Pittsfield Select Board Meeting Minutes-September 17, 2020

​ Pittsfield Select Board Meeting Minutes – September 17, 2020
 To listen to a recording of the meeting please click https://fccdl.in/iJr5kWW0zG

Agenda Modifications: 

Public Present:   Victoria Hone-Town Attorney (by phone)
Minutes Approval:  Regular Meeting-September 3, 2020
Correspondence:
Old Business

1. Box Culvert #33 project Update 
2. Cemetery project update
3. Dog Ordinance Amendment
4. Quintown Regional Energy Committee Agreement
5. Unemployment Claims
6. Upper Michigan project update

New Business:

1. Victoria Hone-Welcome
2. Drop Box
3. Quintown Halloween
4. Quintown Pandemic Signs

 
Next Meeting Date:   Thursday, October 1, 2020
Adjournment:
 
Ann called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. Joyce Stevens, Mona Colton, and Board Secretary Dot Lucian in attendance. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Public present: New Town Attorney – Victoria (Tori) Hone (Facey, Goss and McPhee) by phone.
Minutes approved:Ann moved that the Regular meeting 9/3 minutes be approved, Joyce seconded, all in favor.
Agenda Modification:Ann moved that Lister Report on Delinquent Properties be added to the Agenda as Old Business #7 and an update on the new town truck be added to the Agenda under New Business #6, Joyce seconded, all in favor.
Ann moved that the Board discuss New Business #1 out of order at the top of the Agenda. Mona seconded, all in favor.
 
 Old Business:

1. Box Culvert #33 project update-  Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and the Army Corp. of Engineers (ACE) will both require permits for this project now that construction has been delayed until at least July 1, 2021.  Ann has completed and sent in the application for the state permit and will work on the ACE application. This  project is still in environmental review for FEMA reimbursement. Ann sent FEMA project manager Kate Sullivan technical designs and contractor requirements to aid in the review. Once FEMA review is completed and funds are committed, Ann will request an extension of the completion deadline which is currently December 14, 2020. Joyce suggested that the extension be for a year until December 14, 2021.
2.  Cemetery project update– Ann said the project will also have to be postponed to go out to bid until next year because there are changes that have to be made to the type and amount of material that need to be used in order to get State permitted. Ann is working with Josh Carvajal ANR engineer on new design specifications and will write a letter requesting work order changes and a one-year extension to Kim Canerci, the Town’s state project coordinator as soon as the town receives a new dollar amount estimate to complete the project. 
3. Dog ordinance– Ann drafted language to amend the dog ordinance to include licensing and barking nuisance. Ann stressed that this was the first attempt to add language to the ordinance and that the Board should have lots of discussion so it is legally solid.  Board discussed late and waiver fees and 1st, 2nd, and 3rdoffense fees. $25 per dog due and payable to get license renewed. Fees will go up by $15 every 30 days. Mona stated importance of enforcing the rules in order to receive payments on time. Mona and Joyce did not want to amend the ordinance to address barking dogs. Ann will update language based on Board discussion and submit for review at the next meeting. The board will contact Constable Doug Mianulli to visit the owners of three dogs that have still not been licensed.  
4. Quintown Regional Energy Committee Agreement– Two Rivers Outta Queeche (TRORC) is organizing a regional energy committee and has requested that Pittsfield join three other towns in signing a municipal agreement.   Rochester and Hancock have already signed their agreement. Pittsfield appointed energy coordinator Matt Corron would attend the quarterly meetings to discuss municipal and private homeowner energy use and match needs with energy  audits, rebates and grants. Board agreed joining the Quintown Energy Committee would be a win-win decision. Joyce moved to have the Chair sign the agreement. Mona seconded, all in favor.
5. Unemployment claims– Joyce has asked the Town Clerk to follow-up on the Town being charged to pay for some unemployment claims for Town Officials and workers. Joyce said Tricia does not expect to hear back from the state soon as there is a backlog of contested claims.
6. Upper Michigan project update–Kricket McCusker submitted to the Board her as-built elevations of the project on the lower portion of the road so Marsha & Keith Hopkins and the Owners of the General Store can use it as a baseline to document future road levels as they requested. Ann moved to send the as-built document to the above and have the Road Commissioner post a 25MPH sign along road out of residents’ concern about speeding traffic.  Mona seconded. All in favor.
7. Lister Report on Delinquent Properties-The Board reviewed the Listers report on three properties that have culminated significant tax delinquencies over the years. It was agreed that each property has unique deficits which need to be considered in deciding whether to put them up for a tax sale. The Board agreed it would be helpful for Janice Stumpf to seek guidance from the Town’s new attorney. Joyce suggested that the Board give Janice talking points about the properties to hold down legal fees. Ann moved that Janice contact the Town attorney for an hour-long consultation on getting the properties off the delinquent tax rolls. Joyce seconded, all in favor. 

New Business

1. Victoria Hone Welcome– Board welcomed Tori Hone and she encouraged Board to contact her anytime by phone or email. Tori will be the Town’s primary contact and provider of legal services. Ann said Tori is already working on a state required right of way letter for the sand shed to certify property is owned by the Town and no easement is needed.
2.  Drop box– Side entrance of Town Hall 10/12. Ann moved to approve the $882 invoice for the new ballot drop box the Town Clerk has ordered online, Joyce seconded, all In favor.
3. Quintown Halloween– Board discussed businesses and homes potentially decorating for Halloween similar to the July 4th holiday reverse parade sponsored by the five towns in Quintown. Possible pumpkin carving and/or scarecrow contest? Trick or Trunk drive-thru? Volunteers to hand-out the treats. Ann said the Library Trustees will consider being the Pittsfield contact for the Quintown Halloween events.   Joyce and Mona both want to preserve the Town tradition of handing out Halloween treats. Joyce said she will meet with those who hand out treats to see how they feel about continuing the tradition and whether they will use safeguards to protect trick or treaters.  
4. Quintown Pandemic Signs– The Quintown response committee is reviewing potential signs to post encouraging the use of masks and social distancing. The Board agreed this was probably not needed in Pittsfield. 
5. August Financials– Not reviewed.
6. New Town Truck– Ann updated the Board on when the Road Commissioner would take delivery of the used Dump Truck, the Town is buying from Braintree. George Deblon told Ann Braintree has not received its new truck because of manufacturing delays and Pittsfield probably won’t get the truck until at least November.  

Adjourn:
​Ann moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:26pm. Mona seconded, Joyce in favor.
 
Recorded by:  Dot Lucian
 
Approved: October 1, 2020
 
Ann Kuendig                             Mona Colton                                        Joyce Stevens