TOWN OF CORINTH VERMONT
SELECTBOARD MINUTES
Corinth Select Board Meeting
July 14, 2008
Unapproved Minutes
Attending: Selectmen Russ Pazdro, Lee Porter & Laurie Sheridan; Joyce McKeeman, board clerk; Nancy Ertle, Town Clerk; Frank Roderick, Road Commissioner; Allen Locke, Lister; Susan Fortunati, Town Treasurer.
Members of the public: Ryan Dodge, Jodi Meyette, Bruce Durkee, Earl Adams, Patty Duffy; Ginny Barlow, Planning Commission; Steve Long, Conservation Commission
Russ called the meeting to order at 6:40. Laurie moved, Russ seconded to go into executive session to discuss a Town Hall maintenance personnel matter. The board went into executive session at 6:41 and left executive decision at 7:10 p.m.
1. The June minutes were reviewed Laurie moved to accept as presented, Lee seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Town hall maintenance employee concerns were addressed in executive session. Do decisions requiring Board action were made.
3. Public Concerns
Patty Duffy on Bear Notch Road has concerns about beaver activity and culverts on her road. She would like the town to consider non-lethal methods of beaver control. She gave the Board a copy of a Northern Woodlands magazine article which discusses current best practices for beaver control around roads and culverts. The Board thanked her for the article and said they would look into the matter.
4. Pre-disaster Mitigation Plan
Two Rivers-Ottaqheechee Regional Planning Commission has written a pre-disaster mitigation plan and a representative from them presented the plan and discussed it with the Board. The plan needs to go through state and federal review before the Board needs to approve the plan.
5. Solid Waste Implementation Plan
This meeting served as the first public hearing for the currently proposed town Solid Waste Implementation Plan. Much of the responsibilities for various activities will be done by the Solid Waste Committee that will need to become re-activated. There were no public questions or comments about the plan.
6. Town ATV ordinance
Ryan Dodge appeared to speak about the ATV ordinance on behalf of a local ATV club. They would like a revision to the current ordinance allowing legal travel on a portion of Turkey Hill that connects up to legal trails in other abutting towns. There were some public questions and concerns raised. Russ suggested making a survey of all land owners along the portion of the town road suggested by the ATV club before the Board would reconsider changing the ordinance. Ryan stressed that his club is interested in town citizen input into what the residents of the town might like to see the ATV club do in terms of trail maintenance or other projects so as to promote a positive opinion of the club and it’s members.
7. Lister's concerns
The 2008 Grand List has been lodged with the Town Clerk.
8. Town Clerk Concerns
Nancy had a question about the paperwork for a particular wastewater system for a town resident. Since there is no Town sewage office, the Board needed to sign a Certificate of Occupancy. Russ moved, Lee second to sign the C.O. Motion passed unanimously.
9. Road Commissioners Report
The box culvert project is underway and the road should be open again by the weekend. Frank presented the bids for winter sand. The low bid was for $39,400. There is a VLCT impetus for a group purchase plan for winter road salt. As part of that we have to pay $100 to join the consortium and sign a contract to purchase 80% of our salt from the group. Frank thinks it is a good idea to go along with the consortium. Russ moved, Laurie second to join consortium. Motion passed unanimously.
10. Energy Concerns
Since the new fiscal year has begun the Board would like to proceed with the purchase of the new fuel tank for the town garage. Russ moved to purchase the 1000-gallon double-wall diesel fuel tank from JW Kennedy Company. Laurie seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Susan presented some information about pre-buy programs for fuel oil from Bradford Oil. Russ would like to wait until Perry’s has decided on the details of their pre-buy program.
Russ attended an informational meeting about solar hot water systems and he is pondering the ways in which it might be feasible for the Town Hall to use some kind of solar system. There was discussion about this possibility and Joyce will investigate whether there are any rebate programs for municipalities.
11. Upper Valley Land Trust
Steve Long and Ginny Barlow were present to speak in favor of the letter of support for the Upper Valley Land Trust that was put off from the June meeting. Steve took some time to explain the history and philosophy of the UVLT. He is currently works with them on a large project and has had positive experiences working with both the UVLT and the VLT. The Conservation Commission wrote a letter in support of one of the two projects that the Selectboard has been asked to support. Ginny Barlow expanded on the specific benefit from signing a letter of support. There was discussion about the specific approval that the Board would be giving, the wording of such and the necessity of such approval.
Russ Moved, Laurie seconded, to sign the letters going to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. The motion passed unanimously.
12. Park and Ride
Russ reported on a discussion he has had about maybe constructing a town park and ride for which we would need to acquire some land. The board discussed the feasibility of pursuing this idea. No action was taken at this time.
13. Corinth history books
Laurie talked with Mr. Gibby, who published the original book, who might have some of the old printing flats out in his barn. Lois Jackson might be interested in helping him look. These flats could be used to reprint the book if they are found. Laurie will keep working with Lois to see if she can help Mr. Gibby find these flats.
14. Committees
Laurie, on behalf of the Town Report committee asked the Board for approval for the Town Report cover photo and the general theme of historical barns. Russ moved to approve town report Lee second, unanimous.
15. Correspondence
Correspondence was shared and discussed.
16. Treasurer Concerns
Since the grand list has been lodged Susan worked up the numbers for the tax rate. She presented all the documentation to the Board and explained how she arrived at the figures. Options for setting the tax rate were discussed.
Russ moved to set the general fund tax rate at .1716, the highway fund rate at .3528 and the local agreement rate at .0042 resulting in a total residential tax rate of 1.7333 and the non-residential tax rate at 1.8448 and furthermore to use $50,000 from the 2008 general fund surplus to offset the amount that needs to be raised in taxes for the 2009 fiscal year. Lee seconded Motion passed unanimously.
17. The Financial Report was reviewed and signed.
18. Warrants and bills were presented and signed.
19. Emergency Lighting was tested and Fire Extinguishers inspected.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
2008 Archive of Selectboard Minutes