TOWN OF GRAND ISLE
SELECTBOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
April 20, 2015
I.CALL TO ORDER;
Adam White called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m.
In Attendance:
Adam White, Chair, Mark Cobb Sr., Vice Chair, Bill Baron, AnnaMarie DeMars and John Lawrence
Guests: Harry H. Graves, Elaine Chasse, Denise Abbott Douglass, Diane Cota, Rachael Griggs, Alan Arthur, Carolyn McCray, Lucy Gordon, Colleen Bushway, Ron Bushewy, Merritt Vantine, Todd Boutin, Melissa Boutin.
Adjustments to agenda for matters not listed.
II.GUEST: Alan Arthur – Emergency Management Plan (EMP):
Alan explains that two (EMP) forms are implemented and need to be updated with new members on the Board and highway department and file with NWRP by May 1, 2015. We will be in full compliance with FEMA. If emergencies happen we will be able to apply for reparative funds through FEMA. Equally important, we can get grants from FEMA ahead of time to fix problems that we see coming. Adam signs for the Selectboard and Alan will file with FEMA. Copies will be at the Town Office, Fire Department and Rescue. Adam and Alan will each have a copy.
Library Trustees:
Adam said at the beginning of this year the Library Trustees said they wanted the Gravel Pit location to be considered for a library. This was approved and then a few weeks ago that changed. Selectboard wanted the Library Trustees to know we are still committed to a new library and want to keep up with the dialog. Lucy Gordon said they are still in fundraising stage. “I don’t want to go forward trying to get a building until we have more money, enough to do something.” Bill asked if they have a goal for fundraising. Lucy said she would like to see at least a half million dollars including the money they now have and want to make sure they have enough money to build something.
Adam said with the Selectboard again going around to each building would like to do a quick tour of the library at the next meeting, May 4, at 6:30.
III.REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES:
Ways to change the format Rachael uses or if it’s an electronic saving issue was discussed. Adam will check into this. AnnaMarie makes amotion to accept minutes of April 6, 2015 with corrections. Bill seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
IV.EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mark makes a motion at 7:28 p.m. to go into executive session to discuss Learning Adventure lease and invites Elaine Chasse into the meeting.
AnnaMarie makes a motion at 7:55 p.m. to come out of Executive session allowing Elaine to make some cosmetic changes to the play area of the outside of the building and will continue the discussion of the amount of the lease payment. John seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
Mark makes a motion at 7:55 p.m. to go into executive session to discuss personal matter inviting Melissa Boutin, Town Clerk. AnnaMarie seconds. All in favor. Motion Passes.
AnnaMarie makes a motion to come out of executive session at 8:20 p.m. with no action taken. Mark seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
V.NEW BUSINESS:
Selectboard Secretary Position: Two letters were submitted for Selectboard Secretary. One removed their name from consideration. Bill makes a motion to appoint Rachael Griggs as Selectboard secretary. John seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
Selectboard Meeting Courtesy: Adam states during some Selectboard meetings tempers have been flaring and some have been increasing their voices At the end of the day we all need to realize we are neighbors and residents of Grand Isle. If there’s anything that someone says you might not agree with, don’t raise voice or interrupt them. Wait until they are done and raise your hand, we will call on you. Try to keep it civil. The Selectboard especially likes to interact when they can and with Grand Isle citizens.
Paving Bids: Adam asks if it is for particular roads or all roads. Ron Bushway, Road Commissioner, answers the roads are East Shore Road North, South, and Hyde Road. Three bids are from ST Paving from Waterbury, VT, Pike Industries from Barre, VT, and SD Ireland, from Williston, VT. Brad Sheridan, Road Foreman and Ron will go over the contracts to be sure they are compairing apples to apples. John asked if there is any chance of fixing the hump where East Shore Road South meets US Rt. 2. Mark said that may be the States issue. Adam gave the bids to Ron for the highway department to review.
Dog Warden: Reappointing Todd Boutin as dog warden, Selectboard members sign the papers and will send them to the state.
DRB/Fire Station Update: Diane Cota questioned the DRB letter she received on the decision about the Fire Station application that in the end it was denied. If someone hadn’t been at the DRB meeting regarding the Fire Station project and read that, they might look at it and think it was denied because we didn’t do what we were suppose to. In actuality we had informed them that we didn’t have the money to go forward. It was in agreement that the DRB didn’t close the permit out at the (3/18/15) meeting. Adam noted looking at the DRB written decision it was not easily noticeable that the Town, as the applicant, removed the permit from consideration. As you will see there were three communications with me (Adam) listed. One was asking if there was an earlier availability, anything before (March 18). The others were to let the DRB know the Selectboard decided to no longer continue with the Gordon site and for the DRB permitting process stop. So the reason on our end, as applicant, was to withdraw the application. Mark said someone from the Selectboard should have been at the meeting to withdraw the application. There was a Selectboard meeting on the 18th. Even though the letter was written on behalf of the Selectboard it didn’t go into the DRB description. Now we know, whatever happens, the Selectboard needs to have a representative at such DRB meetings.
Fire Station Update: The Town is working with ANR and wetlands specialist to determine if wetland issues are present at the Gravel Pit location. Mark provided Dore and Whittier & Engineering Ventures with information in the last week, that we have in the Town Office. The area hasn’t been known as a wetlands previous according to the wetlands maps done in 2006 and 1995.
VI.OLD BUSINESS:
Needles Issue Update: Adam talked with Sheriff Allen who contacted Vermont Green-up Day staff on how to handle needles in town if they are discovered during the event. They are working with VT Cares, which is a needles exchange program. If anyone finds needles they are not to touch them. Notify the Sheriff and he will pick them up.
Land Acquisition/Donation: Regarding donating property on Hanson Lane. One questions is the taxes and the land is valued at $27,500. Taxes are $250 per year. The land did not perk. The property may never be able to be drained. At the March 6, 2015 Selectboard meeting Mark said he thought the State is first in line with any land donations. Adam checked into this and found there isn’t any information regarding informing the State first about land donations. Bill makes a motion to respectfully decline the offer from the John Hurley Estate for the donation of land on Hanson Lane. Mark seconds. Four in favor, John opposes. Motion carries.
177 West Shore Road Permit Application: Harry Graves requests that the clerical error, the temporary driveway permit at 177 West Shore Road, be corrected. It was intended that 193 be the temporary driveway for one yearand not 177. This is the Graves property at 177 West Shore Road. Mark makes a motion that we remove from the permit dated 19, January 2015 the verbiage of “with temporary driveway removed within one year permit for 1/19/2016” John seconds. All in favor. Motion passes. The sentence added “with temporary driveway” was crossed out and initialed by all Board members.
Town Web Site: With the town web site Adam is working to create each department and committee with their own login so they will be able to update their roster and change their minutes at real time. Come July 1 open meeting laws will be enforced. The laws took effect July 1, 2014 with a one year grace period.
Bond Anticipation Note Extension: With Peoples United Bank last
year we took out a bond anticipation note for the new fire station project for the bond amount of 1.75 million dollars. It was to come due this year, today. We have applied for a one year extension since the project is on going. AnnaMarie makes a motion to sign the bond anticipation extension for April 20, 2016 as a due date. Mark seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
VII.REVIEW & APPROVE BILLS:
AnnaMarie makes a motion to review orders and pay bills. Bill seconds. All in favor. Motion passes.
Bill asked if bills could be scanned and sent out electronically prior to Selectboard meeting and save time.
VIII.ADJOURNMENT: AnnaMarie makes a motion to adjourn at 9:04 p.m.
Bill seconds. All in favor. Motion Passes
Respectfully submitted,
______
Rachael Griggs, Selectboard Secretary Adam White, Selectboard Chair
Date: ______Date: ______
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