is a need for Executive Session for Personnel and Deliberative Discussions regarding the scheduled Dog Hearing.
Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to add Executive Session, to include the Town Manager, to the agenda. Motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.
Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to amend the agenda to include discussion concerning the Boys and Girls Club, and to table the item regarding the LED street lights. Motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.
MINUTES
The Select Board minutes from the December 3, 2014 Select Board meeting and the December 3, 2014 Liquor Board meeting were signed, with no corrections.
ORDERS
The orders, in the amount $150,784.72 and $11,207.78 (Payroll) were approved, with the following discussion:
- Gagnon stated that the advertising of the Tax Sale was expensive ($1,003). J. Haverstock stated that this is a statutory requirement and the fees are charged and collected.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
- Haverstock reported on the following:
- There have been three properties redeemed from the 2013 tax sale. The remaining two properties are the property of the Town and there will be contacts made to the property abutters to begin the process of selling the property. In the event that the abutting property owners are not interested, other possibilities will be researched.
- There was one property involved in the 2014 tax sale, which was sold to a third party. The original property owner has one year to redeem the property and regain ownership.
- The Depot Hill bridge work is occurring this week as there was a snow storm that took the Highway Department staff away from the project. The bridge is currently closed to traffic and is posted as such with road signage.
- A representative from Aeromod was at the Wastewater Treatment Facility during the week of December 9 and worked with Shawn Hendee and Bob Berardo.
- Thank you to the Nickwackett Hose Company for including the Town Manager at its recent dinner and meeting.
- A high bidder has been identified with regard to the sale of the used Police cruiser. The high bidder has paid govdeals.com and the Town is waiting for the buyer to collect the vehicle.
- There will be a Staff Meeting on December 18, 2014 at 9:00 AM and all members of the Select Board are invited to attend.
- The Town Offices and Town related services will be closed on December 25 and January 1 in observance of Christmas and New Years Day, respectively.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None presented at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
Review of Efficiency Vermont’s Proposal to Retrofit Village Streetlights with LED’s:
This item was tabled.
Discussion of Boys and Girls Club Funding Request:
Roberta Enright was present to continue the discussion of the Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County request for a Special Appropriation.
Ms. Enright stated that, following discussions with the Boys and Girls Club representatives, they would like to request an allocation from the Town of Pittsford in the amount of $3,000 and will be prepared to make a presentation to the attendees at Town Meeting in March.
Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to add the request from the Boys and Girls Club in the amount of $3,000 to the Town Meeting Warning. Motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.
Review Loan Forgiveness Proposal from State Re: Proctor Water Study:
- Haverstock explained that this loan was for the planning loan related to the Proctor Water abandonment of customers. Fire District #1 received their planning loan forgiveness notice. The State has decided to provide $22,000 in loan forgiveness split evenly between the Proctor Water Study loan and the well drilling loan.
NEW BUSINESS
Remarks from Safe Routes to School Advocates:
Abby Mattera was present to discuss the Safe Routes to School program and recommendations. There was information included in the packets for review. Recently, the Highway Department staff painted crosswalks on the school property.
Ms. Mattera explained that this is a Federally-funded program and is monitored by the Vermont Agency of Transportation, which has also reviewed the proposal and has made their specific recommendations.
Recently, there was a National Walk to School Day, in which students, teachers, staff and parents participated. There are plans to have a February Walk to School Day and there will be Walk to School Wednesdays in the spring.
Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to accept the proposal as presented. Jeff Biasuzzi recommended that the towns of Wallingford and Castleton be contacted with regard to this program, as they recently have participated. Motion passed unanimously
5 – 0.
Ms. Parker and Ms. Mattera exited at 6:58 PM.
Presentation of Fourth Draft of Budgets for Fiscal Year 2015/2016:
- Haverstock read a memo to the Select Board members with regard to the fourth draft of the 2015/2016 budget. H. McKinlay has expressed concern with regard to the decrease in the computer contracts line item. This funding has been restored.
- Haverstock explained that the increase in the amount to be raised by taxes, compared with the 2013-2014 budget is 2.514%.
- Trombley stated that he received a phone call from John Eugair, Lister, with regard to the Listers’ budget and inquired why the budget was being reduced with no direct notification to the Listers’ Office. J. Haverstock explained that the areas that were cut were the supplies line (which is underused) and unused salary authority. Communication did occur with Donna Wilson and Bob Harnish from the Listers’ office and they appeared to be satisfied with the cuts.
Discussion of Funding and Recruitment for Pittsford First Response:
Bob Foley was present at the request of the Select Board to discuss the Pittsford First Response increase in allocation. The Operating Budget was presented to the Select Board members to review, as was their membership and officers list.
PFR has received a bill for insurance, nearly $6,000, which needs to be paid in order to continue operations. The Select Board members agreed that this will be advanced on their allocations as this is a necessary expense.
- Trombley inquired whether there has been any success in recruiting. Mr. Foley stated that he would like another request placed in the next Newsletter. J. Haverstock stated that there would be space available and also recommended a posting on the Town website. J. Cornell inquired how many recruits have been trained recently. Mr. Foley stated that there have been three which were recently voted on and are at the EMTI level of training. D. Trombley inquired how many members were available in total. Mr. Foley stated that there are six active members and two interim who are willing to respond to calls when they are in Town and available. T. Hooker recommended better communication and that the townspeople need to be aware that the First Response is not always available to respond as there is a shortage of members.
Introduction of New Zoning Officer:
Jeff Biasuzzi has recently been appointed as the new Zoning Officer, replacing Ken Niemczyk who will be leaving at the end of the year. Mr. Biasuzzi was introduced and gave a brief personal history. The new Zoning Officer hours will be Wednesday all day, and Friday mornings as necessary.
Discussion of Town Report and Privacy Concerns:
- Haverstock reported that some residents have expressed concerns with the publication of birth, marriage/civil union and death names in the Town Report. H. McKinlay explained that this topic was voted on at Town Meeting and residents approved such publication. However, the Vermont Clerks’ Association and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns have both been contacted and their answers are not the same. Following discussion, it was agreed that the topic will be discussed at Town Meeting and the topic will be placed on the Town Meeting Warning.
Consider Homestead Declaration Penalty Abatement Request:
- Haverstock reported that this has been discussed in the past and the Select Board approved a “blanket abatement”. However, there is still one outstanding request, relating to a prior penalty. H. McKinlay reported that this has been sent to the Board of Civil Authority, Montpelier and back and is still open. T. Pelkey stated that the original abatement decision by the Select Board was for everything prior to this year and includes this particular property.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Select Board recessed at 7:29 PM.
The Select Board reconvened at 7:47 PM.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
- Pelkey made a motion and seconded by T. Hooker to go into Executive Session for Personnel and Deliberative Session for the dog hearing.
In accordance with 1 VSA 312 (b), where premature general public knowledge would clearly place the Municipality or person involved at a substantial disadvantage, the Board unanimously agreed to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of Personnel and Deliberative Session for dog hearing at 7:47 PM.
The Select Board exited Executive Session at 8:21 PM, with no action taken.
The meeting adjourned at 8:21 PM.
The next meeting will be held on January 7, 2015.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Giard, Recording Secretary
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Thomas “Hank” Pelkey, Chairman
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- Joseph Gagnon, Vice Chairman
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Jane Cornell, Selectman
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Thomas Hooker, Selectman
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David Trombley, Selectman