Akeley Memorial Building- Banquet Room         5:30 P.M.

Present: Selectboard Members: Richard Marron; Heidi Scheuermann; Larry Lackey; Norm Williams and Paco Aumand; Town Manager Charles Safford; Justin Rabidoux;

Others Present: Lynn Altadonna, Michael Diender, Ed Stahl; Chris Willams, VTRANS and Lisa McCormick, Stowe Reporter.

                                             CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Aumand called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. Selectboard orders were signed with all members in favor.  

                                        APPROVE THE AGENDA

Mr. Marron moved to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Ms. Scheurmann.

1. Water/Sewer Applications
2. Miller Brook Briddge License
3. 9/26/08 minutes
4. Errors & Omissions

Mr. Marron moved to approve the Consent Items, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

1. 1^st Class Restaurant License and Outside Consumption Permit for Pie in the Sky. 

Mr. Williams moved to approve the license as presented, seconded by Heidi Scheuermann. Motion carried with Mr. Marron recusing himself.

1. Goldbrook Bridge Meeting with VTRANS. Chris Williams, Project Manager present and said construction of bridge #208 on Rte 100 is being scheduled for 2012. Mr. Marron asked if work could be done early in the season, saying traffic needs to be flowing by 7/1 and the work needs to be completed by 8/15. The answer was absolutely. Mr. Rabidoux, Public Works Director for the town said of the 4 month project, the road would be closed 2 months. The 1^st month preparations being made and 4^th month clean-up. This bridge is # 3 on the state’s priority list. Ms. Scheuermann asked if it could be done in less than 4 months and the answer was no. Mr.Marron reminded Mr. Williams that all traffic is not from tourists, but many locals going north and south, including trucks use the road. Mr. Williams said that River Road will only be used as an alternative and not a detour. After discussion, it was suggested that River Road may be a better detour because of congestions at Luce Hill and coming out onto Rte 108 intersection. Ms. Scheuermann stated it may be more detrimental to Moscow Road to have all the traffic using that road. The question was asked about the possibility of the state helping to pave River Road. Mr. Williams said that would not be possible but whatever road is used, it will be put back in as good if not better condition than when the project started. Mr. Aumand said support for the project is there, but as the time gets closer to 2012, he asked Mr. Williams to return to the Selectboard addressing the concerns re: the alternate routes and infrastructure. Mr. Williams told members change can be made if one route does not work. Mr. Safford asked if there should be a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Moscow/ Road Rte 100, and also at the River Road/Rte 100 intersection. He said public safety is an issue of concern. Mr. Rabidoux said the neighbors in the area of construction have been spoken to and are agreeable to 10-12 hour works days but do not wish to have all night construction. After more discussion, it was agreed Mr. Safford will prepare a letter of support to Mr. Williams and stating the board’s concerns.

                                                        CAPITAL PROJECTS

Lynn Altadonna present. Mr. Marron asked when the Mt. Road sidewalk will be started. Property owners have not been approached for easements as yet, stated Mr. Rabidoux. Mr. Marron said that needs to get done soon. School Street waterline is in; playground done; street lights on Main Street done. Mr. Safford stated most of the remaining projects are having to go back to the beginning or are more difficult. Estimates are being obtained for the library repairs and Mr. Rabidoux said it is yet to be decided if those repairs will be done in one project or two. Discussed the possibility of a sidewalk from Pleasant St to Pike St. Mr. Rabidoux said there could be many issues with that as the area to put a sidewalk in is very small. Mr. Altadonna said he was surprised at the list of projects not yet done and asked if there is a sunset to the money. October 20^th is a Capital Budget meeting and it was agreed there needs to be a policy. Discussion re: paving of Nebraska Valley road which Mr. Rabidoux said cannot be done until a property owner puts a sewer line across the road. Mr. Aumand suggested the possibility of establishing an ordinance which would allow the town to do this or charge a fee. Mr. Aumand said projects need to advance and the Board would support phasing.

                                                         OTHER BUSINESS  

1. Vistas- Mr. Lusk was not present for the meeting. Mr. Safford will ask Mr. Lusk to indicate which vistas he wishes to discuss prior to the next meeting.
2. Update on Meetings with SAA- Mr. Diender and Stahl were present. Mr. Williams reported to the Board on the meetings held with representatives of SAA and the proposed revisions to the Capital Fund Policy. Goals are incorporating more frequent meetings of the Capital Advisory Committee and a goal towards developing a General Fund Capital Program by 2009, including the possibility of asking the voters to consider the establishment of a reserve fund. It does not include earmarking local option tax money beyond depositing the money into the General Fund Capital Budget for capital expenditures. Mr.Marron asked that there be more than two names from SAA and PC submitted to the Board for choices of appointment. Mr. Stahl responded saying executives on the Board are the best representatives. Mr. Diender said there needs to be a deadline for the Capital Plan to be put in place. There are concerns with the future, stated Mr. Dieder and he is afraid that the tax money will be the only revenue for capital projects for Stowe.

Mr. Marron moved to go into executive session at 6:45 pm, seconded by Mr. William with all in favor. Mr. Marron left the meeting. The Selectboard came out of executive session and made the following motions:

   Ms. Scheuermann moved and Mr.Williams seconded the hiring of a lineman for the Stowe Electric Department. All in favor with the exception of Mr. Marron who had left the meeting.

   Ms. Scheuermanan moved and Mr. Williams seconded the appointment of Judy Demeritt to a 3 year term on the Stowe Cemetery Commission. All in favor. Mr. Marron not present. 

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.

STOWE SELECTBOARD MEETING              Monday, October 27, 2008

AkeleyMemorialBuilding Banquet Room                    5:30 pm

Present:     Selectboard Members: Paco Aumand, Larry Lackey, Heidi Scheuermann, Richard Marron, Norm Williams; Town Mgr Charles Safford; PW Director Justin Rabidoux;

Others present:   Bob Giroux, Ellen Burt, Ed French, Arthur Lloyd, Raffie Parke, Heather Bradford, Willi Rose, Zach Schindler, Barbara Allaire, Ken Libby, Jozlyn Plummer, Carolyn Stevens, Swana Zvarova, Gwendolen St. Sauveur, Neil Van Dyke, Roy Ward, Charles Lee, Millie Heckler, Jon Bouffard, Thomas Dewey, Lyn Francis, Gilbert Helmken, Maggie Newman, Ed Stahl, John Schnee, Joanne Bradley, Brendan O’Reilly, Michael Diender

Chair Aumand called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. Selectboard Orders were signed.

Board members requested that Consent Items A-C be taken off the Consent agenda to be discussed after the Informational Meeting. 

Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the Agenda as amended, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

Mr. Williams made a motion to approve the Agenda as amended, seconded by Ms. Scheuermann. Motion carried.

First Class Restaurant & Tobacco License – MMC Spruce Camp:   Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the Liquor Consent Items, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.   Mr. Marron recused himself.

“Shall the Town of Stowe proceed with the financing of the municipal electric plant improvements approved by the Town of Stowe at the annual meeting thereof held on March 4, 2008, and subsequently approved by the Vermont Public Service Board?”

Mr. French and Mr. Giroux provided general background information regarding Article 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot. The item was previously approved at the 2008 March Town Meeting and since that time the Public Service Board also approved the item. The law requires voters to approve the item after the PSB approves it and that is why it is on the ballot for Nov. 4^th.

A.      Goldbrook Bridge VTrans Letter: Grammatical changes were made to the letter to Chris Williams and approved on a motion by Mr. Lackey, seconded by Ms. Scheuermann.

C.       VLCT Highway Funding Cut Resolution: The Board discussed the potential funding cuts in local highway aid programs where local officials could lose nearly $3 million in local highway aid monies possibly forcing an increase in local property taxes.   Stowe’s funding could be reduced by $12,060. The Board reviewed the proposed resolution indicating opposition to the proposed cuts.   Ms. Scheuermann said she appreciated the work of the VLCT but said at this time she could not participate by approving the resolution without seeing what other funding choices and cuts were to be discussed by the legislature. Mr. Lackey questioned whether the language in the resolution should indicate that the administration and legislature should make this item a “top” priority.   Mr. Marron stated that the amount was relatively insignificant for the Town of Stowe based on the size of our grand list but for a smaller town it would be a big hit for them. Mr. Williams said he thought it should be a top priority. Mr. Marron added that education funding should be a top priority. Mr. Aumand said we were in financial times which we have not seen and agreed with the resolution not necessarily as a top priority but it should be debated by the legislature.

Mr. Lackey made a motion to adopt the resolution with the deletion of the second “resolved”. Mr. Safford added an amendment to the motion to put a period after “taxpayers.”Mr. Marron seconded the motion. Motion carried with Ms. Scheuermann opposed. 

B.       Public Safety Building Transition Space Leases: Mr. Safford addressed several questions regarding the leases of the temporary space for the public safety departments during construction of the new facility.

Mr. Lackey made a motion to approve the leases – one for Brackenbury LLC and Percy for the Town of Stowe public safety departments, seconded by Mr. Marron. Motion carried.

A.      DRB application: Roy Ward of EH Danson provided information on the building including site plan and exterior design. Mr. Safford noted that the application had been reviewed favorably by the Historic Preservation Commission. 

After questions and answers, Mr. Marron made a motion to authorizing the Town Mgr to sign and submit the application to the Development Review Board.

The Board thanked all those involved with the project for their hard work.

A.      Capital Policy Amendments         : For the purpose of discussion, Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the amendments to the policy, seconded by Ms. Scheuermann.

Discussion followed on the amendments to the policy dated July 9, 2007. The amendments removed reference to the Equipment Fund as it has its own policy and directed the Town Mgr to work with the Capital Advisory Committee to develop a Five Year Capital Budget and Program for the Board’s consideration in 2009. During that process, the policy also indicates that consideration should be given to the idea of asking the voters to establish a reserve fund and also funding annual highway paving out of the Highway budget rather than the Capital Budget. 

Mr. Marron wanted to reaffirm that the Manager is responsible for putting together the Capital Plan and does that with the advice of the Advisory Committee. He repeated that the Advisory Committee does not write the plan and advises the Manager not the Selectboard.  

Ms. Scheuermann said that the SAA members of the Committee were not in total agreement with the amended policy.   Mr. Williams said the subcommittee set out to set up a process where consensus could be met on policy regarding projects and he believed they achieved this through this amended policy.

During discussion, minor changes were made to the draft. 

Mr. Diender expressed his concerns regarding the policy and the use of local option tax dollars. 

The motion carried including the revisions made.

There being no further business, Mr. Aumand adjourned the meeting at 7:15 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.