Select Board Minutes
Groton Community Building
October 19, 2006
Present:
Select Board: Debra Tinkham and David Spencer
Highway Commissioner: Brent Smith
Guest:
Donald
Bliss, Roy Vance & Bill Kennedy (Caledonia County)
Page 1 of 3
Debra called the meeting to order at
7:00 PM.
Correspondence and Selectboard minutes
were reviewed. Debra made the motion to accept the October 5, 2006 minutes with
corrections. Dave seconded the motion.
Cartographic letter was read concerning
map updating.
Letter from the court concerning a
ticket was reviewed.
The bid for snow blowing was discussed
along with the idea of hiring Donald Bliss to do the snow blowing and possibly
mowing the lawns. Donald could do other things that need doing. There was much
discussion concerning the snow blowing job and pay rate.
Donald entered the meeting, so the
Selectboard talked to him about possibly being hired by the town as part time
to do the snow-blowing, lawn-mowing and other odd jobs.
Donald told the Selectboard that he had
checked into the price of a lawn mower deck to go onto the tractor and it would
run about $1,300.00.
The Selectboard discussed pay rate with
Donald. The pay rate of $10.00 an hour was suggested. This was tabled until next
meeting so as to discuss it with Leonard. Dave told Donald that tentative you
are hired. Donald left the meeting.
Dave questioned Brent about his thought
concerning the hiring of Donald at a pay rate of $10.00 an hour?
Brent: Donald has a CDL and that is a
plus along with experience.
Roy Vance and Bill Kennedy presented
the Caledonia County Budget and the Caledonia Sheriff’s budget.
Roy Vance explained to the Selectboard they would encourage the Selectboard to attend the meeting on December 8th at 10:00 am to discuss the rental fee purposed for the Sheriff’s Department office space. The State is raising the rental fee and this will affects the tax rate.
Linda: certified letters were sent out
to all interested landowners and the notice was printed in the Caledonian
Record concerning the meeting of town road # 20 spree.
Debra made the motion giving Jim
Downing approval to contact the town’s attorney concerning the court hearing on
the traffic ticket. Dave seconded the motion.
Dave spoke with Al Sponheimer about
purchasing the radar system from the Town of Ryegate. Al Sponheimer said that
it would be a couple of weeks before the town of Ryegate Selectboard accepted
Jim Downing's resignation. Ryegate will get back to Groton after that. A
suggested price for the radar system was $900.00.
A letter was sent to Todd Power at Blue
Mountain Union School along with an invoice for use of the Groton Gym. Todd
contacted Dave Spencer about the price of $5.00 an hour requesting a reduced
price for this year as they had not figured this into their budget. Dave made the motion of a fee of $600.00 for
this year and then $5.00 an hour next year. Debra seconded the motion.
Page
2 of 3, October 19, 2006
Sidewalk Plans
& Welch Block Parking
Sidewalk plans from Andy Broderick were
reviewed. There was discussion concerning crosswalks being painted into areas
along the street, also parking areas and catch basins. The parking at the Welch
Block was discussed. Both Dave and Debra would like to meet with Andy Broderick
and Vtrans. Linda will e-mail Andy and Chris with Vermont Housing and set up a
time to meet so as to discuss a time to meet, maybe first of next week.
Dave: the Building Committee is holding
a public reporting meeting on October 24 at 7:00 p.m. to let people know where
this project is going.
The Attorney for the Town of Groton was
contacted enquiring if there is any recourse on the reappraisal that Martin Cherry
did for the town? The Attorney replied the town will need an expert witness on
what should have taken place during the reappraisal and what wasn’t done. The town will need to let our attorney know
if we have someone that will testify.
Brent: what do you want to do
concerning the problem of water being pumped out of basements and running onto
Railroad Street as it was last winter?
We can’t require them to fix it in the winter very well?
Dave: Brent can you talk to her and see
if something can be done ahead of time.
Dave: Brent do we have GSP unit? Brent:
yes.
Brent: the curb cut paper work needs to
be addressed on the Branch Brook Road? Dave was going to work on the wording
for Branch Brook Road.
Concerning safety issues onto Boulder
Beach road.
Minutes of October 5, 06, corrected to
read:
Concerns with the early closing of
Stillwater State Park this year.
Stump dump was discussed concerning the
need and places to put one.
Correction to minutes of October 5, 06
to read: Stump dump was discussed concerning the need and places to put one and
it was decided to defer any action to move the stump dump until a later time.
CDT budget- question on fire proof file
cabinet, (have you checked at Vermont State surplus?
Selectboard’s budget- where did it come
from?
Recreation Committee’s budget-
$2,100.00 plus $500.00 reserve fund increases $1,600.00 maybe budget $1,200.00?
Auditors budget – $6,587.40 ?
Library budget- where is all the money
raised? We want some accounting, as this is un-exceptable.
Second Constable budget- question on
hours, need more information.
Planning budget- need to look into last
years.
Forest Fire Warden budget – need to
look at last years.
First Constable budget- accepted as level
funded.
Highway Budget
Brent spoke about underground fuel
tanks removal maybe next year $1,2000.00.
Winter roads increase about 4 %, paving
class 2& 3 roads, Boulder Beach road.
Dave: sidewalk on Powder Spring Road
needs repairing where would this fit?
Brent: sidewalks.
Brent:Thinking next year replacing the
one ton truck.
Brent will work up something so as to
put the old loader out to bid. Maybe list for $5,000.00.
Brent budget increases about 3% each
year.
Dave: Linda, will you start a file for
old roads.
Page
3 of 3, October 19, 2006
Dave would like to put together a
committee for old roads.
Dave will be gone first two weeks of
November.
Orders were signed in the amount of
$4,399.02.
Debra made the motion to adjourn; Dave
seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM.
Groton
Selectboard
______________________________
Debra
Tinkham
_____________________________
David
Spencer
Respectfully submitted by Linda Nunn
Not
Valid Until Signed By The Selectboard