DRAFT. SPECIAL SELECTBOARD Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Transcription

1 DRAFT SPECIAL SELECTBOARD Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 24, 2017 PRESENT : Patty McGrath Chris Bianchi Ken Lee ALSO PRESENT: Deborah Schwartz (Town Manager, the Manager ); Chet Hagenbarth (Director of Highway & Facilities, the Director ); Lucrecia Wonsor (Town Clerk & Treasurer); Whit Montgomery (Chief of Police); Gary Roth (Chief, KFR); Steve Finer (President, KFR); Alan Naylor (KFR) PUBLIC PRESENT: Curt Peterson (The Vermont Standard); Evan Johnson (The Mountain Times); Andy Salamon; Diane Rosenblum; David Rosenblum; & Robert Salmeri AGENDA: 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of the Agenda 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes of January 17, Selectboard Member Concerns 5. Citizen Input 6. KFR New fire station New fire trucks 7. December 2016 Financial Reports GMNGC Reports 8. FY2018 Budget 9. Warn Annual Town Meeting March 7, Manager s Report Recommendation re Interim Marketing & Events Coordinator Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant Letter of Support 11. Board of Liquor Control 12. Executive Session, if necessary 13. Adjourn Next meetings: February 7, 2017 and February 21, 2017

2 1. CALL TO ORDER The Chairwoman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Mr. Lee made a motion to approve the agenda. The agenda was unanimously 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 17, 2017 Mr. Lee made a motion to approve the minutes. The minutes were unanimously None. 4. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS 5. CITIZEN INPUT Andy Salamon announced Bev Anderson s end-of-february retirement as pastor of the Sherburne United Church of Christ, recognizing her significant contributions to the community. He added that there would be a party in her honor the end of February. Mr. Salamon then suggested that the $100,000 proposed for the World Cup be spent towards Habitat for Humanity, the golf course, or a new pool, asking what else could be done with that money. Diane Rosenblum recommended that the $100,000 be given contingent upon securing the World Cup, then read a statement concerning rescinding the sales portion of the 1% option tax, noting that the Town must be flush to be able to give it up; that that money could be used to pay golf course debt or towards infrastructure and not raising taxes; asked if the money was to placate the mountain; and stated that based on her health issues, her primary interests were altruism, the library, and the animal shelter. David Rosenblum asked if the Town was deferring infrastructure for the $100,000 contribution, noting that costs will go up and the projects will become bigger if deferred. He stated that the Access Road at Sushi Yoshi is a public hazard, citing examples, and asked the status of the 2011 $1.4 million bond for road rehabilitation. Mr. Bianchi responded that the money had been spent on Killington Road and bridges. The Director added that the money had been used on two bridges on Thundering Brook Road, and that Killington Road at Sushi Yoshi was scheduled to be milled and repaved this summer. Mr. Bianchi addressed the $100,000 for the World Cup and the proposed local option sales tax rescission, noting that the money is going to the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), a non-profit entity, not the Resort, and that options tax revenues were up $200,000. Mr. Lee added that the $100,000 would go towards the World Cup only if it returns to Killington. Mr. Salmeri stated that he was maintaining Town crosswalks and plowing in front of his business, suggested that the $100,000 be used to fund bus stops instead; that life safety plowing- and infrastructure bus stops are number one priorities; and adding that the 1% options tax benefits everyone. Mr. Bianchi

3 responded that the $100,000 would go to fund bus transportation to the World Cup venue. Chairwoman McGrath thanked everyone for their comments, recognizing all points as valid, the difficulty of change, and differing long and short term views. David Rosenblum added that the Planning Commission is working on bus stops and infrastructure. Diane Rosenblum said that there would be a letter in the Mountain Times tomorrow concerning the options tax. Mr. Bianchi said that the 1% option sales tax had been in place almost ten years and so it was time to go to the voters to decide if it should be continued. Diane Rosenblum responded that she doesn t want to pay for more taxes so the Resort gets a break, adding that it s a profit-making entity and the Town is being lobbied. Steve Finer commented that folks had been angry concerning the school tax and that we need to move forward. Chairwoman McGrath again thanked all participants for a good conversation. 6. KFR New fire station: Gary Roth discussed the Fire Department Review Committee s recent selection of a new fire station site, and the department s full support of the proposed site. Steve Finer added that while the process seemed to be long, that it was time well spent to ensure that all considerations were appropriately and thoroughly explored. New fire truck: Gary Roth reported that KFR had conducted a final inspection of the KME Tanker truck the preceding day and did not accept it because it did not meet all of their specs. He said that KME was working to address those specs and that KFR anticipated that the additional work would be completed and the truck delivered to KFR in approximately 1.5 months. Gary Roth then explained the department s move to its next piece of fire equipment, a Quint, for less than $1 million, in lieu of the previously planned replacements of a 1999 aerial platform truck at $1.4 million and a 1989 pumper truck at $700,000. He added that the Quint reduces the square footage needs in a new station, has more functionality, reduces maintenance, and enhances efficiency of KFR s response and service to the community. Chairwoman McGrath moved to approve KFR s recommendation to purchase the Quint. The motion was unanimously 7. DECEMBER 2016 FINANCIAL REPORTS The Manager reviewed the Town s December 2016 financials, noting that halfway through the fiscal year, that the Town s expenditures were 46% of the total expense budget. On the revenue side, she acknowledged a large difference between the budgeted and actual taxes collected, actual being almost 30% higher than budgeted, and advised that she would research and report back to the Selectboard at the next meeting. Mr. Lee moved to accept the December 2016 Financials. The move was unanimously GMNGC Reports: The Manager reviewed the GMNGC reports for the CY2016. A public discussion of the money owed the Town and how it is tracked followed, with Diane Rosenblum suggesting a written policy and Chairwoman McGrath suggesting a direction in lieu of a fixed policy. Mr. Lee moved to accept the GMNGC reports for CY2016. The motion was unanimously

4 8. FY2018 BUDGET The Manager reviewed changes to the budget since the January 17, 2017 Selectboard meeting, reporting that these final changes resulted in a revised estimated tax rate of $.3623, a $.0289 increase of over the current rate of $ Following a discussion of the components of the Town s debt, Mr. Lee moved to accept the final FY2018 budget. The motion was unanimously 9. WARN ANNUAL TOWN MEETING The Manager reviewed the articles in the Warning for the annual Town meeting. After public discussion of the articles, Mr. Lee moved to accept the Warning for the Annual Town Meeting. The motion was unanimously 10. MANAGER S REPORT Recommendation re Interim Marketing & Events Coordinator: The Manager reported that Recreation Director, Kim Peters, was coming to the end of her 60 day period in this interim position, as well as the Interim Director of the KPAA. She added that due to the pending Town meeting and vote, ongoing preparations for upcoming projects ad events, and no definitive decision on the future of the position, she recommended, with Mrs. Peters agreement, that the interim position be extended for another 60 days. Chairwoman McGrath suggested caution so Mrs. Peters is not overloaded by her multiple roles, then moved to approve a 60 days extension of her position as Interim Marketing & Events Coordinator. The motion was unanimously Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant Letter of Support: The Manager reported that the Town was applying for another $50,000 grant to help fund the continued construction of mountain bike trails in Killington, and requested that the Selectboard sign a letter of support going to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Chairwoman McGrath commented that a guest at her inn from the Northeast Kingdom commented that he was pleased with the continued development of mountain bike trails in the entire area, not just the Resort. Mr. Lee moved to sign the letter in support of the grant request. The motion was unanimously The Manager reported on a VLCT Special Business Meeting in conjunction with Local Government Day at the Legislature February 15, 2017, and requested that the Selectboard sign the Delegate Designation Form identifying her as the Town s voting delegate at that meeting. Mr. Lee moved that the Manager be designated as the voting delegate at the VLCT Special Business Meeting in February. The motion was unanimously The Manager reported that Congressman Welch would be visiting Town Offices Thursday, January 26, and invited the Selectboard members to attend the briefing he had requested in conjunction with his visit.

5 11. BOARD OF LIQUOR CONTROL The Manager reported that there were eight liquor license renewals and that they were in order. Mr. Lee moved to approve the Town Clerk signing the renewals. The motion was APPROVED with Chairwoman McGrath recusing. None. 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF NECESSARY 13. ADJOURN Mr. Lee moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:15pm. The motion was unanimously