STOWE SELECTBOARD MEETING                                 Monday, January 12, 2009

Akeley Memorial Building                                                   Banquet Room

Others Present:       Heather Furman, Rick Sokolof, Barbara Allaire, Liz McConnell, Sean Pierce, Anne Tulippe, Larry McGraw, Gill ____; Arnold Ziegel

Chair Aumand called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm and Selectboard Orders were signed.

Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the Agenda but requested to remove Item C Town Warning from Consent, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

B.       Award Public Safety Bldg Construction Mgr RFP – Breadloaf Corp.

Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve Consent Items A, B and D, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

C.       2009 Draft Town Meeting Warning – After discussion the Board requested that staff add an advisory question to the Warning regarding the so-called Rotary Barn. This question will be reviewed at the next meeting on Jan. 26. Changes to capital project descriptions were also made. Australian Ballot Warning and Town Meeting Warning will be approved at the Jan. 26 meeting.

A.      Public Hearing - FY 10 Proposed Budget: Chair Aumand opened the hearing for public comment.  Mr. Safford reviewed the changes made since the Dec. 22 meeting.

Representatives from community services organizations including Waterbury’s Children’s Room; Stowe Land Trust; Council on Aging and Teen Challenge spoke on behalf of their organizations and their requests for funding or increase in funding.   Mr. Sokolof spoke on behalf of the Stowe Mountain Bike Club’ s request for funding through the proposed capital budget.

Mr. Aumand closed the hearing at 6:25 pm.

B.       Budget Deliberation: After discussion, the Board was in agreement that they were not prepared to expand the Community Affairs budget and were reluctant to add anything to the budget. No new appropriations were added.   

Mr. Lackey asked about the possibility of reviewing a stewardship Memorandum of Understanding with Stowe Land Trust for the Board’s review by the meeting on the 26^th. Mr. Safford indicated that this was something that could be reviewed any time during the year and did not necessarily have to meet the deadline on the 26^th.

The Board discussed the VLCT recommendation that the Town decrease Town Highway aid payments from the State by 5-10%. There was consensus of the Board to decrease this number by 10% which would result in a $17,000 decrease in revenues.

Mr. Lackey questioned the addition of library staff time and asked why volunteers could not be used to fill these times. Mr. Safford said he would review this item and get back to the Board.                         

A.      Personnel - At 6:50 pm the Board went in executive session on a motion by Mr. Marron with Mr. Safford and Mr. Ziegel in attendance , seconded by Ms. Scheuermann. 

The board came out of executive session at 6:55 pm and on a motion by Mr. Williams, seconded by Ms. Scheuermann appointed Mr. Ziegel as a representative to the Lamoille County Planning Commission replacing Mr. Safford.

During continued deliberation, the Board asked for further information on the Akeley Building exterior expenses; the traffic/parking circulation study and the employee leave cash in benefit and the library request. Mr. Safford said staff would provide the information requested. There was no further discussion.

Mr. Aumand provided copies of the Annual Report Selectboard Report to the Board for their review.

B.       Real Estate – At 7:30 pm the Board went into executive session on a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Williams.

The Board came out of executive session at 7:40 pm. No action was taken.

There being no further business to conduct, Mr. Aumand adjourned the meeting at 7:40 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.

Present:        Selectboard members: Paco Aumand, Larry Lackey, Heidi Scheuermann, Richard Marron, Norm Williams; Town Manager Charles Safford; Fin. Mgr. Karla Spaulding; Asst. Fin. Mgr. Susanne Gann; Bruce Godin, Parks Superintendent; Planning Dir. Tom Jackman

Others Present:       Barbara Allaire, Phil Scott, Evelyn Frey, Donna Adams, Ken Biedermann, Mary Black, Chris Cole, Rita Pitkin, Reporter Lisa McCormack

Chair Aumand called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm and Selectboard Orders were signed.

Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Ms. Scheuermann. Motion carried.

A.      Water & Sewer Application – 1669 Mountain Road, 672 gpd sewer; 756 gpd water

Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the Consent Items as presented, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

First Class Restaurant & Tobacco License and Outside Consumption Permit – Stowe Mountain Alpine Club - Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the Liquor Consent Items as presented, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried. Mr. Marron abstained.

Meet with Chris Cole re Regional Transit Districts: Mr. Cole, executive director of GMTA and general manager of CCTA presented a proposal to the Board from the GMTA Board of Directors for the legislature to adopt enabling legislation to allow the creation of regional public transit districts in Vermont. This legislation would allow for the possibility of merging GMTA and CCTA into one entity. 

During the discussion there was concensus of the Board that the broad concept explained by Mr. Cole was good but that the funding of the proposal by a tax of some sort was not clear at this time. The Board was not in favor of providing a resolution supporting the project without knowing specifics of funding. 

The Board suggested that Mr. Cole come back to them at a future date with further information and a Resolution that the Board can support.   

There was no further discussion.

A final public hearing on the $750,000 VCDP grant to assist in the financing of the construction of Sylvan Wood Housing Limited Partnership and authorize the closing out of the grant.

Mr. Aumand opened the public hearing for public comment at 6:15 pm. Ms. Pitkin briefly explained the project and the closing out of the grant.

Mr. Aumand closed the public hearing.

On a motion by Mr. Marron seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board closed out the $750,000 VCDP grant.

There was no further discussion.

A.      Discuss Proposed Improvements:  The Board reviewed a request from Parks Superintendent Bruce Godin to make improvements to the Tobe Reed Park by selective cutting the area on the left to provide more open area for picnic tables and grass. Funds for the project would come from the Rec Path fund in an amount of $8000.

Mr. Lackey expressed opposition to the plan stating that he thought there were already enough picnic tables and that the existing trees provide shade for the area. He was also concerned that an enlarged grass area would need more maintenance and thought there should be curbing to control the parking area.  

Ms. Scheuermann made a motion to approve the use of $8000 from the Rec Path fund and the selective cutting of the proposed area. Mr. Williams seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Lackey opposed.

In response to Mr. Lackey’s concern, Mr. Godin said he would use rocks to outline the parking area.    

A.      Budget Deliberation: Chair Aumand opened the budget hearing at 6:30 pm and reviewed changes and additions from the January 12^th meeting.   He noted that the comparative budget summary sheet showed an increase of .01%. 

Mr. Marron asked that the proposed grand list growth be changed to 2.01% which would level the tax rate. 

During deliberation, the Board discussed the use of reserve carry forward and the philosophy of reserve funds and the differences between the establishment of a capital fund or the use of carry forward and the reduction of tax burden. 

Mr. Lackey asked if the proposed budget for the painting of the Akeley Building was sufficient.

Mr. Safford responded that the proposed amount was sufficient for the front of the building and that the remainder of the project be taken into consideration in future years. He added that the Village Center Committee was recommending to remove the parking/traffic plan from the capital items.   He said the $15,000 amount could be reduced from the proposed budget or the Board could reapply that amount to the Akeley Building and to the Memorial Park master plan budget since the grant amount was not guaranteed. 

Mr. Marron asked that an additional $5000 be applied to the Akeley Building and increase the Memorial Park master plan by $10,000.   

B.       Adopt Proposed Budget: On a motion by Mr. Lackey, seconded by Mr. Marron, the Board approved the general fund budget and capital budget for 2010 based on a net budget of $7,000,621 and a grand list of $20,208,181 as set in the summary presented with the exception that the circulation study be eliminated and an increase in the Akeley building increased $5,000 and expense for the Memorial Park master plan be increased by $10,000.

Mr. Aumand thanked the Town Manager, staff and the Board for all their hard work on the budget.

A.      Review/Approve Town Meeting Warning & Australian Ballot Warning: Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the Town Meeting Warning and Australian Ballot Warning with the correct financial numbers as revised, seconded by Mr. Williams. 

Article 8 – Ms. Frey asked what the rush was and why the Board was putting the Rotary Barn question on the Warning. 

Mr. Aumand noted that the Board did say that they would be going back to the voters for an advisory vote on the building at Town Meeting based on the outcome of last year’s actions.

The concensus of the Board during discussion was that there is not a strong sense from the community on what the fate of the building should be.   Ms. Scheuermann emphasized that it was strictly an advisory vote.

Ms. Allaire asked if the Board would be agreeable to salvage options if the Article passed. The Board said they would consider all options.

Mr. Aumand said that the Board was doing what they thought was their due diligence as to the building.   He said the Board was very concerned about the possible costs associated with the renovation and use of the building. He said that the Board was not going to invest municipal funds and added that fundraising can be done but it is done without any direction from the municipality and the Selectboard. 

The motion to approve the warning with revisions was passed.

A.      Review Amendment to Regulations: The Board reviewed a request from the Cemetery Commission to amend to clarify monument measurements specifically the height of a monument.

After discussion regarding aesthetics etc, the Board tabled the request on a motion by Mr. Lackey seconded by so that the Commission could bring back further information regarding their request to amend.

There being no further business to conduct, Mr. Aumand adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.