Select Board Minutes

Groton Community Building

December 7, 2006

 

Present:

Select Board: Leonard Doscinski, Debra Tinkham & David Spencer

Highway Commissioner: Brent Smith

2nd Constable: Jim Downing Jr.

Library Trustees: Diane Kreis, Deborah Orelup & Susan Gordon

Cemetery Commissioner: Thomas Gandin

Guest:

Frank Lapham & Richard Kreis

 

Page 1 of 3

 

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

 

Correspondence and Selectboard minutes were reviewed. Debra made the motion to accept the November 16, 2006 minutes. Leonard seconded the motion with corrections.

 

2nd Constable

Jim has a problem with his pager. Jim has changed the batteries and it still doesn’t work.

Jim spoke to the Selectboard about the articles in the Caledonian Record concerning the radar and pistol. Jim: the pistol belongs to me.

Dave: we have made an offer on the radar system and the vest but Ryegate hasn’t gotten back to us.

Jim: I will be patrolling more as I will be getting laid off soon.

 

Frank Lapham

Where do we stand concerning the Robert Marinace property?

Linda explained about talking to the Health Officer.

Dave, Debra and Roberta explained about State Regulations and how it works.

Debra will contact VLCT and our Attorney as to what the town can do.

 

Richard Kreis

Richard explained about what Dale Brown had found concerning the Park Street Extension right of way and ancient roads.

Richard recommends the town hire a surveyor and a land attorney.

Debra said that Deborah Jurist would be filling the Selectboard in on the surveyor’s findings when she gets to the meeting.

Leonard: we will continue this later when Deborah gets here.

 

Library

Dave questioned Deborah Orelup about the summer programs, Halloween party and the Christmas party? What is happening with them?

Deborah: because of the move and the changing of the Librarians these programs didn’t happen this year. They hope to do the summer programs next year. The Halloween and Christmas parties will be discussed next year on how these will take place.

The Library endowment fund was discussed.

The civic room is now open. There is a 20 person capacity with no bathrooms and no stairs.

 

Cemetery

 

Tom Gandin explained about how the surveying with Truline is coming for the Park Street cemetery. Tom will have Deborah Jurist contact Truline about the additional information from Dale Brown concerning the right of way. Deborah will meet with Roberta concerning the money to pay for surveying.

Page 2 of 3, December 7, 2006

 

Road Commissioner

Brent: addressed the summer and winter roads budgets.

Brent: purchasing stinger blades for the grader and inverters for the radios along with wire harness.

Brent: there is money in the gravel budget to pay McCullough’s and Matthew Puffer and Robert Farquharson for trucking gravel.

Brent: Phillip’s plow needs replacing it’s about $6,000.00 for a new plow.

Dave questioned about asking if they would come down in price.

The plow could be paid for out of the equipment budget.

Leonard what is happening with the old loader?

Brent: starter being repaired and then it will go out to bid. Expect it will be worth $5,000.00.

Brent there are things we need to make a list of that are needed or wants to get.

Leonard made the motion to purchase a plow for Phillip’s truck. Debra seconded the motion.

Dave this money would come out of the winter roads budget.

Brent: there is an iron pipe driven into the road on Little Italy Rd. Maybe a selectperson needs to check it out.

Roberta explained about highway budget.

Dave: Brent how well do you know the boundary lines of the gravel pit? Surveying will cost about $5,000.00.

Dave: Harry Chandler would like to use the gravel pit for tree classes.

Debra: if we aren’t going to have it surveyed now but are going to do it in June when we might as well start now. The Selectboard decided to defer surveying the gravel pit.

Dave questioned Brent about the removal of the buried fuel tanks at the garage.

Brent: taking a guess for an estimate it would run about $12,000.00.

 

Powell’s Request

Linda: Mrs. Powell called and wanted to know if the town would be interested in purchasing their land.

This was discussed and decided the town would not purchase the land.

 

Budgets

The Town needs to start setting aside money for the surveying of the town’s land.

The Selectboard will meet on December 20 at 6:00 pm to work on budgets.

 

Policies

Policy for the Groton Emergency Services was accepted and signed.

Leonard gave an explanation concerning the Fire Chief’s pay $1,000.00 for pay and $1,000.00 for mileage.

Fire/FAST pay was discussed once before. Why didn’t it happen?

This was explained that the department wanted to be paid differently so it didn’t happen.

 

A letter received from the Fire Department recommending the appointment of Leonard Doscinski as Fire Chief.

Debra made the motion to accept the recommendation from the fire Department to appoint Leonard Doscinski. Dave seconded the motion.

 

Dave questioned about the memo to borrow money.

Roberta explained she will need to borrow money before the end of the year.

Dave: Brent has the town got through EPA on the gravel pit?

Brent: the town is a municipality so they are exempt.

 

Leonard is there an ordinance concerning shooting in the village?

Yes, it is posted in the Town Clerk’s office it was adopted in 1981.

 

 

Page 3 of 3, December 7, 2006

 

 

 Gift Certificates

Roberta and Linda: questioned if the Selectboard were going to give the four employees gift certificates for Christmas and they feel that the Listers and Patricia Bouley should receive something as they don’t receive and benefits?

Leonard made the motion to give the four persons $30.00 gift certificates and the Listers along with Patricia Bouley $25.00 gift certificates for Christmas. Debra Seconded and Dave agreed.

 

 

Leonard: there was a fire call the other night and three of the Fire Fighters were hurt. The fireman from Ryegate broke his elbow, a fruit basket will be sent to him.

 

Leonard would like to take a moment to give thanks to all the military personnel that fought for the country at Pearl Harbor and all the militaries that have served their country.

 

Health Coverage

Roberta explained about the health care coverage changes.

Linda was asked to send a letter to Phillip to let him know that the town is staying with VLCT Heath Care Partnership.

Roberta: waiting for the money to come back in from paying for things purchased thought grant money.

Roberta explained about the tax rebate and prebate (Act 158) and how the money will come into the towns on July 4, 2007 and September 4, 2007 and the late filers.

 

 

 

Orders were signed in the amount of $3,139.14.

 

Leonard made the motion to adjourn; Debra seconded the motion.

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:25 PM.

Groton Selectboard

                                                                                                                                                           

 

______________________________

                                                                                    Leonard Doscinski

 

                                                                                   

 

_____________________________

                                                                                    Debra Tinkham

 

 

                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                    David Spencer

 

 

 

 Respectfully submitted by Linda Nunn

                                   

 

Not Valid Until Signed By The Selectboard