Select Board Minutes

Groton Community Building

September 20, 2005

Present:

Select Board: Leonard Doscinski, Debra Tinkham and Richard Kreis

Treasurer: Roberta Dana

Lister/CDT: Patricia Bouley

Fire Chief: Jeremy Darling

Road Commissioner: Brent Smith

Guests: Laurine Grant & James Dresser

Page 1 of 3

Leonard called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Correspondence and Selectboard minutes were reviewed. The September 6, 2005 minutes were approved.

Linda: haven’t contacted Otterman and Allen on the boundary survey lines but will get a letter written now that the deeds on the Shepard and Cilley properties have been recorded.

Laurine Grant spoke to the Selectboard about swapping the piece of land behind their house that is beside the fire station for the grassy area between their house and the town parking lot. Laurine said there wouldn’t be any problem with the town plowing the snow onto this piece of land just as they do now.

Debra and Leonard filled Richard in on Laurine and William Grant attending a meeting earlier in the year and were told the town was working on getting the land surveyed and as soon as this was done they would talk again. The Grants will put in some stakes so the Selectboard will know where they are talking about. Debra expressed the concern that there would need to be something in writing regarding the snow being pushed onto their land and if the melting snow ran into their cellar and did damage they wouldn’t press any complaints.

Roberta: Tax bills were mailed on 8/31 and tax money is coming in very slowly. She has paid off the line of credit.

Roberta and Linda attended the Vermont Municipal Clerk & Treasurers two-day seminar in West Dover, Vermont. It was a good seminar and very informative.

The State electrical inspector inspected the wiring that Brent had put in for the stoves along with outlets that were needed. Emergency lights needed to be repaired or replaced in the downstairs hall.

Jeremy told Darling’s Auto to go ahead and repair the fire truck. Darlings will be calling to set up a time.

Roberta said that she was impressed with our insurance company, Vt League of Cities & Towns, and their fast response to the claim.

Patricia asked the Selectboard to approve the corrections of the square footage on the Rivers house under errors and omissions as there is a difference of 425 square feet. The square footage was put in as 2050 and should be 1625. Richard made the motion to correct the measurement. Debra seconded the motion. Leonard agreed. So moved. Roberta will make a revised tax bill.

Linda will contact someone concerning repairs to the chimney lining.

Linda will call Martha Crown to let her know the flood plain plan is fine with the Selectboard.

Richard: receiving complaints on the stump dump smoldering. Discussion on the pros and cons of the stump dump and where the stump dump could be moved to or if there is a need to even have a stump dump. Jeremy said someone came to the stump dump when the fire department was wetting it down and wanted to dump a truckload of stuff not allowed at the stump dump. Jeremy told them they couldn’t dump the stuff.

Page 2 of 3, September 6, 2005

Debra will contact Paul Tomassi concerning the stump dump as Leonard said that something was brought up last year concerning the stump dump.

Brent: Robert Farquharson spoke to him concerning the culvert put in below Leonard Doscinski’s property. Altoon Sultan voiced that it is narrow and would like to see something done to improve it.

Brent: the problem is the culvert is bigger and deeper and the ditches tip back so there should be five feet more culvert added on to the end along with putting up a culvert post.

Brent explained that it would cost about $300.00 to $400.00 more plus labor. (The actual cost was just under $700.00.)

Brent: Robert Farquarhson is moving to the Great Road.

Linda questioned Brent about the hole on the Glover Road by Howard Hill’s? Brent replied that Howard was talking about a cellar hole not a hole in the road.

Brent: the wiring is approved and they replaced two exit signs and two exit lights, replaced ladies bathroom light and found and fixed the fan in the ladies bathroom. Also replaced two exit lights in the fire department building.

Brent: Phillip fixed the fireproof filing cabinets in the kitchen.

Temporary electric panel needs to be removed after fall foliage.

Debra: the refrigerators and freezers in the kitchen run a lot. Should they be metered to see if they are costing the town a lot of money?

Linda: people are asking about using the gym on a weekly schedule. Are the Selectmen going to charge a fee for the use as discussed earlier in the year? It may be a good time to consider it due to the high cost of fuel this year.

Richard: What about Town liability insurance coverage when people use the building for private use? Should we get the people to sign something such as a hold harmless agreement so as not to hold the town accountable?

Debra: Thanks to the Firemen and the FAST Squad for helping with the traffic for the first annual Fall Foliage race. The recreation club made about $300.00 on the race.

Debra: Has arranged for the cub scouts, Tai Kwon Do group and the Modern Woodmen of America youth group to clean up the park. Each group will clean it up each week. Maybe will be able to get the Baptist Church youth group to take a week of clean up.

The Welch Block trash problem is being worked on.

Working on the speeding problem, Milt has the radar cart and it has been placed on Minard Hill, Glover Road and Powder Spring Road. This is working.

Debra: Spoke to the Attorney concerning getting Cell Towers put up in Groton area. They will get back in touch with Debra.

Debra: The stuff in the kitchen needs to be cleaned up and some needs to be gotten rid of.

Debra: Still working on the construction sign.

Debra: Cold patch will be put down in the village so that people will be able to walk and the sidewalks will be able to be cleaned this winter.

Gilman Housing Trust hasn’t repaired the sidewalk in front of the Welch Block yet!

Brent: Has there been any response to the letter sent concerning the repairs to the Groton State Forest Road (Rte. 232)?

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Debra made the motion to adjourn; Richard seconded the motion Leonard agreed, so moved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Groton Selectboard

_____________________________

Leonard Doscinski, Chair

______________________________

Debra Tinkham

_____________________________

Richard Kreis

Respectfully submitted by Linda Nunn

Not Valid Until Signed By The Selectboard