Select Board Minutes

Groton Community Building

May 3, 2007

 

Present:

Select Board: Leonard Doscinski, Debra Tinkham and David Spencer

Highway Personnel: Brent Smith

2nd Constable: Jim Downing Jr.

Lister: Laurine Grant

Health Officer: Reg. Guertin

Guest: Paul Berlejung (Groton General Store Ad Hoc Committee),

Bill Kane (Upper Valley Grill & General Store)

Page 1 of 4

 

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

 

The Selectboard minutes of April 19th were accepted as written.

Mail was reviewed. Purchase orders were signed.

 

Town & State Committee

The Town & State Committee was discussed concerning the number of members on the committee and a few of the activities they hoped to talk about working on.

 

Helicopter landing pad

Leonard: would like it noted in the minutes the Dart helicopter-landing pad at the old gravel pit should be plowed in the winter in case it is needed.

 

Highway

Brent: we need a ton truck as the rear end is gone in the 1997 Ford. We had Darling’s Auto look at it and it would cost more to fix the truck than the truck is worth as it would still be an old truck. We have found another ton truck. It is an automatic, diesel with a stake body and it has never been in the salt. It has a nine-foot v plow. It was discussed if it fit into the highway budget. The ton truck is the truck to purchase this year, just a little early.

Debra made the motion to purchase the truck. Leonard seconded the motion and Dave agreed.

The old truck will be put out for bid.

Phillip’s truck is broke. The front spindle is being machined and the other truck has gone back to the shop to have some more tuning up done.

 

Dry Hydrants

Brent: We have applied for a grant to install another dry hydrant on Cold Water Brook.  If we get the grant for the project it will be about $2,500.00 plus a days work.

Leonard do we want to put it out to bid?

The dry hydrant project was discussed with many ideas being discussed. The Selectboard discussed having a circle of people that could do the work and trying to keep the work local.

The $500.00 limit amount for putting things out to bid will be added to the next agenda for discussion.

Debra made the motion to go with the rotation system trying to use the people in town. Have Matthew Puffer do the work this time and someone else next time.

Dave seconded the motion and Leonard agreed.

Brent if the grant doesn’t come through then the funding would come under the Fire Department.

Dave: Leonard do you agree with the funding coming from the Fire Department?

Leonard: Yes as it is for the fire department’s use.

Dave made the motion to go with the funding from the Fire Department if the grant doesn’t come through.

Debra seconded the motion.

 

Page 2 of 4, May 3, 2007

 

Second Constable

Jim: in the highway ordinance there is a section about parking on the sidewalk but there isn’t any amount mentioned on what the ticket amount would be if a ticket were to be given.

Debra: is parking on the sidewalks a reoccurring problem?

Jim: mainly at the Welch Block and in the village along route 302.

This issue was discussed in great detail. Dave will call VLCT to obtain more information on a complete town ordinance draft.

Jim: The police cruiser is fully equipped with more then the light bar.

The insurance will be checked into with our insurance company.

Leonard: Maybe Fire Department, Highway and FAST need to form a committee to discuss what we need for emergency vehicles.

Dave: I haven’t heard back from Paul Keenan regarding the purchase of the radar system. I will give him another call.

 

Groton General Store Ad Hoc Committee

Paul: updated the Selectboard on the Historical Society benefit with Willem Lange.

Paul: May 20th will have a plant sale and swap. Maybe there will be some hay and manure to sell.

Paul: talked with Housing Vermont there will always be a problem getting a general store in there unless there are gas pumps. There is hardly enough room for the septic system.

 

Sickness

Reginald: gave the Selectboard information concerning different kinds of mold along with other things that could be the cause of Patricia becoming sick when she comes into the building. Part of the problem could be lack of air circulation or ventilation. There could be cleaning materials being used that might affect her. There are things that can be done. Testing is the one thing that should be done and bring in fans and dehumidifiers to circulate the air and maybe dry the building out but this won’t tell you what the problem is.

The Selectboard took the following actions:

  1. The office employees were told that if they felt they were suffering any problems that they felt were do to the buildings atmosphere to please let the Selectboard know and not to work in the area if they felt it was unsafe.
  2. Laurine felt the listers were not suffering symptoms from the buildings influence at this time.
  3. Selectboard agreed to make contact with professionals about testing the town offices for hazardous mold particles.
  4. Pat Bouley was asked to not come into the area that is affecting her health which at this point is the town offices.  A letter was asked to be sent to that effect.
  5. The town health officer was contacted as recommended by the state and attended the meeting and offered possible causes and courses of action.

Paul: Fairbanks Museum is doing free radon testing. Maybe they could test this building.

Dave filled Leonard in on Patricia Bouley’s call about becoming very sick after working a couple of hours at the office the other day. She said the Listers are having signs of being sick also. We need to look into having this checked into.  The issue of mold or some other material problem was discussed including having the rugs pulled up to see if this would help. Different ideas were discussed.

Laurine: it was mentioned the Listers are having headaches and sinus problems. The Listers can not say their symptoms are coming from the building as some of it was happening before they came to work here.

The Selectboard have requested that a letter be written to Patricia Bouley asking her not to come into the building until further notice and hopefully we can find the problem.

 

Chuck Wagon

Bill Kane: only here to listen to what is being said concerning a lunch wagon at the Puffer ball field.

Debra: was told there is something in the deed from Harold Puffer to the Town of Groton saying no selling of food at the ball field unless his granddaughters or daughter-in-laws want to do this.

The deed will be reviewed.

 

 

Page 3 of 4, May 3, 2007

 

Planning/ Zoning

Leonard: a letter from the Planning Commission, Wade Johnson, with a recommendation that Cheryl Boucher be appointed Zoning Administrator and William Putnam as Assistant Zoning Administrator and Mary Berlejung to the planning commission was received. At the last Selectboard meeting Leonard made the motion to appoint Cheryl Boucher as Zoning Administrator and William Putnam as Assistant Zoning Administrator.

Dave seconded the motion.

Linda did not hear the Selectboard appoint Mary Berlejung to the planning commission so brought the letter back to the Selectboard for clarification on this issue. Leonard made the motion to appoint Mary Berlejung to the planning commission. Debra seconded the motion and Dave agreed.

 

Selectboard will set the date of May 24 to meet with the Auditors. Linda will notify the Auditors of the Selectboard decision.

 

Insurance / Town Functions

Debra contacted Tina Feeney with VLCT Insurance about some confusion on insurance coverage for fund raising events the Recreation Committee are holding as town fund raising functions. The Recreation Committee should have by-laws.

Leonard: when he spoke with VLCT they spoke about chain of command with the fire department, FAST Squad along with other committees. When the Selectboard meet with the Auditors this can be discussed to see if they have any ideas.

Leonard made the motion to accept the By-laws of the Recreation committee. Dave seconded the motion and Debra agreed.

An approved copy of the planned programs will be sent to the Town’s Insurance Company.

 

Maintenance contract

The Maintenance contract from Paige Computer was reviewed. This will be tabled until next Selectboard meeting when Roberta is there.

 

Budget Money

Budget money was discussed.  How should things be handled if the town hasn’t put money in the budget for that item?  This was discussed.

 

Workman’s comp paper work

Roberta left information from VLCT regarding Workmen’s compensation concerning waivers that should be signed when the Town has people doing work for them and it was reviewed. This will be discussed more at the next meeting with Roberta.

 

Seyon Ranch

Dave has written a letter of response to Betty Eastman’s letter concerning Seyon Ranch with an attachment of the letter from the state.

Dave: the meetings are to talk about the committee working on things like swimming lessons, boat access areas and recreation areas.

Linda will send a letter to Donald Schmidt for appointment to the Town & State committee.

 

FAST Squad

Leonard: concerning a letter of possible sexual harassment by one of the Groton/Ryegate FAST Squad members.  A meeting needs to be setup with the people involved.  Linda, would you get the names and addresses for the meeting?

 

Meetings

Dave: discussed the effectiveness of Selectboard meetings when there are only two members there and suggested when it is known by the end of Tuesday that one of the members will be unable to attend the Thursday Selectboard meeting, the Selectboard secretary will poll (email or phone) the Selectboard members to determine if they can be present if the meeting is postponed

Page 4 of 4, May 3, 2007

 

until the following Thursday.   If so, by Wednesday noon, the meeting should be postponed.  If a member can not make the postponed meeting or if a member objects to the postponement then the meeting shall be held as scheduled.  If there is any question or if there is a matter of urgency at hand, the chairman will decide the timing of the meeting.

Leonard and Debra agreed to try this mode of operation.

 

 

 

Orders were signed in the amount of $ 30,230.72

 

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

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:50 PM.   

 

 

 

 

 

 Groton Board of Selectmen

 

                                                                                               

                                                                                                _______________________

                                                                                                Leonard Doscinski

 

 

                                                                                                                                ___________________________

Debra Tinkham

                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                   ___________________________

                                                                                                Dave Spencer

                                                                                               

 

 

 Respectfully submitted by Linda Nunn

                                   

 

 

Not Valid Until Signed By The Selectboard