Select Board Minutes
Groton Community Building
April 5, 2007
Present:
Select Board: Debra Tinkham and David Spencer
Treasurer: Roberta Dana
Highway Personnel: Brent Smith
2nd
Constable: Jim Downing Jr.
FAST Squad: Jonathan Austin-Shortt
Guest: Paul Berlejung (Groton General Store Ad Hoc Committee),
Daniel
LeCour, Edward & MaryLou Avery
Page 1 of 3
Debra called the meeting to order at
7:20 PM.
Mail was reviewed.
Jim: questioning what hourly wage the
Selectboard had decided on for the constable at budget time as he had presented
a couple of options.
Dave presented figures on the pay scale
for constables from the Vermont wage and salary booklet. After some discussion
about wage figures and if these figures addressed whether or not the constables
were certified to carry a firearm or if they had any training, Dave made the
motion to pay Jim $12.50 an hour and this would be effective as of March 11, 2007.
Debra seconded the motion.
Jim: would like to purchase a different
hat as his is a baseball type cap and it is getting worn out.
Roberta stated there might be a hat the
FAST Squad purchased for Leonard that couldn’t be returned. This will be
checked into and will be discussed at next meeting.
Jim: there is a chance we could
purchase a 96 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser with a light bar for $2,500.00.
There was discussion concerning the usage of the cruiser between the Town of
Ryegate and Groton along with insurance coverage. Jim: I don’t work for Ryegate
any more. This was tabled until next meeting.
Jim: the radar system is coming up for
service right off. Wondering if there has been any decision made on the
purchase of the radar system from Ryegate?
Dan presented a proposal to the
Selectboard of having the town pay him $75.00 a ton for him to take recycling
materials at his bag drop at the old Newton Darling farm on Scott Highway. Dan explained he is open longer hours then
the one in East Ryegate and it isn’t as far to drive, people can put all
recycling stuff together. Dan presented a list of names to the Selectboard of
people that would like to see this happen.
Dan: there would be two trucks one for
trash the other for recycling. He is charged $40.00 a ton and the other $35.00
would be for his trucks and workers.
Edward: he would bring back weight
slips to be reimbursed. Can’t take hazardous waste, tires, and refrigerators.
This was tabled until next meeting.
Paul Berlejung: the “Benefit Book
Celebration, for the Groton Free Public Library” was very nice and there were a
few vendors.
Paul: there were two authors, Lisa
Kirby-Crane and Mary Hays. Michael Kennedy and Allen Church entertained with
music.
Paul: the next benefit will be for the
Historical Society, with Willem Lange, Author, Story teller and contributor to
the Vermont Public Radio.
Debra made the motion that all events
in the leased store area are a town function and are covered by the town’s
insurance for the remainder of this four month period.
Roberta: has anyone called VLCT for the
insurance coverage?
Debra: do we need to call every time we
have an event?
Roberta: Yes and I am sick and tired of
going over this insurance coverage thing every meeting.
Debra:
I will call VLCT as it isn’t your job Roberta.
Dave: who is in charge of the building?
Debra: I have the key.
Dave seconded the motion.
Dave: Debra, please make the call to
Tina Feeny at VLCT about the insurance coverage and to see what needs to be
done.
Jonathan presented a letter of concern
to the Selectboard.
Paul: free legal advice “who would be
the insured”?
Jonathan: how do you want to handle
this?
Dave: will call VLCT insurance.
Linda explained why Leonard asked
Jonathan to attend the meeting. Addressing the issues of item being purchased
without prior approval and who is to purchase equipment or supplies.
This will be discussed at the next meeting.
Highway
Brent: it will be 18 days before the
parts will be shipped to Clark’s Truck Center so they can work on the truck.
Brent: Bill Nunn would like to purchase
the old junk plow we took off of Phillip’s truck.
Dave:
Go ahead and get rid of it.
Brent: need to set up an appointment
for the annual district meeting with Shawna. Set up date for April 24th
at 9:00 am if possible.
Dave: town septic Brent and Harry are
working on getting information and design plans.
Dave: letter from Auditors requesting
to meet with the Selectboard.
Linda: need to have the Liquor Licenses
signed.
Linda: Don Crum and Tyrone Dyer have
taken the ballots to Blue Mountain to count.
Linda: no one said who would write the
courteous letter letting her know there is a problem on Cheechi Street.
Debra: I will write a letter.
Treasurer
Roberta: Donald Schmidt received a
donation of $300.00 from Washington Electric for the Fishing Program. Donald
Schmidt would like me to deposit the check and then be able to use the money to
purchase prizes for the fishing derby.
Debra made the motion to allow Donald
to use the money for prizes. Dave seconded the motion.
Roberta and Kitty attended the NEMRC grand
list/tax billing seminar. It was very informative.
Roberta: it was suggested that
computers be networked to make the work simpler.
Linda: Ely from Paige Computers said it
wouldn’t be that difficult to be networked and it would make it simpler to do
the work.
Talk with Paige Computers about
networking.
Dave: Patricia Bouley called and told
me after working at the office the other day she became very sick. Also the
Listers are having signs of being sick. We need to look into having this
checked. Roberta, will you please call
VLCT and see if such testing is covered?
Dave and Debra: need to form of a Groton State Forest and Town of Groton committee. They would like to have six people max on the committee made up of business people and safety people.
Letters will be sent out to John
LaRosa, Dave Spencer, Debra Tinkham, Brent Smith, Buzzy (Harold) Eastman, Jr.,
Paul Berlejung and Bill Kane to appoint them to this committee. The first
meeting will be June 27th.
Dave: will you write the appointment
letters and send them out?
Dave: what other events are going to
take place in the downtown street happenings?
Paul: there is the Historic happening
and maybe there will be something with the Fire Department.
Paul: the Volkswalk will only be about
three miles up to the State Forest and back.
Orders were signed in the amount of $
13,080.57.
Debra made the motion to adjourn; Dave
seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.
Groton Board of Selectmen
___________________________
___________________________
Dave Spencer
Respectfully submitted by Linda Nunn
Not Valid Until Signed By The Selectboard