Present:        Selectboard Members: Larry Lackey, Norm Williams, Adam Davis, Paco Aumand, Neil Van Dyke; Town Manager Charles Safford, PW Assistant Cliff Johnson

Others Present:        Harry Shepard, Barbara Allaire, Donna Adams, Reporter Lisa McCormack, Ken Biedermann, Chris Francis, Tom Lackey, Carolyn Carlson, Amanda Holland, Susan Spera, Ed Stahl, Hal Stevens, Stephen & Susan Fishman, Carolyn Ruschp

Chair Lackey 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 addition of the approval of warrants to be added under Other Business. Mr. Van Dyke seconded the motion. Motion carried.

A.       Akeley Cupola Architectural Services – Freeman French Freeman

D.       Annual Appointments of Boards & Commissions

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

On a motion by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Aumand, the Board approved the Liquor Consent Items as presented.   Mr. Van Dyke recused himself.

The Police Chief provided information regarding the federally funded program where local and state law enforcement officers work with federal agents on the Canadian border on special details such as watching border crossings or traffic enforcement looking for items being transported illegally. There are currently 17 departments participating. The Chief stated that only one cruiser and one officer would be allowed in the project at any one time. The Town would be eligible to obtain funds through seizures made when a Stowe officer is on duty. Expenses for officers involved will be paid for through Homeland Security.

On a motion by Neil Van Dyke, seconded by Paco Aumand, the Board approved Stowe’s participation in accordance with the Chief’s memo dated 3/10/10 and with the understanding that vehicle use will be managed to ensure that participation in the program does not necessitate a more aggressive vehicle replacement schedule. 

The Board reviewed amended Memorial & Foundation Specification Requirements from the Cemetery Commission. Members felt they were not qualified to approve plans for large or tall monuments resulting a need for larger and deeper foundations with the expertise of an engineer. The amended requirements made applicants aware of the need for expert advice. 

On a motion by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Van Dyke, the Board approved the amendments as presented. 

Introduction of New Public Works Director

The Town Manager introduced Harry Shepard to the Board. Mr. Shepard’s first day with the Town will be April 26^th.

Public Information Meeting – Bridge St. Bridge (Rt 108)

VTrans Structures Project Manager Carolyn Carlson and Project Engineer Tom Lackey reviewed the proposed BridgeStreetBridge reconstruction project. “VTrans recommends that the Town of Stowe replace the existing concrete deck and steel girders while maintaining traffic on the Mayo Farm Road detour. Replacing the entire superstructure will provide weathering steel girders that will not need to be painted, and a sound concrete deck that should last for 30 years and be wide enough to maintain two-way traffic during future repairs. Maintaining traffic on a detour will allow a contractor to complete the project more efficiently and restore two way traffic to the bridge in the least time and cost.” It was explained that the project would take place between the months of April and June with possible night time work. A temporary traffic light would be installed at the West Hill/Rt 100 intersection. The project is scheduled for 2013 with the Town’s match being 5% for the estimated cost of 4.5 million dollars.

Some of the concerns expressed by those in attendance were the length of time of the project, staging areas for the project, noise and disturbance especially during night work and proper signage warning of the project at the gateways and in and around Stowe.

There was a concensus of the Board that they preferred the construction project to take place April to June with a detour using the Mayo Farm Road etc and to minimize construction in the evening.

Mr. Safford stated he would also meet with police, fire and rescue to obtain their feedback on how services may or may not be impacted.   He added that he would also meet with Stowe Area Assoc. members to obtain their concerns.

The Board asked Mr. Safford to prepare a letter for their review to VTrans providing feedback on the project issues and how it may affect the Town. 

There was no further discussion.

Mr. Safford provided background information to date on the vault. On 11/7/06 the voters approved the following article, “Shall general obligation bonds of the Town of Stowe in an amount not to exceed one hundred and five thousand dollars ($105,000) be issued for the purpose of engineering and designing the MemorialBuilding expansion and renovation project?”

The Town floated $50,000 of the approved bond to come up with a number of conceptual design concepts. The first plan called for a two story 2,600 s.f. additions with an estimated cost of $1.5 million for the addition and general renovations to affected areas. The second plan called for moving the Clerk’s Office downstairs in the existing meeting room and moving the meeting room to the space currently occupied by the Historical Society. A one story vault would have either gone on the back of the building at its current location or underground in the front of the building. The estimated cost was $1.2 million for the one story vault and general renovations to affected areas of the building. The Clerk expressed reservations about being in the downstairs of the building as her office is major point of costumer contact. A third plan calls for keeping the Clerk in her current location and replacing the two story vault in its current location with no renovations to the building. It should be understood that the vault would cover one of the ground floor windows in the Zoning Office and one of the first floor windows in the Clerk’s Research Room. An air conditioner has historically been put in the Clerk’s Research window. If the window is going to be covered by a vault, the Clerk has requested that the vault air conditioning be extended to the Research Room for visitor comfort purposes. The estimated cost to replace the existing 295 s.f. vault (137 s.f. ground floor and 158 s.f. first floor) with a 500 s.f. vault (250 s.f. ground floor and 250 s.f. first floor) is $350,000.

After brief discussion, Mr. Van Dyke made a motion to instruct the Town Treasurer to submit a bond application to draw down $55,000 to advance the final design of the Akeley Building Vault Project with the intent of advancing the design of Option #3 (replace existing vault with a two story vault with no building addition or general renovations) and seeking voter approval for construction in 2011.   Mr. Williams seconded the motion. Motion carried.

There was concensus to table the Goals discussion until the May 10^th meeting to allow more time. Some of the items the Board expressed discussing in addition to the ones outlined by the Town Manager in his Agenda Summary were further discussion on fund balance, cost containment, capital projects, option tax vs operating reserve and to remain fiscally conservative.

On a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Van Dyke, the Board approved the appointment of Norm Williams to sign Warrants when required subject to approval by the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

The Board went into executive session at 8:03 pm on a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Williams with the Town Manager in attendance.

The Board came out of executive session at 8:35 pm. On a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board approved the Stipulation of Dismissal and Order pertaining to the HistoricalSocietyBuilding appeal and authorized the Town Manager to execute it and commence with the construction of the Building. 

On a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board approved the hiring of Brian Huffman as a 1^st Class Lineman with the Stowe Electric Department. 

On a motion by Mr. Aumand, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board approved the Employment Agreement Contract Amendment No 1. between the Town Manager and the Town of Stowe.

Mr. Lackey adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Susan Moeck.