Town of Pittsford SELECT BOARD – March 1, 2023 – APPROVED
MEMBERS PRESENT: W. Joseph Gagnon, David Mills, Alicia Malay, Mark Winslow and Thomas Hooker. OTHERS PRESENT: Rula Moradi, Mary Lou Moradi, David Atherton – Town Manager, Kelly Giard – Recording Secretary.
The Select Board was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chair Malay.
Chair Malay stated that there was a need for Executive Session for Personnel. D. Mills stated that he also has a Personnel concern for Executive Session. Motion T. Hooker and seconded by J. Gagnon to enter into Executive Session for Personnel. Motion passed 5– 0.
Chair Malay stated that there was a need to amend the agenda to table the Outback Acres Solar Presentation and to add the vote on the Town budget. Motion by D. Mills and seconded by T. Hooker to accept the agenda as amended. Motion passed 5 – 0.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the February 15, 2023 were signed with no corrections.
ORDERS:
The orders in the amount of $31,093.04 and payroll in the amount of $13,680.46 were signed with the following discussion:
J. Gagnon inquired the expense of $821.37 for radio equipment. T. Hooker explained that this was for the truck that was transferred from Highway to Water & Sewer and to install a new set up in the new truck for the Highway Department.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT:
David Atherton reported on the following:
- Spoke with VTRANS representatives regarding the placement of the sewer line on bridge 108. More information will be forthcoming following Town Meeting. Mills inquired about an easement. Mr. Atherton will check into the easement status and report at a future meeting.
- Attended the Rutland Regional Transportation meeting recently. There was discussion regarding “pop-up” projects with traffic calming as a focus. Some options for traffic calming include painting markers or placement of barriers. Some locations were discussed, such as the corner by Kamuda’s Market or the Catholic Church.
- The Emergency Management Plan is being reviewed. A draft has been sent to the Emergency Management Director for review and input.
- Jeff at Casella Construction has been contacted regarding the tears in the covering at the Salt/Sand Shed. Discussion will continue until a solution is found.
- Rich Bowman reported that the junk issue on Long Trail is progressing. Dog Ordinance would be in effect. Reed stated that the effective date is February 20, 2023.
SELECT BOARD COMMENTS:
D. Mills stated that he attended the Rutland Regional Planning Commission meeting recently and one of the topics of discussion included the Highway and Transportation grants that are available for bridges, etc. There are also grants available for Municipal Building energy audits, which Chair Malay has already aware and has applied. Mr. Atherton stated that the Class 2 roads and structures grant applications are coming due soon and he will be working on those applications.
M. Winslow stated that he and T. Hooker will be meeting with the Union representatives on March 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM and recommended meeting at 9:30 AM with the Town Manager.
D. Mills also stated that he received another call regarding the barking dogs. The owner has been sited once and this citation was hand delivered. Mr. Mills advised the caller today to try to obtain any recordings or video of the situation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None presented at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
Town Road Postings Approval and Sign-Off:
Motion by D. Mills and seconded by T. Hooker to approve the list that was presented by the Highway Foreman. Motion passed 5 – 0 and the documentation was signed.
CAI Contract 2023 – 2025:
Motion by D. Mills and seconded by T. Hooker to sign the CAI Contract for 2023 – 2025 for the Listers’ Cards at the request of the Assessor. Motion passed 5 – 0.
NEW BUSINESS
Rula Moradi Presentation:
Rula Moradi, resident of Old Hubbardton Road, was present to discuss with the Select Board his concerns with the work that was done in the vicinity of his residence in the past. Mr. Moradi presented a PowerPoint presentation with video of vehicles driving past his residence. Mr. Moradi explained in his presentation that he purchased this property due to the fact that this portion was on a dead-end road and that his grandchildren could play safely in the area. Mr. Moradi explained that now that the road has been updated, his safety and privacy have been taken away, as well as his trees have suffered from run-off from the road. There has been gravel thrown from the road to the middle of the lawn. Mr. Moradi stated that he has had to move gardens due to the run-off and contamination.
D. Mills inquired what Mr. Moradi would like the Select Board to do for next steps. Mr. Moradi stated that he is concerned with the safety, the maple and apple trees can’t be replaced, and the scraping of the road has caused run-off. T. Hooker inquired the possibility of ditching to solve the run-off concern. D. Mills expressed that the road is too flat and there are grants available for stone lined ditches, which may help with the run-off as well. Mr. Moradi expressed concern of privacy as there are lights that shine into his windows day and night. D. Mills stated that he believes that the Select Board members will need to visit the area to see what the situation is and advise from that point. J. Gagnon stated that this was originally a class 4 road and he felt that there should have been meetings with the residents before the gates and construction of this portion of road were done. Mr. Moradi stated that the seller of the home indicated that this was a closed road at the time of purchase. M. Winslow inquired if the road had been “thrown up” by the Town. T. Hooker stated that this was not “thrown up” by the Town. Mr. Moradi stated that there were “road closed’ signs and it was the belief of the residents on that road that there was going to be “several thousand dollars of extra gravel from a project in the area and that Shawn Erickson felt that this would be a good place to use the material. Mr. Moradi stated that this has cost several thousand more dollars. J. Gagnon stated that Shawn Erickson recommended to the Select Board to use the road gravel to improve the Old Hubbardton Road and when the extra material was used, he decided to add more “to make it even better”.
The Select Board members agreed to visit the location before making any next steps.
Furnace Brook Bridge Lighting Options:
The Select Board received options in their packets for review. T. Hooker recommended using something that was simple (easy to replace parts) and efficient, therefore recommending CMPL Option 4. Chair Malay inquired the color of the rail, which D. Atherton stated would be black. D. Mills inquired the effect of the lighting on the downhill traffic from the south. T. Hooker stated that the lighting would be pointed downward. J. Gagnon inquired if there was any recommendation from the State, which T. Hooker stated that the recommendations were what was included in the packets. Motion by D. Mills and seconded by T. Hooker to approve the CMPL Option 4 with black railings. Motion passed 5 – 0.
Budget Approval:
Motion by T. Hooker and seconded by D. Mills to approve the budgets (General Fund expenditures for operating expenses of $1,880,430, of which the sum of $1,460,695 is to be raised by property taxes and $419,735 by non-tax revenues; and Highway Fund expenditures of $1,196,484 of which the sum of $1,046,734 to be raised by property tax and $149,750 by non-tax revenues). Motion passed 5 – 0.
The Select Board adjourned at 7:33 PM.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
T. Hooker made the motion and seconded by J. Gagnon to go into Executive Session for Personnel where premature knowledge could be damaging to the Town and may be jeopardized by public disclosure. Town Manager Atherton was invited to remain for Executive Session.
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 at 7:33 PM.
The Select Board exited Executive Session at 8:30 PM with no action taken.
The Select Board adjourned at 8:30 PM.
The next Select Board meeting will be held on March 15, 2023.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Giard
Recording Secretary
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Alicia Malay, Chair
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David Mills, Vice Chair
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Thomas Hooker, Selectman
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W. Joseph Gagnon, Selectman
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Mark Winslow, Selectman