Meeting Minutes : Select Board

Town of Pittsford

Select Board Meeting

January 7, 2015  

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Thomas “Hank” Pelkey, Chairman.

 

Select Board members present:  Jane Cornell, David Trombley, Thomas Hooker,

  1. Joseph Gagnon and Thomas “Hank” Pelkey. Also present:  Erin Mansfield, Tom Browe and John Haverstock.

 

AGENDA ADOPTION

  1. Haverstock stated that there is a need for Executive Session for Personnel and Deliberative discussion regarding the Dog Hearing.

 

Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to add Executive Session to the agenda for Personnel, to include the Town Manager.  Motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.

 

Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to amend the agenda to include Town Hall Renaming and Kamuda’s liquor license request.  Motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.

 

MINUTES

The Select Board minutes from the December 17, 2014 Select Board meeting were signed, with no corrections.  The minutes from the December 17, 2014 Dog Hearing were signed, with no corrections.

 

ORDERS

The orders, in the amount $51,874.85 and $13,210.71 (Payroll) were approved, with the following discussion:

 

  1. Gagnon inquired about the expense for “Police OMYA Partition” in the amount of $1309.85. J. Haverstock explained that this was a purchase against a grant that was received from OMYA. This is a partition for the interior of one of the police cruisers.

 

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

  1. Haverstock reported on the following:
  • The Depot Hill Road re-planking project has been completed by the Highway Department Staff.  Vermont Protective Coatings has also completed their portion of the project.  There is grant funding for the latter item.  Once the bill is received, the request will be submitted to VTrans for reimbursement.
  • The police cruiser sale via govdeals.com has been completed.  The proceeds have been deposited into the Cruiser Replacement Fund.
  • There were 8 applications received for the recent Highway Staff opening with another 4 that were received prior to the advertisement.  Highway Foreman Shawn Erickson and the Town Manager have reviewed the applications and will be conducting interviews. Chairman Pelkey and Selectman Trombley will be assisting with the interviews.  The successful candidate will be named following the interview and reference checks.
  • Sullivan and Powers is completing the Auditors Report and are planning on attending the February 4, 2015 meeting for discussion and review of the report.
  • The Town Report is being compiled and will be going to the printer in the near future.
  • Jim Carvey and the Town Manager will be attending a Town Meeting “Tune-Up” seminar in Montpelier in February.
  • The Town Meeting Warning draft will occur once the budget figures are accepted.  The Town business will be conducted first this year.
  • The terms held by Selectmen Hooker and Trombley are up for re-election.  The Town Manager will be working with Chairman Pelkey, Selectman Gagnon and Water & Sewer Commission Chairman Pearson to finalize presentations for Town Meeting.
  • Jeff Biasuzzi, the new Zoning Administrator, has begun work in Pittsford.

 

  1. Cornell raised a concern that the recently sold police cruiser has not left Vermont. The Constable in Irasburg has been in contact with the Town Manager. The buyer stated that the vehicle would be used for law enforcement and/or fire activities.  The Town Manager will be researching this topic more and will provide more information as it becomes available.  One concern that was raised is that the blue lights were included with the cruiser as well as the decals.

 

  1. Trombley stated that the decking at the Depot Hill Bridge looks great. D. Trombley has also checked the work that Vermont Protective Coatings has completed. J. Haverstock will inquire as to why a rubberized coating was not installed between the two layers of decking, which had been recommended by the State engineers.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None presented at this time.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Update on Pittsford First Response Finances:

  1. Haverstock indicated that there was no need to make an advance on next year’s funding to cover insurance as the annual allocation was being paid. There is about $25,000 on account, which once was restricted for the purchase of a new ambulance. The information was included in the packets for review.

 

Adoption of General Fund and Highway Fund Budgets:

  1. Haverstock reported that there were no changes since the December 17, 2014 meeting. T. Pelkey indicated that the last version reflected an overall 2.5% increase, which is the first time in 6 years that there has been an increase in the amount to be raised by taxes. Motion by T. Pelkey and seconded by T. Hooker to accept the budget as presented.  The motion passed unanimously 5 – 0.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Endorsement of Hazard Mitigation Planning Efforts and Appointment of Committee Members:

  1. Haverstock reported that FEMA requires that each town have its own Hazard Mitigation Plan. In the past, the Town was included in the Rutland Region’s Plan. J. Haverstock explained the purpose of the Plan and information was included in the packets for review.  Proposed participants on the Committee are Odell Johnston, John Haverstock, Tom Hooker, Mike Warfle, Shawn Erickson, Trish Lewis and Helen McKinlay.  The resolution was read by Chairman Pelkey.  Motion by T. Hooker and seconded by J. Cornell to accept the resolution as presented.  The resolution was signed by the Select Board members.

 

FY 2014 – 2015 Budget Status Report:

  1. Haverstock reported that the General Fund expenses are at 58.6% of budget and the Highway Fund expenses are at 67.3% of budget.

 

Town Hall Renaming:

  1. Haverstock reported that the Lothrop School Board members have proposed renaming the Town Hall as The Daniel Burditt, Jr. Memorial Town Hall. There was a memo from Erik Pearsons proposing the name change, which was read aloud. The Select Board agrees to place this item on the Town Meeting Warning for general public discussion/vote.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

The Select Board recessed at 7:10 PM.

The Select Board reconvened at 7:12 PM.

 

The Select Board recessed at 7:15 PM.

The Select Board reconvened at 7:41 PM.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

  1. Pelkey made a motion and seconded by T. Hooker to go into Executive Session for personnel and deliberative session for dog hearing, where premature knowledge would be damaging to the Town, and may be jeopardized by public disclosure.

 

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 discussions at 7:41 PM.

 

The Select Board exited Executive Session at 7:47 PM, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:47 PM.

 

The next meeting will be held on January 21, 2015.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Kelly Giard, Recording Secretary

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Thomas “Hank” Pelkey, Chairman

 

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  1. 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