PITTSFIELD SELECT BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
“To listen to a recording of the meeting please click here: https://bit.ly/3sqXXrX
DATE: February 3, 2022
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben, Joyce Stevens all via Teams
PUBLIC PRESENT: (virtually) Caleb and Coral Hawley
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: Snowmobile Complaint C5; Sandwich Board Request NB4
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:’
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Thursday, February 17, 2022 6pm Town Hall
ADJOURN
Ann called the meeting to order at 6:18pm. AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann presented two Agenda Modifications (see above). Seconded by AJ. All in favor. AJ moved to approve the Minutes of the January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 2
February 3, 2022
CORRESPONDENCE:
OLD BUSINESS:
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 3
February 3, 2022
NEW BUSINESS:
February 3, 2022
and businesses seeking to establish a cannabis business pursuant to 7 V.S.A. Chapter 33. No action at this time.
OTHER BUSINESS:
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Thursday, February 17, 2022 6pm Town Hall
As there was no further business to discuss, Ann moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:42pm. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf, Secretary
Approved: February 17, 2022
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
“To listen to a recording of the meeting please click here: https://bit.ly/3sqXXrX
DATE: February 3, 2022
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben, Joyce Stevens all via Teams
PUBLIC PRESENT: (virtually) Caleb and Coral Hawley
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: Snowmobile Complaint C5; Sandwich Board Request NB4
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:’
- Better Places Grant
- USDA Capital Plan Contest
- AARP Community Challenge Program
- Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Flood Study
- Citizen Concern/Complaint – Snowmobile travel on roads
OLD BUSINESS:
- Town Meeting – Publicity
- Town Report – Timeline
- Town Meeting – Warrant
- Budget – 2021 Budget approval
- ARPA – Program structure
- ARPA – Community Meeting February 10, 2022
NEW BUSINESS:
- VTrans – Highway Grants
- Grants – Program Administrator
- Vermont Cannabis Control Board – Guidance booklet
- Town Office – Request to purchase sandwich board
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Thursday, February 17, 2022 6pm Town Hall
ADJOURN
Ann called the meeting to order at 6:18pm. AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann presented two Agenda Modifications (see above). Seconded by AJ. All in favor. AJ moved to approve the Minutes of the January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 2
February 3, 2022
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Better Places Grant – This is a statewide program that empowers Vermonters to create and build vibrant and inclusive public places in the heart of Vermont communities. A webinar will be held on February 10that 11am to learn more about Better Places and how it can help advance your local placemaking efforts. No action.
- USDA Capital Plan Contest – Ann said that this was a contest with an awards ceremony to be held on April 7thwith entries due by February 11th. She said she tried to find more information but was unable to. No action.
- AARP Community Challenge Program – Ann said that this was another grant program and had forwarded it to Betty. She noted that the Town Hall committee had applied for this grant last year but was unsuccessful. No action.
- Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Flood Study – This pertains to a study of flood mitigation and forecasting. There will be a meeting February 8thfor public comments. No action.
- Citizen Concern/Complaint – Snowmobile travel on roads. Ann said that this incident occurred on Upper Michigan and Hawk Mountain Roads. The Hawk homeowner’s association does not allow snowmobiles to travel on their roads. Ann said she spoke with Ryan Thompson and explained that Ryan had spoken with both parties involved and it was amicably resolved. No action was needed by the Select Board.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Town Meeting – Publicity. Ann prepared handouts on this, and the following topics noted were:
- Using a sandwich board on the Green
- Having a prominent notice on the homepage of the Town’s website
- Having the Town Clerk add to the Office’s voice mail message
- Posting a large weatherproof sign on the “P” sign on the Green. AJ moved to spend up to $50 for a weatherproof sign. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
- Posting colored flyers on billboards in town
- Post weekly postings on the Town’s Facebook page and Front Porch Forum
- Posting the Warrant 30 – 45 days prior to the May 3rdmeeting. Joyce suggested 45 days (March 15). The Board agreed.
- Posting a notice on the Town Hall door March 1st, the usual Town Meeting Day.
- Town Report – Timeline. Items include:
- Voter backed article submission deadline would be 47 days prior to May 3rdTown Meeting. The Auditors would have to wait to see if an Article would need to be added to the Warrant before sending to the printers and allow two weeks for printing. AJ moved to have the Town Clerk send the reports out as soon as the Auditors have turn them over to her. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
- Approximately 428 reports would be sent out. Last year’s reports cost $768 in postage.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 3
February 3, 2022
- The Board decided to have a link to Town Report on the Town’s website. Ann moved to send notification of the availability of Town Report in the tax bill. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
- Duplicates should also be available at Town Meeting and in the Town Office.
- Town Meeting – Warrant. Ann said that she changed the wording for Article 5 and added Article 10 which pertains to non-binding business and always appears on the Warrant. Ann moved that the Board approve the Warning and once a final draft is available, sign it. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
- Budget – 2022 Budget approval. The Board reviewed and discussed the numbers. It was noted that the Grand List number was the same as last year due to the reappraisal. There should be a new figure available around May 1st. Ann anticipated that there will be questions. Ann moved to give final approval to the 2022 Budget. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
- ARPA – Program structure. The agenda of the Special Community Meeting on the Pittsfield Rescue Plan meeting to be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 was reviewed. Sarah Wraight from TRORC will conduct most of the meeting. The suggested structure of the meeting could consist of:
- Committee’s goal of determining appropriate spending avenues for ARPA funds and make their recommendations to the Select Board.
- Committee’s responsibilities and activities
- Committee’s membership make up
- Provide the Select Board with list of qualified projects
- Grant recipient staff make up
- ARPA – Community Meeting February 10, 2022. An invitation to the meeting via Teams will be posted on the Town’s Facebook page. The various Boards, Departments, and public are encouraged to present ideas that potentially could benefit from ARPA funds.
NEW BUSINESS:
- VTrans – Highway Grants. This pertains to Class 2 roads which Pittsfield doesn’t have. No need to apply for this grant.
- Grants – Program Administrator. Ann said that there is a lot of grant money currently available, and administering the grants involves a tremendous amount of work. The Board discussed the idea of creating a paid position for administering grants for the Town (all departments). It would be possible to set up a repository for grants with the Select Board providing a subsidy to hire a grant writer who would also do follow up. The PCC was suggested, but Joyce and Coral didn’t think that this would be something they would like to take on. Ann said she would make up a list of grant writers and requirements and present it at the next meeting.
- Vermont Cannabis Control Board – Guidance booklet. A booklet entitled Guidance for Municipalities January 2022is provided to assist municipalities working with individuals
February 3, 2022
and businesses seeking to establish a cannabis business pursuant to 7 V.S.A. Chapter 33. No action at this time.
- Town Office – Request to purchase sandwich board. Ann moved to authorize the Town Clerk to purchase a new sandwich board for the Town Office to replace the old one. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- Skating Rink – Coral was asked about the skating rink and said that it is turning to mush. She added that when it is up and running, they plan to post signs with names of the various sponsors and hold an event which the library is interested in holding. She also said that a volunteer has expressed an interest in teaching the little kids to skate.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Thursday, February 17, 2022 6pm Town Hall
As there was no further business to discuss, Ann moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:42pm. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf, Secretary
Approved: February 17, 2022
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben