Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes
To listen to a recording of the meeting, please click here: https://bit.ly/3Xl9w1k
DATE: February 2, 2023
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben (Absent: Joyce Stevens)
PUBLIC PRESENT: Marsha Hopkins, Vaughn Micciche, Jen Howard, Dot Williamson; Brett Yates (via Teams)
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#2 – Executive Session
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Citizens’ Complaints/Concerns – Gray Correspondence
2. GMNF – Telephone Gap
3. TRORC - ARPA Funds Update
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Town Meeting – Final Warrant
2. Town Equipment – Mower Purchase Update
3. VTrans – AOT Mileage Certificate
4. Grants – FEMA AFG Grant
5. Grant Writer – ARPA Grant
6. Treasurer’s Report – December Financials
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Town Plan – Draft Town Plan/Schedule for approval
2. Executive Session – 1 V.S.A. § 313(1) (E) probable civil litigation
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6pm Town Hall
ADJOURNMENT:
Ann called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Seconded by AJ. Ann introduced one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ moved to accept the Minutes of the January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting. Ann seconded. All in favor. Ann moved to take NB#1 out of order. AJ seconded. All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Citizens’ Complaints/Concerns – Gray Correspondence. Sarah Gray has suggested the Town of Pittsfield begin what would likely be a year/decade of planning for a road to bypass the village area. She cited increased truck traffic and the ability of the Tweed River valley to support a bypass. Ann noted that this correspondence was to the Planning Commission and that this is a copy to the Select Board. Ann moved to accept the correspondence. AJ seconded. All in favor.
2. GMNF – Telephone Gap. The USDA Forest Service has completed the development of the proposed action for the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project and is inviting written comments for the proposal during a 45-day period ending on March 13, 2023. A detailed description of the proposal and other information can be found on the Telephone Gap Project Website as well as at the Rochester, VT Ranger Station. A public open house is scheduled for February 9th from 6:00-8:30pm at the Barstow Memorial School where Forest Service staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed action. Trish will be asked to post this information on the bulletin board. Dot Williamson and Vaughn Micciche voiced her concern about controlled burns between Lower Michigan Road and Tozier Hill as the burn area abuts properties on the Lower Road. AJ felt that the Town should be made aware of this and how to respond at the public hearing. Ann said that the Select Board will do everything it can to publicize this and noted Chittenden’s website has information on it. Ann closed the discussion.
3. TRORC - ARPA Funds Update. This information came in an email from Sarah Wraight at TRORC. Ann moved to accept and file this. The first reporting is due April 1st.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Town Meeting – Final Warrant. Ann said that at the last meeting the Warrant was approved. However since then another article (Article 7) has been added. Ann moved to accept the revised Warrant. AJ seconded. All in favor.
2. Town Equipment – Mower Purchase Update. Ann moved to table this to the next meeting when Joyce is present. AJ seconded. All in favor.
3. VTrans – AOT Mileage Certificate. There have been no changes to the Class 3 and 4 roads and no new roads added. Ann moved to sign. AJ seconded. All in favor. This will be filed by February 20th.
4. Grants – FEMA AFG Grant. The application deadline is February 10th. The grant writer and fire department have met, and Ann has started uploading the data onto the computer in the Town Office. This should be completed this week. AJ and Ann discussed the reporting requirement and other points.
5. Grant Writer – ARPA Grant. Tom cannot do any more work for the Town as he has started a full-time job. He has recommended that Matthew DeGroot take over the job. Ann cited his resume and his hourly fee. She said she is trying to obtain data. The grant is due March 15th. Ann moved to table discussion regarding the ARPA grant for two weeks and also look into other possible grant writers. AJ seconded. All in favor.
6. Treasurer’s Report – December Financials. Ann moved to accept. AJ seconded. All in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Town Plan – Draft Town Plan/Schedule for approval. The draft of the Town Plan is almost complete. Marsha said that it’s ready for review by the Select Board and noted that there are edits that need to be made and the public can also present edits at the public hearing. Any major changes would need to go through Two Rivers. Marsha stated that in order for the Town to maintain their Village Designation, the Plan needs to be approved by TRORC. If the Town chooses to have a Plan that is not approved by TRORC, it would lose its Village Designation status and be unable to apply for grants. The current plan expires in August, 2023. Marsha and Vaughn presented changes to the Plan. Discussion. The Select Board will review these and the Plan. Ann thanked the Planning Commission members for all the work they have put into this project and thanked them for coming.
2. Executive Session – 1 V.S.A. § 313(1) (E) probable civil litigation. Ann moved to enter into Executive Session at 7:30pm and concluded at 7:36pm to return to the Regular Meeting.
Ann moved to accept the settlement offer from G&N Excavation Inc. and submit for payment. AJ seconded. Ann moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:38pm.
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6pm Town Hall
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf, Secretary
Approved: February 16, 2023
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
To listen to a recording of the meeting, please click here: https://bit.ly/3Xl9w1k
DATE: February 2, 2023
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben (Absent: Joyce Stevens)
PUBLIC PRESENT: Marsha Hopkins, Vaughn Micciche, Jen Howard, Dot Williamson; Brett Yates (via Teams)
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#2 – Executive Session
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Citizens’ Complaints/Concerns – Gray Correspondence
2. GMNF – Telephone Gap
3. TRORC - ARPA Funds Update
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Town Meeting – Final Warrant
2. Town Equipment – Mower Purchase Update
3. VTrans – AOT Mileage Certificate
4. Grants – FEMA AFG Grant
5. Grant Writer – ARPA Grant
6. Treasurer’s Report – December Financials
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Town Plan – Draft Town Plan/Schedule for approval
2. Executive Session – 1 V.S.A. § 313(1) (E) probable civil litigation
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6pm Town Hall
ADJOURNMENT:
Ann called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Seconded by AJ. Ann introduced one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ moved to accept the Minutes of the January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting. Ann seconded. All in favor. Ann moved to take NB#1 out of order. AJ seconded. All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Citizens’ Complaints/Concerns – Gray Correspondence. Sarah Gray has suggested the Town of Pittsfield begin what would likely be a year/decade of planning for a road to bypass the village area. She cited increased truck traffic and the ability of the Tweed River valley to support a bypass. Ann noted that this correspondence was to the Planning Commission and that this is a copy to the Select Board. Ann moved to accept the correspondence. AJ seconded. All in favor.
2. GMNF – Telephone Gap. The USDA Forest Service has completed the development of the proposed action for the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project and is inviting written comments for the proposal during a 45-day period ending on March 13, 2023. A detailed description of the proposal and other information can be found on the Telephone Gap Project Website as well as at the Rochester, VT Ranger Station. A public open house is scheduled for February 9th from 6:00-8:30pm at the Barstow Memorial School where Forest Service staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed action. Trish will be asked to post this information on the bulletin board. Dot Williamson and Vaughn Micciche voiced her concern about controlled burns between Lower Michigan Road and Tozier Hill as the burn area abuts properties on the Lower Road. AJ felt that the Town should be made aware of this and how to respond at the public hearing. Ann said that the Select Board will do everything it can to publicize this and noted Chittenden’s website has information on it. Ann closed the discussion.
3. TRORC - ARPA Funds Update. This information came in an email from Sarah Wraight at TRORC. Ann moved to accept and file this. The first reporting is due April 1st.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Town Meeting – Final Warrant. Ann said that at the last meeting the Warrant was approved. However since then another article (Article 7) has been added. Ann moved to accept the revised Warrant. AJ seconded. All in favor.
2. Town Equipment – Mower Purchase Update. Ann moved to table this to the next meeting when Joyce is present. AJ seconded. All in favor.
3. VTrans – AOT Mileage Certificate. There have been no changes to the Class 3 and 4 roads and no new roads added. Ann moved to sign. AJ seconded. All in favor. This will be filed by February 20th.
4. Grants – FEMA AFG Grant. The application deadline is February 10th. The grant writer and fire department have met, and Ann has started uploading the data onto the computer in the Town Office. This should be completed this week. AJ and Ann discussed the reporting requirement and other points.
5. Grant Writer – ARPA Grant. Tom cannot do any more work for the Town as he has started a full-time job. He has recommended that Matthew DeGroot take over the job. Ann cited his resume and his hourly fee. She said she is trying to obtain data. The grant is due March 15th. Ann moved to table discussion regarding the ARPA grant for two weeks and also look into other possible grant writers. AJ seconded. All in favor.
6. Treasurer’s Report – December Financials. Ann moved to accept. AJ seconded. All in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Town Plan – Draft Town Plan/Schedule for approval. The draft of the Town Plan is almost complete. Marsha said that it’s ready for review by the Select Board and noted that there are edits that need to be made and the public can also present edits at the public hearing. Any major changes would need to go through Two Rivers. Marsha stated that in order for the Town to maintain their Village Designation, the Plan needs to be approved by TRORC. If the Town chooses to have a Plan that is not approved by TRORC, it would lose its Village Designation status and be unable to apply for grants. The current plan expires in August, 2023. Marsha and Vaughn presented changes to the Plan. Discussion. The Select Board will review these and the Plan. Ann thanked the Planning Commission members for all the work they have put into this project and thanked them for coming.
2. Executive Session – 1 V.S.A. § 313(1) (E) probable civil litigation. Ann moved to enter into Executive Session at 7:30pm and concluded at 7:36pm to return to the Regular Meeting.
Ann moved to accept the settlement offer from G&N Excavation Inc. and submit for payment. AJ seconded. Ann moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:38pm.
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6pm Town Hall
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf, Secretary
Approved: February 16, 2023
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
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