Tuesday, April 3, 2007

• Approve Minutes of Last Meeting
• Mellett – Gravel Pit Update
• Bridge Reports
• Liquor License
• Weight Permits to Sign
• Structures & Class 2 Roadway Programs Update
• Set Meetings for Committees, Commissions, BCA and Board of Abatement
• Craftsbury Community Care Center
• Road Foreman Report
• Atwood Bridge Update
• Clerk's Report
• Vermont Rapid Responds Plan
• Other Business:
• Young Bridge Update
• Meetings
• Wireless Grant
• Village Improvement Society Appointments

The Selectboard met at the Craftsbury Town Hall on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 7:30 PM. Selectboard present were Bruce Urie and Jim Jones. Yvette Brown (Town Clerk), Michelle Warren (Clerk of Selectboard), June Cook (Hardwick Gazette Reporter), Kurtis Mellett and Margot Mellett were also present.

Mr. Urie and Mr. Jones approved the March 13, 2007 Selectboard Minutes as printed.

Mr. Urie explained the progress of the Mellett gravel pit. He had spoken to an Act 250 representative and just needs to answer whether leasing, etc. A permit specialist told Mr. Urie that a multi-sector general permit is needed for the gravel pit. The Town had filled out a risk assessment and since it was likely that more than 2 acres would be disturbed at a time, it triggered the multi-sector general permit instead of just the general permit. Part of the multi-sector permit includes an erosion control plan. A Stantac engineer is working on the permit and Mr. Urie hopes that it will be done the 2^nd or 3^rd week of April. Mr. Urie will check with the engineer to make sure he is still on track. Mr. Urie also checked with the State who indicated that once the permit was filed, the approval would go quickly. Mr. Mellett said he had asked Roger to start clearing/scraping the top and also clearing the trees. Mr. Urie said that the Mellets could do the clearing and even start putting in the new road themselves or they could have the town work on it. He noted, however, that they need to wait until the permit is approved before taking on big parts of the project. The Mellets said that they will have Roger meet with Mr. Marckres and/or Mr. Urie to discuss the stripping process.

Mr. Mellett said that Greensboro is also interested in purchasing sand from the gravel pit, but would need it screened and loaded. Ms. Mellett emphasized that Craftsbury would be their first priority. The Mellets requested that the hours of operation be 8 AM-3 or 3:30 PM. Ms. Mellett asked if it was possible for crushing to be done elsewhere. Mr. Urie replied that it would be costly to crush elsewhere and move the rocks. Mr. Mellett requested payments be made quarterly, preferable March 25, June 20, Sept. 20 & Dec. 15. Ms. Brown said that individual truck slips would be sent along with the payment for their records.

Mr. Urie estimated that more gravel would be needed for Craftsbury this year due to the worked planned on the Creek Road. He said that Mr. Marckres gets his sand in May before it gets busy in the summertime. Mr. Urie hopes that the gravel pit will be open by then, but said that Craftsbury may have to get his sand elsewhere for just this spring. Mr. Urie said that if Greensboro wants to purchase sand this year, they could attend one of Craftsbury’s Selectboard meetings to discuss it.

Once Mr. Urie checks with Mr. Marckres, he will draw up an agreement with hours of operation, price per yard, payment schedule, etc. for the Mellets to review and make changes and then return to the Selectboard.

The Selectboard signed their inspection appraisal sheet sent by the Vermont Agency of Transportation stating that they have seen the reports. Mr. Urie explained that the State inspects a selection of Craftsbury bridges on a rotating basis.

The Selectboard signed and dated a liquor license for the Inn on the Common.

Mr. Jones signed weight permits for Bourne’s, Camp Precast Concrete Products and Ultramar. Mr. Urie signed weight permits for Warren Hill Trucking & Incorp. plus Calkins Sand & Gravel. A note was added on each permit indicating to call Steve Marckres if questions.

Mr. Jones said that Scott Keiser from the District told him that Craftsbury would be getting the $80,000 (2 for 1) funding from the State. Mr. Keiser explained to Mr. Jones that the funding could be divided among different projects. $40,000 is planned for graveling the Creek Road from Lavalette’s to Albany town line. The remaining $40,000 is planned for the Wild Branch Road. Craftsbury had allocated $65,000 toward the Wild Branch Road project and with the added $40,000 from the District, the total project is now $105,000. The funding can also be used for culverts, ditching, tearing up the pavement, guardrails, etc. Mr. Urie said Derby has 21-22 miles of Class 2 Roads, Craftsbury 18 miles and Albany has 16 miles. In order to be eligible for this funding, Craftsbury needed to be able to add substantial town funding along with the state funding.

Ms. Brown explained that this was added to the agenda so that the Selectboard can start thinking about dates for these meetings. Mr. Urie said that he wants Doug Morton from NVDA to also meet with the Ancient Road Committee to help them get started and organized. Ms. Brown will order the map overlays requested by Mr. Urie. The letter from Sonya Dunbar will be added to the Ancient Road Committee folder along with a letter from the Cycle Conservation Club. Ms. Dunbar’s letter to the Selectboard requested meeting with the Selectboard to present a proposal regarding providing legal research for Craftsbury. She had spoken to nearby towns who are considering a collaboration of research and sharing costs. The Selectboard agreed to first have the Ancient Road Committee have their initial meeting with Doug Morton. Afterwards, they could meet with Ms. Dunbar to discuss her proposal. Mr. Urie will check with Mr. Morton regarding his schedule and then get back to Ms. Brown with a meeting date so she can notify the Ancient Roads Committee members of the first meeting.

Since Ms. Houston had told Mr. Urie that she wanted to be involved with the Conservation Commission, he suggested waiting until she returned in May to schedule the Conservation Commission’s first meeting. The Selectboard wants to meet with the Planning Commission later to discuss possible projects.

Ms. Brown would like to purge the checklist after the special Town Meeting that is scheduled April 25^th. Ms. Brown would like the Board of Abatement adjustments done by July, before the tax bills get sent out. She hopes to schedule the meeting (with listers & BCA present) at 7 PM on a regularly scheduled Selectboard Meeting night.

Mr. Jones moved and Mr. Urie seconded that the 2^nd paragraph in the June 6, 2006 minutes be corrected from "Discussion was held about the Care Centers request to lower the loan amount they owe from $635,000 to $435,000" to "Discussion was held about the Care Center’s request to lower the loan amount they owe from $617,000 to $417,000." Ms. Brown will send the auditors a notarized copy of these minutes and also Angela Ross with the terms, etc.

Although Mr. Marckres was unable to attend the Selectboard meeting due to illness, he had reported to Mr. Urie that the dirt roads had all been gone through with the grader at least once. The added stone has helped the muddy roads.

Mr. Urie recently spoke with Dale Perron regarding the Atwood Bridge. John Weaver had told Mr. Perron that he questioned the hydraulic effect of the new design. Mr. Urie will check tomorrow with Stantac, who designed the bridge. The Selectboard said that the Town can ask the State for adjustment funding, if needed.

Ms. Brown recently attended a seminar explaining the new prebate process. The Town will get the prebate funding in July and September. The taxpayers will get their prebate statement July 2^nd (Town will get the information July 1^st). Tax statements will need to be sent out July-September to reflect the weekly tax downloads. Towns won’t be refunding taxpayers any prebate funds, only applying the prebate funds to their tax bill.

Ms. Brown is still reviewing copiers. She has decided to choose scanner and computer networking features, which would be useful for handling land records. If the stapling option is chosen, it would cost an extra $850, for a total cost of $5200. It would, however, allow Craftsbury to print their own Town Reports. Last year, it cost $2400 to have the reports printed in Morrisville. If Craftsbury prints their own reports, staff time would have to be considered for copying and trimming the booklets. $4,000 is budgeted toward a copier this year. Ms. Brown would prefer buying a copier, not leasing.

Ms. Brown said that Cheryl Bailey will be cutting back her hours at the Town Clerk’s office. Ms. Bailey will be working more hours at the store during Kristy LaMare’s maternity leave . Ms. Brown will be asking Donna Young to help fill in at the Town Clerk’s office.

Mr. Urie mentioned Vermont Rapid Response Plan seminars offered that members of the Craftsbury Fire Department attended.

• Mr. Urie said that there still is no news yet on the Young Bridge.
• Ms. Brown mentioned meeting notices she downloaded regarding NVDA’s Transportation Advisory Committee and also the Regional Planning Commission.
• Mr. Urie said that the Craftsbury received the 2^nd $50,000 wireless grant.
• Ms. Brown informed the Selectboard that their Village Improvement Society appointments were no longer members. The Selectboard re-appointed the following people for the Village Improvement Society: Clyde Simmons, Gregory Majewski and James Walton.

The Selectboard Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM. The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled 7:30 PM on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at the Craftsbury Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Warren, Clerk of the Selectboard