~ APPROVED ~

September 19, 2006

The Selectboard met at the Craftsbury Town Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 19^th at 7:30 PM. Selectboard present were Bruce Urie, Jim Jones and Susan Houston. Yvette Brown (Town Clerk), Michelle Warren (Selectboard Clerk), and June Cook (Hardwick Gazette) were also present.

Ms. Houston thanked Ms. Warren for emailing the unapproved minutes from the previous meeting ahead of time. Emailing the agenda ahead of time was considered but since much of the agenda was added at the last minute, it would be easier for the Selectboard to stop by the Town Hall on the day of the Selectboard meeting instead

Mr. Urie said that he had spoken with George B. regarding the status of the Atwood Bridge. He will have the final design to the Selectboard by early November. Mr. Urie had told George that it was critical that the Selectboard got its money in by the end of the year. Ms. Brown said that she hasn't had a chance yet to check with Scott.

Mr. Urie said that he had spoken to Wayne Mutrux regarding the Ancient Road Grant that's due September 29, 2006. Mr. Urie is awaiting a specific number needed for the Ancient Road Grant from Mr. Mutrux, who has been very busy. As soon as Mr. Urie has that number, he will contact the rest of the Selectboard so that they can meet briefly to finish up the grant.

Mr. Urie noted that the Town Hall water leak has been fixed. Steve Marckres had found water bubbling up from a culvert between the back of the store and Town Hall. Mr. Marckres then dug up and replaced the leaking pipe.

The September 4, 2006 minutes were approved.

Ms. Warren said when the Recreation Committee discussed the issue of parking for Old Home Day at their last meeting, they decided to ask the Selectboard for assistance. With cars parked so close on both sides of the road on the Common, the participants in the parade had to be careful since the road became so narrow. The Recreation Committee had thought of asking people to park at the top of Dustan Field and possibly moving the Farmer's Market inside of the fence to allow for more room. Mr. Urie suggested the Recreation Committee meet with the Farmer's Market group to discuss possible relocation ideas. The traffic speed through the Common on Old Home Day from people just driving through was an issue as well. Putting up barricades and deter signs so visitors had to go around the Common was also considered. Extra signage in town entry points to warn people ahead of time about the parade was suggested as well. Mr. Urie said that the Selectboard will continue to think about the problem and when the Recreation Committee meets early this winter with the Selectboard, it would be a good time to discuss possible solutions.

Ms. Warren said that a group of people met Sept. 12^th about the new Craftsbury town website. She gave the Selectboard a letter with an overview of the website meeting. On behalf of the website group, Ms. Warren asked if the Selectboard could make the website group a town committee (like the Recreation Committee) to help make the website more official. Ms. Warren also mentioned that the group had some other suggestions noted in the letter, such as adding the town website to town correspondence. Ms. Brown said that she could do that. Ms. Brown also mentioned that she wanted the Selectboard to know that due to the increase of technology use in general (not necessarily from the town website however), the number of emails sent to the Town Hall has also increased considerably. Email takes much more time than just answering a phone call question and will continue to increase the workload at the Town Hall and possibly the amount of personnel as well. Ms. Brown remarked that she has had positive comments about the website. Mr. Urie asked if the people that showed up at the website meeting were interested in being on a website committee and Ms. Warren said yes. Ms. Warren suggested that 10-12 people on the website committee would be helpful, especially for gathering information for the calendar. Mr. Urie said to leave it open for right now and the Selectboard will try and come up with some more names, possibly put a notice in the paper, and then send out letters to see if we can get more people for the website group. Mr. Urie volunteered to be the website's town official contact person who would review the website and send in updated town information. Mr. Urie mentioned that he had spoken to Rob Libby who is working on getting some pictures of the town forest work, which hopefully can be added to the website. A Community Town Forest Workshop Meeting is scheduled 8:30 AM-4:30 PM on Saturday, Sept. 30^th at Craftsbury Academy.

Mr. Jones presented a bill given to the Selectboard by James Moffat from the Forestry Committee. The $276.75 bill was for the new Craftsbury Town Forestry sign created by Karen Latimer. Mr. Jones explained that this pertained to the grant that the town is applying for which requires making a sign and building a trail. Mr. Moffat just wanted to get the bill paid before the second part of the grant came in. Ms. Brown had told Mr. Moffat that since the grant was already approved, it shouldn't be a problem. The Selectboard approved paying the $276.75 bill with the understanding that the Forestry Committee money would be used to pay for the sign and then when the grant money was received, the Forestry Committee account would be reimbursed.

Mr. Moffat had asked Mr. Jones if it was possible to have a set amount of money to use so they didn't have to keep asking the Selectboard for approval on each bill. Ms. Brown had told Mr. Moffat that all town money had to be approved by the Selectboard. The Selectboard agreed that all town expenditures had to go through the town first. If Mr. Moffat knew ahead of time that he needs to buy something like trees however, he could get a check in advance.

The Selectboard remarked that eventually they would have to address the funds in the municipal forest account that totaled more than $62,000.

Mr. Urie had spoken to Mr. Marckres briefly. The town crew is still ditching and hauling gravel.

Ms. Brown said that she was still wrapping up the election from Sept. 12^th and that over $500,000 has been collected in taxes already. The General Election is scheduled November 7^th and Property Taxes are due November 15^th.

The Storm Water Litigation Grant needed to have landowner permission before the Selectboard could proceed. Mr. Urie asked Glen & Chris Coville for permission. The Covilles stopped into the Town Hall and signed a form that granted the town of Craftsbury, and whomever they hire, permission to repair the erosion damage on Highway 3 across from Denton Hill Road. Mr. Urie asked Ms. Brown to send a copy to William McManus, program manager of the Vermont Municipal Storm Water Litigation Grant. Mr. Urie will work with Ms. Brown to finish up the paperwork he had dropped off with Cheryl Bailey. This is round two of the Storm Water Litigation Grant.

The possibility of the Conservation Committee, carried over from the last Selectboard meeting, was also discussed. David Stoner had recommended the following people that volunteered to be on the potential committee: Ann Ingersol, Diane Morgan & Steve Wright. The Selectboard decided that the group needed conversation. This would be a committee to study whether or not a conservation commission should be put on the town meeting agenda. Ms. Houston had brought a list of people who had attended recent land meeting issues, information regarding what municipal conservation commissions do, and 1977 conservation commission legislation.

Mr. Urie remarked that many people do not understand the work of conservation commissions and that it is not a zoning type organization. Many people think that this committee would have much overflow/duplication with the Forestry Committee and the Selectboard needs to consider all of that. Ms. Brown made copies of the conservation information provided by Ms. Houston so that the Selectboard can help explain what conservation committees do when people ask. Ms. Houston said that the town of Craftsbury could design the conservation commission as it so chose with broad-based possibilities. Many towns have a conservation committee do a wide variety of projects. Mr. Urie mentioned that there is an educational factor regarding the conservation commission since not many people understand this type of committee. To help balance out the conservation committee list with a variety of people from different area of town, they selected Jim Waterhouse, Mark Dunbar, Ernie or Ken Menard, Paula Masse, Randi Calderwood in addition to the volunteers Steve Wright, Diane Morgan and Ann Ingersol. David Linck will be a extra back up person. Mr. Urie will send a draft request letter to Ms. Houston for her approval, then will send out the letter to the people selected. The Selectboard will set up a projected meeting date of Oct. 17^th with the conservation committee , give them copies of the information that Ms. Houston supplied, and also let the group know what is expected of them by January.

Mr. Urie gave an update on the Broadband Committee, which met last Saturday. The grant application is due Oct. 18^th. The Committee is pushing the regional approach with representatives from Albany Glover, Greensboro because the Craftsbury broadband service would extend into part of their towns as well. The group is trying to work with representatives, estimating customer numbers and possible equipment locations. The next meeting is scheduled Saturday, Oct. 7^th in which the committee will firm up the remainder of the grant. Jake Marsh, Head of Island Pond Wireless, met with landowners and is optimistic. The Broadband Committee is looking into raising money to help offset the initial $200,000 set up cost. If a group of subscribers signs up initially, it could bring down the estimated $175 installation cost down to only $100-$125. A few possible test sites are scheduled to be set up in October. Mr. Urie remarked that getting broadband to Craftsbury would be a benefit for the town.

Meeting adjourned at 9 PM. Next Selectboard meeting is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 3^rd at 7:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Warren, Selectboard Clerk