October 2, 2007

Agenda:

• Approve Minutes of Last Meeting
• Fuel Bids
• Discuss 2008 Appropriation Requests
• VLCT PACIF Renewal
• Road Foreman Report
• Clerk’s Report
• Information
• Young Letter Re: GAW
• AIG Letter
• Culvert Rehab Letter
• Flyer-Northeast Conference on Flood Hazards, etc.
• Salt Shed Disposition
• Other Business :
• TH #4 Bridge
• Web Site Disclaimer

The Selectboard met at the Craftsbury Town Hall on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at

7:30 PM. Selectboard present was Bruce Urie, Jim Jones and Susan Houston. Michelle Warren (Clerk of Selectboard) was also present.

The Selectboard approved the Sept. 18, 2007 Selectboard Minutes with 1 correction.

The Selectboard discussed fuel bids from Bournes, Fred’s & Northern Petroleum. Mr. Jones will get the current rack rate and then the Selectboard will make a decision soon. The Selectboard agreed that to obtain the best price possible, they will need to get their fuel bids in by May next year.

The Selectboard decided to split the appropriations somehow, such as health related/education in one section and then all others in the remaining section so it doesn’t require a paper vote. They also decided to have the Memorial Day Committee & Recreation Committee be built into the town budget. The Selectboard also decided that new appropriations would need to be stand-alone for their first year to get approval.

The Selectboard reviewed the VLCT Pacific liability insurance’s annual renewal worksheet for the town which included the town hall, 2 dams, bandstand on village green, 6-bay garage, 2 bay garage, another 2 bay garage, and salt shed. Total for buildings is $613,000 and contents is $151,000. Since the values were updated already last year, the Selectboard kept the same values for this year.

Mr. Marckres was absent. The Selectboard said the Town Crew has finished the Creek Road. The bridge to the Town Garage had been blocked off for 2 days while the new steel beams were put in the bridge. Mr. Urie mentioned that the crew hopes to make

8-inch blocks atop the bridge next year instead of planks, which will last longer.

Ms. Brown was absent, no report given.

The Selectboard received a letter from Jeannine Young Letter regarding the lack of consistent broadband service from GAW. Following discussion of the letter, Mr. Urie said that the recent Broadband Meeting with GAW had a variety of local citizens attending. He mentioned that GAW stated that soon the bandwidth will increase 7 times the original bandwidth, which will help solve many of the connection difficulties. Within 3 months, GAW plans to be 15 times the original bandwidth. They also plan to have the Kinsey tower on-line as of Friday, October 5, 2007. The Albany Town Hall is scheduled to be on-line October 22, 2007. There is now a button on the GAW web site to "talk to the CEO" so customers can voice their concerns. GAW will offer "no payment required" to customers for 30-40 days due to intermittent service. GAW is considering having a hot spot in the Town Hall for the next 45 days for customers experiencing problems.

The Selectboard received a letter from AIG, the town’s retirement company, indicating a slight change in their name.

The Selectboard received a brochure on a new process that rehabs culverts instead of costly culvert replacement.

The Selectboard received an invitation to the Northeast Conference on Flood Hazards and Liabilities on October 15, 2007.

Rafters are here for the new salt shed. Mr. Jones said Claire Young indicated he’ll get the salt shed building started in a week or two. Mr. Urie will ask Mark Dunbar for a suggestion on a starting bid price, noting that there are a couple small holes in it. Mr. Urie believed the original cost was $3,300 5-7 years ago with an estimated 15-year life. The Selectboard decided to have Ms. Brown put an ad in the paper and also post 3 notices for bids on the old hoops and tarp. Will Strong told Mr. Urie earlier that he is interested in purchasing them.

The Selectboard discussed getting the TH #4 Bridge fixed. Mr. Urie will talk with Roy Bryce & Mark Coty again. Up to $175,000 will be available from the State, depending upon the bridge design.

Mr. Urie confirmed to Ms. Houston that the Conservation Commission members can receive reimbursement from the town for the fee they paid for a conference they are attending. The Town will also pay the nominal fee to be a member of the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions to try it out their resources for a year.

Ms. Warren showed the Selectboard disclaimers for the Craftsbury town web site that the Web Site Committee has created. The Selectboard approved the disclaimers to be used on the web site. Ms. Warren noted that the disclaimers still need to be approved by the Town Web Site Committee.

The Selectboard discussion adjourned at 9 PM. Next meeting is scheduled Tuesday, October 24, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Warren, Clerk of the Selectboard