Brandon Select Board
Meeting
November 24, 2008
NOTE: These are unapproved minutes, subject to amendment and/or approval at the
subsequent board meeting.
In
Attendance:
Richard Baker, Bruce Brown, Bill Hatch, Mitch Pearl, Kellie Patten
Also
in Attendance:
Chris Brickell, Bob Kilpeck, Charles Wisher (Executive Session Only)
1.
Call to order
The
meeting was called to order at 6:10PM by Chair Bill Hatch.
a) Agenda Adoption
- Motion by Richard Baker/Kellie Patten to adopt the agenda as written.
The motion passed unanimously - 3 to zero.
Motion by
Richard Baker/Bruce Brown to enter into executive session at 6:11PM for the
purpose of discussing a potential contract matter. Charles Wisher and the Town
Manager were invited to attend the executive session. The motion passed
unanimously - 3 to zero.
2.
Executive Session - Contracts/Real Estate
The
Select Board came out of executive session and recessed the Select Board at
7:15PM. There were no actions required.
The
Select Board meeting was reconvened at 7:25PM.
3.
Consent Agenda
a) Approval of Minutes - October 13, 2008 - Select Board Meeting
Motion
by Bruce Brown/Kellie Patten to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2008
meeting. The motion passed unanimously - 4 to zero.
4.
Fiscal
a) Warrant - Mosquito District - $6,099.75
b) Warrant - November 24,
2008 - $1,900,300.76
c) Purchase Order #50835 -
Heating Fuel - $14,000.00
d) Consider Audit
Engagement Letter
Motion by Kellie
Patten/Mitch Pearl to approve the warrant in the amount of $6,099.75 for the
Mosquito District. The motion passed unanimously - 4 to zero.
Motion by Mitch
Pearl/Richard Baker to approve the warrant of November 24, 2008 in the amount of
$1,900,300.76. The motion passed unanimously - 4 to zero.
Richard
Baker noted that $1,700,000.00 was for the schools and half of the remaining
warrant is the fire district tax, with the remainder of the warrants being for
the routine expenses for the town.
Keith
Arlund stated Item C is an amendment to the current Purchase Order #50835 for
$10,000.00. Richard Baker questioned whether this included the town garage.
Kellie Patten stated the town hall and the town offices are noted separately
from the town garage. Richard Baker questioned if the town hall and the town
offices use 4000 gallons of fuel. Keith Arlund stated he does not have the
volumes used.
Motion by Richard
Baker/Kellie Patten to amend the Purchase Order #50835 for a total amount not to
exceed $14,000.00 for the town's heating fuel requirements.
Richard
Baker stated he feels this is what achieves the town's objective for the fuel
oil. Keith Arlund stated the amount should be for $14,000.00 for the town office
and the town hall and $10,000.00 for the town garage. Richard Baker stated the
$14,000.00 should provide the administration with enough money, with the
dropping fuel prices. It was felt that the total amount should actually be
$24,000.00.
Motion by Richard
Baker/Kellie Patten to table the previous motion until the next meeting to
enable further research of this matter. The motion passed unanimously - 4 to
zero.
Motion by Richard
Baker/Kellie Patten to authorize the Town Manager to sign the Audit Engagement
letter on behalf of the Board.
Richard Baker stated he met with Leslie relative to conformance with SAS-114.
She advised they view the Select Board as the client and although we authorize
the Town Manager to sign documents, they are reporting to the Select Board and
they would like to meet with the Select Board to review the draft report and
discuss any concerns that either party has. Bill Hatch stated he is
uncomfortable with one of the paragraphs noted in the engagement letter, as he
has never seen a paragraph concerning the reproduction of the audit in an Audit
Engagement letter.
Motion by Richard
Baker/Kellie Patten to amended the motion to have the Town Manager request the
removal of the last full paragraph on Page 3 of the Audit Engagement letter
relative to the reproduction of the audit. The motion passed unanimously - 4
to zero.
Bill
Hatch questioned why this Engagement letter was not received sooner and Mr.
Baker stated this has been the experience. Keith Arlund stated the letter should
have been one of the first pieces of business that the town received from them.
Mr. Arlund stated this is the third year of the auditor's contract and we will
be doing an RFP for this process for next year.
Mr.
Hatch called for a vote on the original motion. The motion passed unanimously -
4 to zero.
5.
Town Manager's Report
Keith
Arlund reported he has followed-up with two phone calls to both of the Thomsen
brothers and he has assured them about the professional work for the clean up,
but he has not been able to obtain a response from them. Mitch Pearl stated he
was under the impression the Thomsens were looking for a letter on this
subject. Mr. Arlund stated they do have a letter. He noted it is probably at
the point where it will not be able to be done this winter and will have to be
done in the spring.
Keith
Arlund reported he attended the certified local government meeting in Montpelier
and he will be working with Phil Keyes on a potential grant.
Mr.
Arlund stated the town is on a list with the state to purchase a 2009 Chevy
police cruiser that will replace the K-9 Crown Vic.
6.
Education Update
Kellie
Patten stated the 5 and 6 grades still has a few wreaths for sale. There will be
no school after tomorrow through the Thanksgiving weekend. The one-act plays
will be held in early December and the week following the plays, the annual
concerts will be held. Neshobe School will have two weeks off at the end of
December for the Holidays.
7.
Citizen's Public Forum
There
was no discussion held.
8.
Public Works Report
Keith
Arlund stated Tom Schmelzenbach is working on the coverage for the potential
storm that has been predicted for tonight.
9.
Committee Reports/Announcements
Richard
Baker stated the first 40 appeals of the reassessment have resulted in hearings
and most of them have been scheduled for inspection. There are 2 appeals that
have not been heard yet. Tomorrow evening will be the first 8 reconvened
meetings following the inspections.
Richard
Baker stated there was an article in the Rutland Herald on transportation and
there appears to be differences of opinions between the Chair of Agency of
Transportation and Rutland Transportation Council Chair. Mr. Baker stated there
will be a Rutland Area Mixer on December 2 that is sponsored by the Rutland
Economic Development, the Rutland Regional Transportation Council and the
Rutland Chamber of Commerce, followed by a meeting with the legislators.
Bruce
Brown stated there will be a low cost spay/neutering clinic through the Rutland
Humane Society on December 9th and January 7th. For
further information, please call 483-6700.
10.
Update on Town Strategic Planning Effort
Richard
Baker stated there were items addressed relative to this subject in the earlier
executive session.
11.
Old/Other Business
Richard
Baker stated the entire discussion of last Thursday's meeting of the Rutland
Regional Transportation Council focused on anticipating and preparing, at least
from a regional perspective, on an infrastructure stimulus package. He noted the
various community delegates were assigned the responsibility of providing
information on this matter to our communities. Mr. Baker stated the incoming
Administration is looking to create or preserve a substantial number of jobs
that will be coming out sometime after January 20. Vermont is under populated
and our delegates fight to acquire a minimum amount of money, while the larger
states get larger amounts of money. A substantial amount of money will go to
transportation and other infrastructures related to it. They are already
discussing items and he noted that the Segment 6 project in Brandon, in addition
to replacing the highway, brings with it all of the improvements to the water
mains, waste water and storm water run off items. The VLCT has been soliciting
information from the municipalities concerning potential projects and the town
needs to be cognizant that this may occur, when doing our budget. It was noted
municipalities may want to bring to town meetings a "What If" scenario for
advanced approvals on infrastructure. A suggestion was made to have a
supplementary section that states in the event the federal government should
enact an infrastructure stimulus package, this is what we would recommend to
apply for and need the voters' concurrence on. The municipalities and the fire
districts that have anticipated and received prior approval will be ahead in
line of those who have not received approval to enhance the advanced
infrastructure. Another guideline noted was the fact there would be penalties
for cost shifts, if towns look at the package to offset some of their
traditional spending plan, as there is not stimulus to do what you are already
doing.
It was
noted the Errors and Omissions report was received late and will be taken up at
the next Select Board meeting. Richard Baker stated as part of the tax appeal
process, there are at least two appeals that lend themselves to being resolved
through Errors and Omissions.
12.
Executive Session
There
was no additional executive session held.
13. Adjournment
Motion by Richard
Baker/Mitch Pearl to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:50PM. The motion
passed unanimously - 4 to zero.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlene Bryant
Recording Secretary
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