STOWE SELECTBOARD MEETING              Monday, January 11, 2010

Present:        Selectboard members: Heidi Scheuermann, Larry Lackey, Norm Williams, Dick Marron, Paco Aumand; Town Manager Charles Safford;

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

Mr. Williams made a motion to approve the agenda with the removal of Item A from Consent, Mr. Marron seconded the motion. Motion carried.

On a motion by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Marron the Board approved the Consent Items as presented.

A.      Mayo Farm Agricultural Lease – Mr. Marron requested that item #9 be deleted from the Lease since it as no longer relevant. 

Mr. Marron made a motion to approve the Lease as amended, seconded by Mr. Williams. Motion carried.

Municipal Wastewater Connection Request – 1027 Spruce Peak Rd

The Board reviewed a letter from Thomas and Mary Allraum requesting the Town’s

support in gaining an easement over land owned by the Stowe Mountain Resort so that

they could connect on to the municipal wastewater system.   

After discussion, the Board asked the Town Manager to contact Stowe Mountain Resort

encouraging them to work with potential users of the municipal system and ask

Mr. Safford explained that the Historical Society building had been moved to its new location, adjacent to the Bloody Brook School on the Helen Day Memorial Building property. In order for the town to insure the building, the Town would need to own the building. A “Bill of Sale” and an “Agreement” delineating responsibility for work and associated invoices was presented for review. The original estimate for the project was $250,000 ($150,000 from the Historical Society and $100,000 from the town). To date, the Historical Society has spent $213,498 to date. The Historical Society has exhausted their revenues raised through fundraising. It is estimated that it will cost $308,651.05 to complete the full project. This cost includes $6,450 for Patterson & Smith, the lowest responsible bidder, to frame up and enclose the addition. The remainder of the cost is for interior / exterior finish work. To reduce costs, items not required by local and state permits to occupy the building were removed from the budget, resulting in a reduced price of $237,043.89. Both estimates include 15% for contingency and 15% for contractor profit.  Mr. Safford explained that in order to cover the unbudgeted costs to complete the reduced scope of work the funds would have to come out of unallocated reserve in the amount of $148,426.

Board members expressed their concern over the increase in the cost of the project and unresolved issues with the Act 250 permit.

Sonny Davis of the Stowe Historical Society reminded the Board that the move of the Society from the Memorial Building to its new home was to assist in providing more office space in the Memorial Bldg. He said to the Board “don’t hang us out to dry.”

On a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board approved the Bill of Sale and accompanying Agreement and authorized staff to award the contract to Patterson & Smith to frame in the addition for $6,450 upon execution of the documents with the understanding that finish work will be held off until the Act 250 permit issues are resolved and subject to an approved vote at Town Meeting for use of unallocated reserve. 

The Board reviewed the status of major capital projects. It was suggested that the update be included in the Town Report and on the website. Staff said they would do so.

A.      Stowe Vibrancy – The draft FY 11 budget currently includes a $10,000 appropriation for Stowe Vibrancy Inc. Scott Noble representing SVI requested an increase to $20,000 and provided supporting information.   Mr. Aumand cautioned the Board to move slowly in offering supporting funds and Mr. Lackey said he was not comfortable with the request for any appropriation.

After further discussion, Mr. Marron made a motion to approve a $10,000 appropriation with Mr. Williams seconding the motion. The motion carried. Mr. Lackey opposed.

B.       SAA – The Board received a letter from the Stowe Area Association Board requesting that the Town pay for paving out of the General Fund operating budget rather than the Capital Budget which currently drafted includes approximately $200,000 per year for paving. If the paving projects were moved to the operating budget as requested, it would result in a budget increase of $7,171. This should would created a visible pool of projects within the capital program.

The Board indicated that they may be okay with the shift and staff said they would present the budget in that format at the next meeting.

After discussion regarding the Mountain Bike Trail Network, the Board decided to leave the budgeted $10,000 in the proposed budget for this project.

The Board went into executive session at 7:20 on a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Lackey.

The Board came out of executive session at 7:45 and the following motions were by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Aumand and approved by the Board: appointment of Drew Clymer and Doug White to the Development Review Board effective immediately; motion to approve the Settlement and Mutual Release between Nutmeg Insurance and the Town of Stowe.

There being no further business to conduct, Ms. Scheuermann adjourned the meeting at 7:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck

STOWE SELECTBOARD MEETING                        Monday, January 25, 2010

Present:        Selectboard members: Heidi Scheuermann, Larry Lackey (arr. at 5:45 pm), Norm Williams, Dick Marron, Paco Aumand; Town Manager Charles Safford; Parks & Rec Director Marge McIntosh; Parks Superintendent Bruce Godin; Planning Director Tom Jackman; Susanne Gann, Finance

Others Present: Phil Scott, Barbara Baraw, Barbara Allaire, Evelyn Frey, Bill Adams, Jim Donovan, Paul Reed, Howard Levine, Elizabeth Bushueff, Bodo Liewher, Reporter Jesse Roman, Anne-Marie Vespa, Chip Percy, Diann Percy

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

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

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

A.      Stowe Rotary Festival Permit - Mr. Aumand made a motion to approve the Liquor Consent item as presented, Mr. Williams seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Marron abstained.

Jim Donovan of Broadreach Planning & Design reviewed the conceptual layout of the Park and outlined the phasing of the proposed improvements.  Phase I elements include a new ice arena; combination of Little League and high school softball field in the existing location with possible addition of field lights; new skateboard park; new sand volleyball court; new crosswalks & sidewalks; parking lot and vehicular circulation upgrades; new picnic area; expanded memorial garden; stream & stream bank restoration; new walking trails; new plantings; consolidation of maintenance area and improved public access to the rear of the park.  Phase II elements include a new relocated Rec Center; relocated regulation size basketball court; small water feature; reconstructed tennis courts; new picnic shelter; new shared use path linking Thomas Lane; additional walking trails; additional plantings; new wetland management; reconfigured entrance road and incorporation of sled hill property.  As part of the phasing discussion, Mr. Donovan talked about the possible relocation of the Parks maintenance area to another area in the village. Mr. Donovan also noted that during the course of review and research of the park area that there were deed restrictions on use of the area. He said that the research did not find evidence of restrictions that would limit or not allow the future use of the park as envisioned in the proposed plan.

Diann Percy and Bill Adams, grandchildren of the George Adams who donated the land to the town in 1935, spoke on behalf of him what they felt was his intention and vision of what the use of this property should be and as specified in the Deed. Ms. Percy emphasized that her grandfather wanted this area to be for the schools – athletic fields for recreational sports and town teams, organized sports not for the parents or special groups. She indicated that she was not in favor and it was not appropriate having a skateboard park on this land. She said that her interpretation was not in conflict with the proposed plan – don’t take the ball fields away and protect against from pressure of various groups for its use and the schools should have the say in what is important.

After further discussion, the Board was in agreement that Ms. Percy and Mr. Adams should be included in the interpretation of the uses of the property donated by their grandfather.  

Mr. Aumand said he respected the legal rights of the deed and its intention but also said he supported the skateboard park use and hoped that it find a place somewhere in the park. 

Ms. Scheuermann thanked Mr. Donovan for his work on the plan and asked that the Committee have further discussions with Ms. Percy and Mr. Williams to insure compliance with the deed restrictions.

Proposed Stowe Charter Amendments: Ms. Scheuermann opened the public hearing for comment on the proposed amendments to the Stowe Town Charter. There being no comments from the public, the hearing was closed. 

The Board reviewed the Electric Department request to amend so that more than one person is able to sign checks in the event the General Manager is unable to do so. 

On a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board moved to warn a final public hearing on February 8, 2010 and to incorporate the change requested by the Electric Dept. and any other minor changes. 

FY 11 Operating Budget & Capital Budget – Ms. Scheuermann opened the public hearing on the FY 11 Operating Budget . There being no comments from the public, the hearing was closed. 

One minor change was made by the Board and on a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Lackey, the Board approved the FY 11 Operating Budget and Capital Budget.

On a motion by Mr. Marron, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board voted to approve the 2010 Town Meeting Warning and Australian Ballot Warning and to permit the voters to vote on the proposed charter amendments in their entirety since it was too unwieldy to be voted upon section by section.   Motion carried.

Ms. Allaire spoke regarding her concern about the parking area at the High School and lack of accessible handicap parking during Town Meeting Day. Staff said they would look into the parking issue and find a resolution if necessary.

There being no further business to conduct, Ms. Scheuermann adjourned the meeting at 7:35 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.