~ APPROVED ~

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007

• Approve Minutes of Last Meeting
• David Stoner — Broadband Grant
• Use of the Common
• Liquor License
• Laura Brown Resigned
• Snowmobiles – Ketchum Hill
• Milfoil Grant
• Weight Permits to Sign
• Mellett Gravel Pit Update
• Structures & Class 2 Roadway Programs
• Town Meeting Review
• Road Foreman Report
• Clerk's Report
• Other Business:
• Conferences
• Harvest Mowing Agreement

The Selectboard met at the Craftsbury Town Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007 at 11 AM. Selectboard present were Bruce Urie and Jim Jones. Yvette Brown (Town Clerk), Michelle Warren (Clerk of Selectboard), Steve Marckres and David Stoner were also present.

On the bottom of the last page of the Feb. 7^th minutes, Ms. Warren noted that the Town Report should be changed to Town Plan. The Feb. 7, 2007 minutes were approved with corrections.

Mr. Stoner received documents from the State for the $50,000 broadband grant. Mr. Stoner read the documents and didn’t see any problems, but added a work plan and budget. He noted the grant money would be coming just to Craftsbury. The work plan includes beta testing, which is the initial testing to make sure the system is going to work and that the signals come in properly. No funds are required for the beta testing. It should be completed during March of 2007. Installation is scheduled during April and May of 2007. The budget portion includes $10,000 for 5 mesh repeaters and nodes to be placed at Craftsbury Academy, Menard’s, Stoddard’s, Kinsey’s, etc. The remaining $40,000 of the grant is for 100 radio units at a cost of $400 each for the first 100 customers. About 2/3 of the surveyed people that were interested in this broadband service indicated they were interested in prepaying.

Mr. Stoner said that the Town would need to sign a 5-year contract with Island Pond Wireless. The State had sent a complex contract but told Mr. Stoner that the Town can create their contract and then send it to the State. Island Pond Wireless had contracts already with both Westmore (took 5 months) and Lowell (took just a few weeks). Island Pond Wireless will send Mr. Stoner a copy and he will look it over, compare it with the grant, compare it with the sample state contract and then get back to the Selectboard. The Selectboard may want to send it to their attorney to look over at that point.

Mr. Stoner handed Mr. Urie the grant documentation to review. Mr. Kremer from the Vermont Dept. of Information & Innovation would like the documents signed and sent back along with the invoice. A signed copy will then get sent back to the Town for their records.

Mr. Stoner said that Jack Hoffman still hasn’t responded back to him regarding the 2^nd $50,000 Vermont Broadband Council Grant.

Mr. Stoner mentioned that approximately 325 people have shown interest in broadband, although not everyone can be connected right away. With all 4 towns involved, 300 are expected to actually sign onto the broadband service.

Jake from Island Pond Wireless recently sold the business and hasn’t had time to discuss yet with PowerShift the Wolcott connections.

The administration process should be simple, Mr. Stoner explained. The town receives the money for the first grant and then will pay Island Pond Wireless for the equipment. Island Pond Wireless will give the Town receipts for their equipment costs.

The Selectboard approved Mary Anthony Rowell’s request for use of the Common Sunday night, July 1^st for the Craftsbury Chamber Player Concert. Mr. Urie asked Ms. Brown to check with the Village Improvement Society to see if they have any scheduled events yet on the Common. Ms. Brown will discuss with the Village Improvement Society about consolidating to only one calendar for Craftsbury events to avoid possible conflicts.

Mr. Jones made a motion to approve use of the Common for Antiques & Uniques Saturday, July 14^th. The Selectboard approved use of the Common for Antiques & Uniques July 14^th.

Mr. Jones made a motion to approve a request from Craftsbury Outdoor Center for a liquor license. The Selectboard approved the Craftsbury Outdoor Center liquor license.

The Selectboard received a resignation from Laura Brown. Ms. Brown has been a remarkable lister in Craftsbury for many years. Ms. Warren will send out a thank you letter to Ms. Brown for her years of service on behalf of the Selectboard.

Mark Dunbar had recently called to say that he was happy with the traffic going through on Ketchum Hill. He wanted the Selectboard to know that some young children were traveling on the right side of the road though and was afraid they might get hit. Mr. Urie has spoken to Jim Rodgers and other local people and thinks the situation is now solved. Mr. Urie said that Mr. Rodgers was putting up signs on Ketchum Hill the other day and Mark was pleased.

The Lake Eligo Milfoil Grant had already been signed earlier by the Selectboard. The Selectboard received from Mr. Brodhead a $20,000 Milfoil Grant for Big Hosmer. Mr. Urie signed the 2 copies of the grant and will forward it to VDEC by March 2, 2007, as requested by Mr. Brodhead.

Mr. Jones signed Griswold and Carrol Concrete weight permits, noting to contact Steve Marckres if they have any questions. Mr. Jones gave the permits to Ms. Brown to mail out.

Mr. Urie spoke to Karen Schulman, an Act 250 representative, who verified that the Town does not require an Act 250 permit if it stays under the 10 acres. Mr. Urie also spoke to John Miller, a permit specialist, who did a permit review to check to make sure the town obtains the proper permits for the gravel pit. Mr. Miller said that the only permit that would be required was a multi-sector general permit. Mr. Urie reviewed the multi-sector general permit online and is working on getting a quote to have a permit specialist handle that permit process. The permit specialist said that if the Selectboard can take care of the monthly safety-type visits themselves to the site (while in operation) and fill out simple forms for those visits, the Town would save money.

Mr. Urie mentioned a portable toilet may be needed at the gravel pit during the weeks of crushing/screening. Ms. Brown reminded Mr. Urie that the Public Beach nearby has one that can be used instead.

Mr. Urie is expecting to hear back from their secretary so that a meeting can be scheduled.

Mr. Urie said Mark still needs to get back to him with a quote for the Atwood Bridge before Town Meeting. Mr. Urie will give an update of the status of Craftsbury bridges at Town Meeting.

Ms. Brown ordered a case of 200 free emergency preparedness workbook directions for citizens on Town Meeting Day. Ms. Warren will add their information to the Town Website as well.

Mr. Jones will check with Anne Wilson to verify that she will be the Town Moderator on Town Meeting Day again this year.

Ms. Brown and Ms. Warren will bring in some boxes for the food shelf. Ms. Warren will make up some simple donation signs for it as well.

It was discussed breaking town appropriations into 2 sections, in-town & out-of-town, like some other towns do. The Selectboard will bring it up for discussion under "Other Business" at Town Meeting. Some towns ask that out-of-town appropriates get a percentage of signatures from townspeople beforehand or request that a representative be at Town Meeting to answer questions. The Selectboard will also discuss changing the Memorial Day expenses from appropriations to the budget instead.

Road Foreman Report:

Mr. Marckres mentioned a flat tire and exhaust problem, but all is fixed now. He said that something needs to be done to the other side of the road near LaMare’s by next year. Mr. Marckres said he would work on a pull-off area near the forestry sign, just remind him later. Mr. Urie commended Mr. Marckres and the Town Crew for clearing the roads so well during the big storm.

Clerk's Report:

Ms. Brown discussed information received for a health promotion incentive program offered to town employees. She also mentioned she was in the process of scanning pages of the Town Report. Ms. Warren will check with News & Citizen, printers of the Town Report, to see if an electronic version could be added to the Town Website.

• Various scheduled VLCT & NEMRC conferences were discussed.
• Mr. Jones signed an agreement at the beginning of the Selectboard Meeting with Harvest Equipment for roadside mowing.

The Selectboard Meeting adjourned at 1:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Warren, Clerk of the Selectboard