Stowe Selectboard Meeting Monday, September 11, 2006 Stowe Free Library Meeting Room 5 pm Present: Selectboard Members Heidi Scheuermann; Richard Marron; Paco Aumand (arrived at 5:07 pm); Larry Lackey; PW Director Clifford Johnson Absent: Selectboard Member Steven Riley; Town Administrator John Drury Others Present: Police Chief Ken Kaplan; Fire Chief Wendall Mansfield; Nancy Kaplan, Joanne Bradley, Roy Ward, Gary Ikeman, John Schnee, Lyn Francis, Lawrence Rhodes, Scott Monroe (Stowe Reporter), Neil Van Dyke, John DelNegro, Kimberly Seredick, Douglas Grant, Ken Biedermann, Pam Flory, Anton Flory, Robert Britton, Hal Morrow, William Reichelt, Jolanta Leginonta, John Marutchan, Grady Vigneau, Bud McKeon, Nancy , Carolyn & Bill Cook, Charles Lusk (departed at 6 pm or so) CALL TO ORDER A. Sign Selectboard Orders – Ms. Scheuermann called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm and Selectboard Orders were signed. APPROVE THE AGENDA Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Lackey. Motion carried. CONSENT ITEMS A. Water & Sewer Connection Applications – 138 Brookdale Lane - Scheuer; 4080 Mtn Rd - DeVito B. Oktoberfest Special Event Application C. Award FY 07 Winter Salt – American Rock Salt Co. – $44.15 per ton, $77262.50 Total D. Reappoint LCPC Director – Scott Noble E. Minutes Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the Consent Items as presented, seconded by Mr. Lackey. Motion carried. POLICE A. Review/Approve Budget Amendment Request – Vehicle Purchase: Chief Kaplan explained that he felt it was necessary to trade his existing 2003 Jeep for a used 2006 GMC since his vehicle was becoming increasingly unreliable. He said his cruiser had been out of service several times over the last two months. Funding would come from the Police budget grant revenues for equipment and a lower than expected bid for a new patrol vehicle. After brief discussion, Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the request to purchase a used 2006 GMC Yukon for $11,985 after trade in of $13,500. Mr. Lackey seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Aumand arrived. GENERAL GOVERNMENT A. Discuss Public Services Facility Committee Findings: Roy Ward of EH Danson reviewed the process taken and explained the results of their study. He explained that the study was to determine the most feasible way to expand the present fire station to provide adequate space to house the fire department, rescue squad and mountain rescue. In addition the study was to investigate an expansion of the police station and also to investigate combining all public safety services in a single building. Mr. Ward said that during the research of the project it became the consensus of the group that it would make little sense to add new to old due to fire station roof issues as well as roof issues at the police station and erosion of the foundation wall. He reviewed the combined facility site and floor plans noting that there would be adequate space for future growth with a design for 30 years. Ms. Scheuermann asked if there was any way to look at trimming the costs. Mr. Ward reviewed some ideas but said he did not see any way to significantly lower the cost of the project. Mr. Marron added that the project was expensive but added that the Board had a responsibility to the public safety groups and a responsibility to give the voters an opportunity to vote yes or no at the general election in November. He briefly reviewed the proposals offered over the last few years. Mr. Marron made the following motion. B. Review/Approve Proposed Bond Article(s) Language: Mr. Marron made a motion to warn article 2 as presented – “Shall general obligation bonds of the Town of Stowe in an amount not to exceed six million two hundred thousand dollars ($6,200,000) be issued for the purpose of engineering, designing and constructing a new combined Public Safety Facility?” Mr. Aumand seconded. Motion carried. Mr. Van Dyke asked if the Board would actively support the project. Ms. Scheuermann said there would be further discussion by the Board regarding the project and that the project was needed. When asked how it would impact the tax rate, Ms. Scheuermann said the calculation would be provided at a future meeting. There was no further discussion. SEWER & WATER COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING – The residents of the Town of Stowe and all interested persons are hereby notified that the Stowe Water Commission and the Stowe Sewer Commission will conduct a joint public hearing to consider the adoption of revised Water and Sewer Fee Schedules. Ms. Scheuermann opened the public hearing for comments. Ms. Scheuermann stated that after staff’s discussion with the Town’s attorney the Board was advised that the amendment for mandatory hookups could not be part of the revised fee schedule. She said that the present Sewer Ordinance would have to be revised through the normal public hearing process to include mandatory hook up. Mr. Marron asked those in attendance if they were there to discuss the fee schedule or mandatory hook up and the concensus was to discuss mandatory hook up. Ms. Scheuermann opened up the discussion to those in attendance. There were many residents in attendance who were upset and voiced their concerns over many issues. These issues included mandatory hook up when a system has not failed; increase in property value increase in property taxes; all taxpayers should pay not just those in the district; why 100 feet within sewer line and why is it the property line why not the structure; second home owners usage vs full time residents or commercial use and the calculations regarding sewer capacity and flow; and concern over possible Act 250 involvement as it relates to soil erosion, stormwater run off when private residents are mandated to hook on. There were others who expressed displeasure that those in the sewer district were supporting the development of the larger resorts in town. When asked why a new development on the Mountain Rd. would not be able to hook up when they wanted to and were forced to build a private system, Mr. Marron explained that as a result of the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding with the Conservation Law Foundation and RIPPLE (and subsequent amendment to the Town’s Act 250 permit )the Town is required to reserve capacity for existing structures within the sewer district and limit additional capacity to existing structures in the Upper Mountain Road district and not for new development. The Board was asked to pursue changing the agreement with CLF and RIPPLE. The Board was asked if they would consider charging a fee for holding reserve instead of mandating hookup. A few commercial property owners indicated that due to the considerable expense to hook up to the system combined with subsequent loan payments mandatory hookup to the system would put them out of business. The Board was asked to consider transferable sewer rights. Both Mr. Marron and Ms. Scheuermann explained that the Committee members found it extremely difficult to come to the conclusion they came to. Ms. Scheuermann said it was a very long and painful process to find a way to have the systems become financially sustainable. Mr. Van Dyke suggested to the Board that the Committee meet again to revisit the fee structure and discuss the concerns brought up at the meeting. Ms. Scheuermann and Mr. Marron agreed. After further discussion, Mr. Marron made a motion to approve Exhibit A Water Rate Fee Schedule with the deletion of the sentence “All exsiting structures, on parcels of land within 100 fee of an exsiting municipal water line, must be connected to the municipal water system not later than June 30, 2011.”. Motion seconded by Ms. Scheuermann. Mr. Marron further motioned to approve Exhibit B Sewer Rate Fee Schedule with the deletion of the sentence “All exsiting structures, on parcels of land within 100 fee of an exsiting municipal water line, must be connected to the municipal water system not later than June 30, 2011.”. Motion seconded by Ms. Scheuermann. The motion carried with Mr. Aumand, Ms. Schuermann and Mr. Marron voting in favor. Mr. Lackey abstained. GENERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC HEARING - In accordance with the provisions of 17 V.S.A. '2645 (a) (6), the residents of the Town of Stowe are hereby warned that a public hearing will be held to consider the Stowe Town Charter amendments relating to changing to a town manager form of government as proposed by the Selectboard. Ms. Scheuermann opened the public hearing for comment. Mr. Aumand requested to delete the second sentence of section 153-703a page 9. He said it was not intended to have language specifying the powers and duties of the Manager will be set out as in chapter 37 Title 24 of VT Statutes. He said the powers and duties should be outlined as referenced by the Town Charter. The Board agreed with Mr. Aumand to delete the sentence. Mr. Mooney spoke in favor of a town manager form of government. There being no further comments on the proposed amendments, Ms. Scheuermann closed the public hearing and noted that the second public hearing would be held at 5:30 pm on Monday, September 18, 2006 at the AkeleyMemorialBuilding. C. Review/Approve Amendment to Purchasing Policy – Mr. Lackey provided some suggested revisions. On a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Lackey, the review of the policy was postponed to a future meeting. There being no further business to conduct, Ms. Scheuermann adjourned the meeting at 7:35 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.
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