Littleton Board of Selectmen-Meeting
Minutes-April 12, 2006
TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: Chairman
George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Selectman
Ed Farrell, Town
Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Stephanie Eaton who had been scheduled for a 4:00 pm. Appointment was not present at this time.
Carol Cullen noted that a check for $66,700 has been submitted for the Kardell Road, a subdivision recently approved off the St. Johnsbury Road. Larry Jackson had inspected the road and made recommendations for further improvement. The improvements have now been completed. Carol asked the Selectmen to approve the establishment of an Escrow Account for this Road.
Selectman Ingerson moved to set up an Escrow Account for this purpose. The motion was seconded by Selectman Farrell and carried 3-0.
Carol Cullen presented a packet of abatement requests which have been reviewed by MRI. She noted the Board of Land and Tax Appeals has denied many applications because they were not signed by the property owners but signed only by the Agent. This is not acceptable to the State and they have made it clear that these applications will not be approved. Selectman Farrell asked Carol for more information on a couple of the abatements which were not clear to him and she was able to answer his questions.
Selectman Farrell moved to go with the recommendation of MRI approving the abatement they had approved and denying those which they felt should be denied. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0
Bernard Chase noted there is another hole on the Redington Street Bridge which needs attention and asked the Board to take a look at it. Jason noted the problem and will pass along this information to the Highway Department.
Dick Merrill asked if the Board will be making appointment today. Selectman Farrell stated some appointments will be made but the majority of the appointments will be made after giving time for people to respond to the advertisement for volunteers which just came out in the Courier today.
Mr. Merrill asked if Carol Murray indicated there will be less money available to Littleton in light of the flooding which took place in the southern part of the State. Jason stated the Ms. Murray did not think the flooding would affect the amount of funding for Littleton.
Jason noted he and the Board are still exploring the topics for a Special Town Meeting. Legal Counsel has advised that every appropriation article intended to be heard at a Special Town Meeting will have to be petitioned and approved by the Superior Court. The Court will look at whether it is indeed an emergency and cannot wait or was not anticipated at the last Town Meeting. Jason feels the Police Facility and Opera House issues will qualify for this criteria. He is not sure how the Parking Lot Article will meet the criteria for Special town Meeting because this article could wait until next year if necessary. Non-appropriation article do not need approval from Superior Court but can be handled through a Special Town Meeting authorized by the Selectmen. Any Citizen’s Petition for a Special town Meeting will be bundled up together with the paperwork for the Court.
Jason is in receipt of a draft contract for engineering services from VHB for the Main Street project. They have estimated their fee to be $233,000. Jason will try to get this figure whittled down some as he feels there are some areas where VHB will be able to tighten up some of the figures. He hopes to have this ready for the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
Jason has had various meetings with interested parties in getting a Co-op here in Town. There is a meeting scheduled for April 24th at 7:00 pm at the Littleton High School Cafeteria. Jason stated the media has done a good job in covering the history of the Co-op and the local interest in the Co-op.
The Highway Department will start sweeping the streets next week. A winter damage list is being complied and these repairs will be made soon. Property owners whose property was damaged by plow trucks will be notified by mail that the repairs will be done as soon as whether and time permits.
Jason has been in negotiations with union employees from the Police Department. Health insurance is the major issue in these discussions. He will start negotiations with the AFSME union employees soon.
Selectman Ingerson moved to approve the Conference & Meeting Reimbursement Policy as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ed Farrell and carried 3-0.
After some discussion to clarify, Selectman Farrell moved to approve the Leave Time Bank Policy as submitted. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Jason stated he will be meeting with Bob O’Connor to set up a time for a Town Manager’s Report to be carried on Channel 2.
Selectman Farrell moved to appoint Joel Bedor, Jeff Wheeler, Linda MacNeil, Dan Cullen and Mary Swinyer to the Town Building/Police Facility Committee. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Selectman Farrell moved to appoint Don Craigie, Ed Hennesy and Burt Ingerson to the Moore Dam Revaluation Committee along with the addition members as specified in the Warrant Article. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
The Board agreed to wait until the next Selectmen’s Meeting before appointing additional people. They would like to see what kind of feedback they receive from the ad for Volunteers which ran in the Courier this week.
Dick Merrill stated he thought the town Building/Police Facility Committee was going to be a waste of time as this has been studied many times before and the material is available for review. Selectman Farrell stated there is nothing to lose by going over the material and data available.
Selectman Farrell stated he would like to have another work session to go over the budget again.
Fire Chief Joe Mercieri requested the Town send a thank you letter to the Town of St. Johnsbury. He explained that last week the Town was in a position where both engines were down and out of commission. Chief Mercieri made a call to Troy Ruggles of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department and an engine with personnel was dispatched to Littleton where they spent 2 ½ days until our engines were up and running again. Chief Mercieri stated this was above and beyond their call of duty. Jason will send a letter to St. Johnsbury.
Selectman Ingerson moved to approve the minutes of March 29, 2005 as amended. The motion was seconded by Selectman Farrell and carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent, Executive Assistant ___________________________
Vice Chairman Burton E. Ingerson
______________________________
Chairman George O. Hicks ___________________________
Selectman Edward Farrell