A
meeting of the Hardwick Select Board was held on Thursday, February 04, 2010 at
6:00 P.M. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Hardwick Memorial Building.
Members
Present:Also Present:
Marcus
BrownRob Lewis, Town Manager
Kathleen
HemmensAlberta Miller – Town Clerk
Richard
BrochuJoe Brochu - Resident
Tod
DelaricheliereRosie Gillen- Executive Assistant
6:05
P.M. Meeting called to order by Marcus Brown.
6:06P.M.Approval
of Meeting Minutes from January 14, 2010.
Motion
was made by Richard Brochu to accept the minutes with the following changes.
Pg
2 3rd
sentence change “working” to wording. Also
same sentence change “councils” to counsel’s.
Pg
2 under Rec Budget 7th bullet remove the word “know”.
Pg
4 8th
bullet remove “to think”.
Motion
was 2nd
by Kathleen
Approved Unanimously
6:08P.M.Approval
of Meeting Minutes from January 21, 2010.
Motion
was made by Tod to accept the minutes from January 21, 2010 as written.
Motion
was 2nd
by Richard
Motion
Passed.
6:09
P.M. Set/Adjust Agenda:
Tod made the motion to accept the Agenda with the
following changes:
1. The
Road Forman is not in attendance tonight so the TM will update the board in
that regard under the TM report.
2. MB
added a 2nd Executive Session for “contracts” to include the TM which will be
first, followed by the already scheduled Executive Session for personnel.
Kathleen
seconded the motion.
Motion
passed unanimously.
6:07
P.M.Communications from the Audience
None
6:08
P.M. State Representative Lucy Leriche
Lucy
spoke about all the positive things that are currently going on in the Hardwick
area. The
completion of Bridge # 67, also there were a lot of roads paved this past
summer. The Food Venture Center is
almost ready to start construction, and the new health center is breaking
ground. The agriculture economy has
gotten a lot of attention state- wide and even throughout the United States,
which Lucy feels is really good for Hardwick.
The State Ag department is to tour Hardwick and possibly use Hardwick as
a model for addressing future Ag issues.
Broad Band Update
Lucy has spoken with a representative of Cloud
Alliance which is the company responsible for the wireless broad band and hopefully broad band will start
to expand this summer. Apparently there
are grants available for further expansion of cellular services, and Hardwick seems to be
getting a lot of activity and attention on this matter.
Rinker
Update
The
final hearings have been completed, and it is Lucy’s understanding that the
Judge has the case under advisement at this time. They are expecting a decision from the Judge
within the next couple of weeks.
MB
asked Lucy if future appeals processes can be changed to improve this process. Lucy stated that this is a hard balance to
strike. Lucy also informed Marcus that
last year there was a new bill passed that has made a lot of changes to this
exact process, When Mr. Rinker’s filed his case the bill had not been passed so
Rinker would not be able to take advantage of the changes. If Rinker had filed today the whole process
would be treated a lot differently and would go much smoother and would be
vastly expedited.
Lucy
stated that the state has placed a moratorium on the current use program for 1
year. What this means is that the
program will not let any new property owners enter this program or make any
changes for 1 year. Lucy feels that the
revenue coming from the program above should remain the same as well as State
Aid for the roads.
Lucy
also addressed concerns about cost shifting and stated it sometime happens when
the Federal Government passes laws the mandates get passed down to the State which then get
passed down to Municipalities. Debate
continues about the new budget at the State House. According to the new VLCT newsletter some
proposals do in fact propose the state cost shift on to local towns. Lucy is not in support of this proposal, but
at the end of the day she does not know what will be compromised. There is a lot of pressure right now, and
Lucy does not know what else can be cut.
The local people still want all the current services like Police
Departments, roads salted and the elderly taken care of. Lucy is unsure what kind of cuts that she
will be able to vote for at the end of the day.
Vermont
Yankee
The
current contract with Vermont Yankee is due to expire in 2012. The contract price for power with Vermont
Yankee through its current contract is .04cents. When the contract expires in 2012 that price
will go away.
Currently,
the ground water near Vermont Yankee is being contaminated. The Government believes that Vermont Yankee
has lied to State officials and is wearing out its welcome very fast.
The
State Legislators only have authority to make decisions or vote on cost, and
reliability issues. The State of Vermont
does not have the authority to shut down Vermont Yankee at any time. The only authority currently that the State
has is to say whether they continue beyond 2012.
Tod
stated that someone should have the authority to shut them down. Lucy stated that The Federal Nuclear
Regulatory Authority is the only one that has the right to shut them down.
The
State of
Vermont Department of Health has drilled more monitoring wells for more
independent state monitoring. The State
does not feel they can trust Entergy to tell the truth.
Tod
also asked what will happen to Vermonters if Entergy leaves. How much money will Vermonters be responsible
for to handle the clean up? Lucy stated
that the State is very busy currently drafting a bill regarding decommissioning
in hopes of not having Vermont have to foot the entire bill for clean up.
MB
asked if the Legislators are going to take this matter up in this legislative
session. Lucy stated that the State is
treading water very carefully to make sure all positions are covered for this
issue. There are 600 hundred very high
paying jobs currently at Vermont Yankee.
Lucy agreed that these jobs are some the State would like to keep. Currently only 200 of those jobs are secured
by Vermonters and the other 400 are from other states. The legislature is working on legislation
that will help the people who are employed currently at Vermont Yankee
transition into new jobs if the plant closed.
Lucy also stated that Obama and his administration are in favor of
nuclear power.
Tod
stated that Fission Technology is still gaining ground and that Fusion is a
more stable power alternative and much safer power. Fussiou is a much worse type of power and you
cannot get rid of the waste. Lucy stated
that there are a lot of caskets filled with waste sitting on the river banks of
the Connecticut River.
On a
positive note Lucy stated that the most recent “No Texting While Driving” bill
passed unanimously.
Marcus
informed Lucy that it is very important for Towns to protect what they have and
what they are getting. Last year funds
were held back from Towns. The Select
Board is very uneasy about that happening again this year. Marcus just hopes Lucy understands how
important this money is to all towns and how they survive. Any issues that impact our taxes will be
something we get blamed for.
Lucy
stated that the Transportation budget this year has been increased by 3.5 million
dollars; she is in hopes that they can keep that.
6:50P.M.Town
Manager’s Report
Please
see attached Report
The
Town manager wanted to publicly express his appreciation to Tom Fadden and the
entire road crew for doing a great job. He
also thanked the Fire Department and police officers for all their help during
the recent river overflow.
TM also stated that they
have ceased excavating the river banks at this time according to the Water
Engineer.
TM
stated that they have rented an excavator from Pete’s Repair for a month for
the purpose of opening the river if needed.
This cost is $3500.00. Currently, the TM is gathering all
the expenses as a result of the flood for time and equipment. The TM stated these expenses will be
submitted to FEMA for reimbursement.
Joe
Brochu approached
the Select Board tonight with concerns about the way the recent river situation
was handled by the dispatcher. Joe
stated that his father had contacted emergency personnel, but Joe asked why the
appropriate people were not dispatched.
TM
assured Joe he understands and that this is something that needs to be looked
at.
TM
stated that the road crew has been busy keeping the roads all buttoned up and
clear. TM stated that he received a call
from a concerned citizen on Kate Brook Road regarding the slippery road
conditions. The TM took his personal
vehicle up Kate Brook road and could not find where any part of Kate Brook was
slippery or dangerous.
MB
stated that
he came back to town on the same night as the river went over the road at
around 10:00p.m. All town employee’s had gone home and he was concerned because
there was still water over the road on Wolcott Street. Marcus would like to see some type of
flashing lights/barricades used in that situation in the future.
Kathleen
asked the TM if there will be any damage to the Community Garden. TM stated that he had spoken to Monty Fisher
and Monty was pleased how the Town Highway crew handling of that situation. They were very careful not to damage the
Community Garden Sign.
MB
stated that there was a very large frost heave on Hardwick Street towards E. Hardwick
near the Rail Road crossing Marcus would like two signs put up one on each end
to notify people of the large bump.
7:20P.M.Item
# 1 Ratify Pent Road Select Board Order Action
Richard
made a motion to approve the Select Board’s Order & Finding of Fact, as
drafted, to reclassify the Pent Road indentified in said order to a Class 4
Town Highway.
Motion
was 2nd
Kathleen
Motion
Passed – Tod Abstained
7:30P.M.Item
# 2 Authorize Town Manager to issue RFP for Solid Waste Collection.
TM stated to the board
that he has prepared a RFP for Waste Collection for the Town of Hardwick.
This
RFP has gone out to Brian Perry, All Metals Recycling, and Earth Waste
Management.
Tod
stated that he would change one thing on page #2 of the RFP under # 5 to add
Central Vermont Solid Waste District.
Marcus
asked the TM if the board needs to authorize him to do this. The TM stated that he wanted input from the
board as this was such an important element of the town before he sent it out
the door.
Tod
asked the TM if Donna from Solid Waste was aware of this. TM stated that she
was aware and she had helped TM with this process.
Marcus
asked what the candidate will be evaluated on.
TM stated that Solid Waste had provided him with an evaluation form that
they use.
Motion
was made by Tod to approve the issuance of the RFP for Solid Waste Collections
in the Town of Hardwick.
Motion
was 2nd by Kathleen
Motion
Passed
7:35P.M.Article
# 3 Approvals of the Following Liquor License renewals
House
of Pizza
Rite
Aid Pharmacy
Hardwick
Quick Stop & Deli
TM stated that he had
spoken with Joe LaPorte and none of the above licensees being approved have had
any type of violations in the past year.
Tod
made a motion to approve the renewal of a 1st class liquor license to the Hardwick
House of Pizza.
Motion
was 2nd
by Richard
Passed
Tod
made a motion to approve the renewal of a Tobacco License only to Rite Aid
Pharmacy
Motion
was 2nd
by Richard
Motion
Passed
Tod
made a motion to approve the renewal of a Class II liquor and Tobacco License
to the Hardwick Quick Stop & Deli.
Richard
2nd the motion
Motion
Passed.
7:45P.MSelect
Board Reports
Marcus
asked Kathleen about when there will be a Task Force meeting for the Bike Path. Kathleen stated that when the TM had
contacted her about the first meeting she was unable to attend. She will work with Rob to reschedule.
Richard
noticed that this afternoon near the Bible Baptist Church there was a snowmobile going
up Spring Street and then right through the cemetery. George Whitney has two “no snowmobile signs” for
the cemetery.
Marcus
stated that the PD Task Force met with the Greensboro PD Task Force
yesterday to talk about their concerns with the Hardwick Police contract and
their satisfactions with services they received from us and the contract.
The
Task Force has a proposal for them to look at; Marcus would like to have a
good dialogue and preliminary discussion.
Marcus would like to rewrite the contract and start fresh. The current contract does not expire until 06-30-10.
7:50
P.M.New Business
None.
7:51
P.M.Old Business
Marcus
wanted to publicly thank Rob & Rosie for their hard work during the recent
budget season and the Board let them know they appreciate all of their hard
work.
Tod
feels that the Finance Task Force was a lot of help and a great deal of
guidance on getting through the process.
7:54
P.M. Executive Session
Motion
was made by Tod to go into Executive Session for Contracts at 7:58P.M. To include the
TM.
Motion
was 2nd
by Richard
Motion
Passed
8:15P.M.Open
Session
No
Action Taken
8:16P.M.Executive
Session
Motion
was made by Richard to go into Executive Session for Personnel to include Town
Clerk/Treasurer.
Motion
2nd by
Tod
Motion
Passed
8:59P.M.Open
Session
No
Action Taken
9:00P.M.Executive
Session
Motion
by Tod to go into Executive Session for personnel to include Executive
Assistant
Motion
2nd By Richard
Motion
Passed.
9:15P.MOpen
Session
No
Action Taken
9:16P.M.Adjourn
Motion
was made by Richard to Adjourn at 9:16P.M.
Motion
2nd by Tod
Motion
Passed
Minutes
approved by: Marcus Brown, Select Board Chair
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Minutes
taken by:Rosie Gillen