TOWN OF SALISBURY
SELECT BOARD MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2009
SELECT BOARD PRESENT: Brian Ashley, Jack Beasley, Jeff Laberge, Priscilla Gilman & Martha Sullivan
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Joyce Cameron
OTHERS PRESENT WERE: Deb Hurlburt, Jim Eagan, Jackie Devoid, Jay Brown and Tom Barker
Brian Ashley called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM Brian Ashley led the group in the pledge of allegiance.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
MINUTES
Priscilla Gilman moved to accept the minutes of February 10, 2009 as amended. Motion carried, unanimous.
Jeff Laberge moved to approve the minutes of February 18, 2009. Motion carried 4 yes 1 abstention
COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS REPORTS:
Road Foreman’s Report
Tom Barker explained:
- a former agreement with the state was for the town to receive a two year grant for the Lake Dunmore Road project. The new person in charge (Jim Cota) does not want to follow through with that agreement. Brian Ashley explained that this would mean that the town would have to put up the $425 thousand to complete the project and wait for reimbursement. Tom will continue to try and reach Jim Cota.
- Tom is saving the town overtime by having Jay Brown do maintenance work.
- The town pickup is still not fixed. He is keeping a log of mileage he puts on his own truck and turning it in. If the town pickup is not fixed this week he will call someone else to fix it.
- The overhead doors on the town shed need to be fixed. He has an estimate of $2600 and will continue to look for someone.
Landfill
-Jay Brown has been doing the gas monitoring and everything is back to normal. He had a question
about the calibration of the meter. Brian Ashley will call Jim Surwilo and tell him the readings are
back to normal and should the meter be calibrated.
Jay had a question about recycling cardboard. Brian Ashley will call Dean at Casella to see what
the towns options are.
Development Review Board
-Deb Hurlburt was upset that the Board chose to send her a memo instead of talking directly to her or
Joyce Cameron about the issues contained in the memo (attached). She and Joyce have been
working with Stephanie Smith from VLCT since December to change the way things are being
done. Brian Ashley apologized to Deb and said he didn’t know the DRB was working on changing
things.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Brian Ashley announced correspondence from: Mark Wilch (letter to Bellinger and Black), Contract documents from Phelps Engineering (Lake Dunmore Road project), Dubois and King, Powers & Byers, UVM, State of Vermont (bridge inspection report), VLCT health trust, Bill from Foster Provencher for Fire Warden, permit fees and mileage, Jack Beasley moved to authorize the treasurer to pay Foster $430.60 to include the 15 cents per permit. Motion carried, unanimous. Bill from Michael Marks for $920 for the Stone Mediation. Jack Beasley moved to pay Michael Marks, motion carried, unanimous. CVPS Boundary Line Agreement ( the date of conveyance was wrong so it will be sent back).
OLD BUSINESS:
Solid Waste Ordinance
Brian Ashley received an answer from VLCT that said we can’t tell haulers what to do if they are not bringing the trash to Salisbury’s landfill. The Board discussed Middlebury’s Ordinance that the Landfill Committee liked. It was the consensus of the Board not to spend the money to have a legal opinion on that ordinance unless they need to.
Landfill Operator
Jack Beasley felt the Select Board should be part of the interview process. He wanted to go on record as saying this process has taken to long. He would like an Executive Session at the end of the meeting to discuss the issue. Priscilla Gilman agreed. Brian Ashley felt that the Board has taken the time needed because the position is so important to the town.
NEW BUSINESS:
Landfill Loader Reimbursement Proposal
The highway now does maintenance on the loader. The Landfill Committee wants the highway to pay $50 and hour for each hour the highway uses the loader. Brian Ashley stated that there is nothing in the present budget for this item. The highway will continue to log the hours of use. Jack Beasley moved to reject the proposal for the loader. Motion carried, unanimous. Brian Ashley moved to have the highway continue to wash and grease the loader as they have been doing and revisit this issue at budget time. Motion carried, unanimous.
W2 Request Issue
Brian Ashley read letters from Mary Anne Sullivan to Eloise Crane requesting Eloise’s and Ann’s W2’s and Eloise’s response. Eloise did send Mary Anne a sheet that showed all income for her and Ann. The Board Agreed that Eloise was correct in not sending W2’s.
Treasures Use of Town Resources
Martha Sullivan felt it unprofessional of the treasurer to send self advertising (tax preparation announcements) with the towns W2’s. The Board agreed that this should not have happened.
Town Office Chimney
Priscilla Gilman brought to the Boards attention the problem with the loose bricks on the chimney. Joyce Cameron will call Bruce Maheu to come look at it and fix it as soon as possible.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Brian Ashley made the following comment “I just wanted to say that it has been a real pleasure working with each and every one of you. I have learned a lot and had quite an experience that I won’t forget. One thing I know about everyone in this room is that we all want the same thing, for Salisbury to be the wonderful place that it is, and it’s just that we haven’t always agreed on how to get there. However, we have worked through our differences and made it through many challenges and successes. I know that the town will be in capable hands as the new board takes us into the next year and I wish everyone the best.”
Joyce left and the Select Board signed the warrants.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 8:55 Jack Beasley moved to go into executive session to discuss qualifications for Landfill Operator, Motion carried, unanimous
The Board came out of Executive Session at 9:23. Jack Beasley moved to hire Philip Witteman for the job of Landfill Operator, Motion carried, 4yea, 1 nay.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:24 Brian Ashley adjourned the meeting, no objections.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joyce Cameron