August 21, 2007

• Approve Minutes of Last Meeting
• Mellett Gravel Pit Update
• Phil Edgerton Flood Ordinance
• Coburn Hill-Donley Goodridge Request
• Road Foreman Report
• Clerk’s Report
• Fuel Bids Date for Renewal
• Mitigation Grants TH-3
• Larry Duane Culvert Request
• Storm Damage & Payments
• Other Business:
• Vandalism Incidents
• June Cook – suggestion for road change in East Craftsbury

The Selectboard met at the Craftsbury Town Hall on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7:45 PM. Selectboard present was Bruce Urie and Jim Jones. Yvette Brown (Town Clerk), Michelle Warren (Clerk of Selectboard), June Cook (Hardwick Gazette), George Mendonca, Carol Mendonca, Lawrence Griggs, Glenna Griggs, Phil Edgerton and Rebecca Pfeiffer were also present.

Mr. Urie and Mr. Jones approved the July 10, 2007 and August 7, 2007 Selectboard Minutes as printed.

The Town is currently crushing gravel at the new gravel pit. Mr. Urie noted that the Gravel Pit agreement has been signed and a copy is in the Selectboard notebook. Mr. Urie has sent in materials to lawyers so that a lease can next be made up.

Mr. Edgerton presented the Selectboard a letter of recommendation from the Board of Adjustment regarding the Rieneau permit application. Ms. Pfeiffer noted that there is a difference between floodway and floodplain. In Craftsbury, floodplains are only approximate. Floodways is an area kept clear of buildings, fill, etc. by maintaining a corridor. She said there are a few things now that the state has requested from Rieneau’s consultant in order to meet the FEMA guidelines. Essentially, the site changes would be allowed for a permit under current regulations because it is an approximate zone because floodways are not defined in Craftsbury Flood Ordinance. She noted that the violation is separate from the application. If Mr. Rieneau meets all the different conditions set forth in the flood hazard bylaws, Ms. Pfeiffer said that Town would need to grant a permit. She suggested that to help protect the floodplain area in Craftsbury, the town could change the Flood Ordinance by treating all floodplains in the town as floodways or limit/exclude fill from all floodplain areas.

The Selectboard accepted Ms. Pfieffer offer to write Mr. Riendeau a letter stating that in order to complete this review since the property appears to be Craftsbury’s floodplains, our office will require the full typgraphical site map showing precontruction contours, proposed contours, first floor elevations, basement elevations, basement fuel tanks placement, etc. She will send the Selectboard and Phil Edgerton a copy of the letter. Mr. Edgerton said after Ms. Pfeiffer sends him a copy of the letter, he will then send Mr. Riendeau back his incomplete application with a letter indicating that it needs to be accompanied by a $25 fee.

Mr. Urie said he is still working on this project, Mr. Mutrux is still doing more research. He noted that this area was a priority for the Selectboard and the newly formed Ancient Road Committee. Mr. Urie noted that the road from Steve Marckres’ to Donley Goodridge’s properties could possibly be taken over as a town road because of the use it’s had. The only area of question is the maintenance portion since Mr. Goodridge has done much of the upkeep.

Copies were made for the Selectboard of the 1895 deed information Mr. Griggs brought. Mr. Urie will forward the information over to Wayne Mutrux. Mr. Urie thanked Mr. Griggs for his helping finding out where the people on the deeds used to live in Craftsbury. Mr. Mutrux could then plot a GIS to put on the town map, then see exactly how the road’s laid out. Mr. Urie would like a surveyor to render opinion on the 2 roads and then get a legal opinion from the town’s attorney before getting back to Mr. Goodridge. Mr. Mendoca asked the Selectboard if Griggs private road is a class 4 road. Mr. Mendoca said that when he asked Mr. Marckres about the road, Mr. Marckres said that it was not on his work map. Mr. Urie explained that class 4 roads are on the State highway working map that the town uses but it doesn’t show any public right of ways. The Selectboard are trying to figure out if the town owns the right of way or if there is a discontinuous done by the Selectboard. The Ancient Road Committee has started to learn the process of recording the information.

Mr. Urie said that the Town has been working on getting the pit open and hoping to start graveling on the Creek Road soon. Mr. Jones said that the crew would be working on the culvert at the bottom of Denton Hill Road this week where before/after pictures need to be taken. Mr. Urie said that the lease is being drawn up now for the gravel pit. A few conditions still need to be met for the pit, but a section of the pit needs to be dug out first.

Ms. Brown noted that $80,000 reimbursement part of the state grant has been submitted since the repair expenses were over $100,000 already. The grant for the $4000 remainder of the Atwood Bridge design reimbursement has also been submitted. The HAVA grant has also been filled out, to help with election costs. Mr. Urie suggested marking the checkbox for help with high-speed costs as well. Ms. Brown also mentioned a few other grant applications and their possible town distribution. Ms. Brown handed the Selectboard the Profit & Loss (Budget vs. Actual) Statement.

Fuel Bids Date for Renewal:
Ms. Brown said that she would work on getting out the fuel bids soon.

Mr. Urie said that he just got the grant information for actual construction to fix TH-3 and will work on filling it out.

Mr. Marckres mentioned earlier to the Selectboard that Mr. Duane would like a culvert relocated so that the water excess won’t affect his farming area. The Selectboard will go up to take a look at the area.

Mr. Urie said he would go to the FEMA Disaster Meeting tomorrow to receive reimbursement for the recent storm damage. Ms. Brown has gotten the documentation ready.

• The Selectboard discussed a few vandalism incidents in the area recently. A resident suggested a neighborhood watch.

• Ms. Cook suggested changing the road portion near her property in East Craftsbury. The Selectboard had concerns for trucks entering/exiting if the road was changed like Ms. Cook suggested.

The Selectboard discussion adjourned at 9:30 PM. Next meeting is scheduled Tuesday, September 4, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Warren, Clerk of the Selectboard