STOWE SELECTBOARD MEETING Monday, June 26, 2006 Akeley Memorial Builiding 5 pm Present: Selectboard Members: Heidi Scheuermann, Richard Marron, Paco Aumand, Larry Lackey; Town Administrator John Drury; Public Works Dir. Cliff Johnson; Chief Ken Kaplan, Nancy Kaplan Absent: Steven Riley Others Present: Reporters Scott Monroe & Cindy Olson, Bodo Liewehr, Elizabeth Bushueff, Michael Wisnewski, Danielle Fitzko, Barbara Allaire, Jack Daggitt, Ed Frey, Joe Mooney, Robin Pierce, Marc Segal SITE WALK – Sylvan Park Road – At 4:30 the Board conducted a site walk to review three proposals submitted by Lamoille Housing Partnership for pedestrian access on Sylvan Park Road. APPROVE THE AGENDA Mr. Drury added two items to the agenda under New Business – department head evaluations and to determine a meeting date to set the new tax rate. Mr. Lackey noted that there no minutes of the previous meeting to review and asked that minutes be done so that the Board can review them at the next meeting in the future. On a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Lackey, the Board approved the agenda. APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A. 4TH of July Special Event Application B. VT Mozart Festival Special Event Application C. Stoweflake Balloon Festival Special Event Application Mr. Aumand made the motion to approve the Consent Items as presented, seconded by Mr. Lackey. Motion carried. APPROVE LIQUOR COMMISSION CONSENT ITEMS Mr. Marron recused himself. Mr. Aumand made the motion to approve the Liquor Consent Items as presented, seconded by Mr. Lackey. Motion carried. A. Stoweflake Balloon Festival B. 1st Class Restaurant License – Olives Bistro HIGHWAY A. Review/Approve Proposed Location of Sylvan Park Pedestrian Access: Mr. Aumand said he was surprised at the length of the proposed sidewalk and said the length did support two crossings with possibly less maintenance with the location of the walkway on the south side of the street. He asked that every option be investigated for cost effectiveness. LHP director Robin Pierce explained that discussions were still being had with abutting landowners as to the possible location of the walkway and asked that the Board allow those discussions to be concluded since it could alter the final location. Mr. Aumand made a motion to approve Pedestrian Path design #3, seconded by Mr. Marron. The approval was conditioned upon changes approved by the Development Review Board. Motion carried. B. Review/Approve Budget Amendment – fuel expense: Mr. Aumand made the motion to approve the Budget Amendment to cover a shortfall in fuel expense as presented, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion carried. C. Review/Award Winter Sand Contract: Mr. Lackey made the motion to award the contract to VE Manosh Trucking at a unit price of $9.25 per ton and will provide 9400 tons for a total cost of $86,950, seconded by Aumand. Motion carried. D. Review/Approve Capital Budget Amendment for Mtn Rd Sidewalk: Mr. Johnson explained that the existing sidewalk between Main St and the covered footbridge on Mtn Rd is in very poor condition. The budget amendment would allow $10,000 of unused funds to be transferred from the School St sidewalk account in order to construct a new sidewalk on Mtn Rd. Mr. Aumand made a motion to approve the Budget Amendment as presented, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion carried. SEWER & WATER COMMISSION A. Review/Approve FY 07 Sewer & Water Budgets: After a brief discussion, Mr. Aumand made a motion to approve the FY 07 Water & Sewer Budgets as presented, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion carried. LISTERS (Possible Executive Session) A. Meet with Town’s Attorney re: VT ETV Appeal: At 6:10 pm, the Board went into executive session on a motion by Mr. Lackey, seconded by Mr. Marron with Mr. Drury and the Town’s attorney Steve Stitzel. The Board came out of executive session at 6:37 pm. No action was taken. CONSERVATION A. Review/Approve Arbor Day Proclamation: Ms. Fitzko reviewed both the Tree City USA Program and Arbor Day Proclamation with the Board. She explained that there were several criteria for a Town to be eligible for the Tree City Program which included an Arbor Day Proclamation; the town must have a Tree Warden; there should be a tree policy or ordinance in place and the town must spend $2 per capita to be eligible. Ms. Fitzko said these items were already in place. Mr. Aumand made a motion to proclaim May 12, 2006 as Arbor Day in Stowe, seconded by Mr. Marron. B. Discuss Tree City USA Program: The Board agreed to have the Conservation Commission go forward and obtain further information to identify costs including on-going and in-kind, etc. Mr. Aumand thanked the Conservation Commission for taking the initiative in caring for the trees in town. POLICE A. Review/Approve Budget Amendment – equipment: Chief Kaplan explained that the sharing of Tasers was not working and requested the approval to purchase one Taser using DEA funds. Mr. Aumand made the motion to deny the request to purchase an additional Taser, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion to deny carried. Mr. Aumand added that if the Chief could provide better testimony as to the need of the Taser the request may be revisited. There was no further discussion. B. Discuss Police Personnel Issues (Possible Executive Session): At 6:50 pm, Mr. Aumand made a motion for the Board to go into executive session, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion carried. A few minutes later, the Board called for Ms. Kaplan to enter the session. Upon Ms. Kaplan’s departure, the Board called for Chief Kaplan to enter the session. The Board came out of executive session at 7:50 pm. No action was taken. The Board took a brief break. GENERAL GOVERNMENT A. Appoint Local Option Tax Advisory Council: Mr.Drury reviewed that the Board had signed the Council resolution in February and the Board had been provided with candidates for appointment to the Council. A last minute letter from a resident interested in serving on the Council was included for the Board’s consideration Mr. Lackey made the motion, seconded by Mr. Marron to appoint the following members to the Local Option Tax Advisory Council as follows: two residents Joe Mooney & Marc Segal; SAA Reps Valerie Rochon & Michael Diender; Town Admin. John Drury; Town Planner Tom Jackman, Planning Comm. rep Marie Duquette; Rec Comm. rep Philip Scott and Conservation Comm. Rep Bruce Harmon. Motion carried. B. Review Regional Pandemic Summit Information: This item was tabled. A. Continue Discussion re Town Manager: Since Mr. Riley was not in attendance at the meeting, the Board tabled their discussion. However, comments were taken from those in attendance. Both Mr. Mooney and Mr. Frey shared their thoughts on a town manager form of government. C. Review/Approve Sullivan, Powers & Co. Audit Scope of Services: Mr. Marron made a motion, seconded by Mr. Aumand to approve the contract for audit services with Sullivan, Powers & Co. and to include the Electric Dept in the contract with a condition that there is clarification that the Electric Dept provides the final analysis. Motion carried. D. Discuss Proposed Land Acquisition (Possible Executive Session): This item was tabled. FINANCE A. Review/Approve Tax Anticipation Notes & Investment Bids: Mr. Marron recused himself from the discussion and left the meeting room. Based on the fact that the Town is in a five year relationship with the Union Bank and the fact that it was only a few hundred dollars difference from another bid, Mr. Drury asked if the Board would consider borrowing and reinvesting with the Union Bank and award the bid to Union. Mr. Aumand said the information should have been provided along with the information the Board received from the Finance Director. Mr. Aumand made a motion to approve the Tax Anticipation Note and reinvest with Banknorth as presented, seconded by Mr. Lackey. Motion carried. PERSONNEL (Possible Executive Session) A. Review/Approve Town Administrator’s Annual Contract: Mr. Aumand made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lackey to approve the Fourth Amendment to the TAs contract reflecting a 4.4% COLA and 3.5% merit increase. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Meeting to Set Tax Rate FY07: The Board set a special meeting date of Friday, June 30, 2006 at 8 am to set the FY 07 Tax Rate and to discuss Velco information. There being no further business to conduct, Ms. Scheuermann adjourned the meeting at 8:52 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.
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