PITTSFIELD SELECT BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click here: https://bit.ly/3B0cYJJ
DATE: November 21, 2024
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, Joyce Stevens, AJ Ruben
PUBLIC PRESENT:
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: OB#3 – MERP grant
MINUTES APPROVAL:
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Barnard Select Board – request for information
OLD BUSINESS
1. Audit - RFP
2. Fire Department – new fence
3. Grants – MERP grant
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Finance – Treasurer’s Report for October
2. Maintenance – Town Office Renovations
3. Town Warrant – potential articles
4. Resignation – Planning Commission Appointment – Planning Commission
ADJOURNMENT:
NEXT MEETING DATES:
· Regular – December 5, 2024 5:30pm Town Hall
· Budget – December 12, 2024 5:00pm Town Office
Ann called the Regular Meeting of the Select Board to order at 6:08pm. Seconded by AJ . All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Barnard Select Board – request for information. Ann said that Barnard was interested in talking about how Pittsfield moved from the Bethel Solid Waste District to the Rutland Solid Waste District. Our contract was up and provided the opportunity. Ann said she would follow up with Cathy, Barnard’s Town Administrator.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Audit – RFP. Ann said she drafted the information for the audit, and we were wondering about who counts as part-time/seasonal. She asked VLCT and they responded. Basically, it’s not an
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 2
November 21, 2024
Elected official on a on a stipend. VLCT gave an example of who they consider to be employees and who they don’t count. The Board had some questions about certain positions. Ann said that the RFP requests that we tell them who are employees. Discussion. She said Pittsfield has 2 full-time employees and 15 part-time/seasonal. Ann said she would get payroll information from Trish and bring this back to the Board at the December 12th meeting or maybe the budget meeting. It was decided to send the RFP out on December 13th with a deadline of January 25th. Then bids could be addressed at the February 1st meeting.
2. Fire Department – new fence. Capital Steel will supply the materials. Joyce explained what would be involved in the installation. AJ said he would like the Fire Department to approve the plans before starting the project. Joyce will get Fire Department approval. The materials could probably be stored over the winter at the Town Garage where they can be painted and ready for installation in the spring. The total cost for the materials from Capital Steel comes to $3,264 with probably another $3,000 for installation. AJ made a motion contingent upon getting everything from the Fire Department, that we approved the supplies and quote. Seconded by Ann. All in favor. Ann said she felt the money could come from the ARPA funds.
3. Grants – MERP grant. Ann said that Pittsfield was one of twenty towns selected, and we were awarded $157,899.07. Ann presented the grant agreement. She explained that the grant goes into effect once Pittsfield gets the agreement back. The start date for the award is December 16th, and the completion date is December 31, 2026. Ann reviewed the projects planned. Discussion. Ann moved that the Board accept the grant and sign it. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Ann felt the Board should produce a schedule as to when each project could be started. This could be done at a later time.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Finance – Treasurer’s Report for October. Ann made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report for October. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
2. Maintenance – Town Office Renovations. There was discussion as to what was planned and other options. The primary concern is the safety of office staff and the library. Joyce made a motion to start the work based on the $5,200 estimate of Denis Veilleux plus an estimate of $500 for the electric to be relocated. Seconded by AJ. All in favor. Joyce said she would speak with Denis.
3. Town Warrant – potential articles. Ann said that she was looking at how the Town Report could be delivered differently. She said that thirty days before Town Meeting, a postcard would be sent out explaining that Town Report will be available on the Town’s website and if residents wanted a hard copy to contact the Town Clerk. A link would be provided. This change would save the Town money especially since the number of printed reports could possibly be 100 instead of 450. Ann read the wording of the proposed Article. She then moved that the Board put this on the Warrant as an Article. Seconded by AJ. All in favor.
The subject of a 1% local Rooms & Meals Tax was discussed. It was suggested that the Board find out from the Tax Department how much was collected last year. AJ said he would contact them. It has to be voted on, and we would like to know how much Pittsfield could potentially receive from this. Further discussion. It was pointed out that a local option tax is effective beginning the next tax quarter following 90 days’ notice to the Department. Ann pointed out that this Article could be rescinded as well. Ann moved to also include an Article on the local meals and room tax on the Town Meeting warrant. Joyce seconded. All In favor.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 3
November 21, 2024
4. Resignation – Planning Commission. Ann said that Mike Moran said he would like to resign from this position. He still needs to send a formal resignation letter. Joyce said she would check with him in the morning at the store. Discussion followed for a possible position with the Building Advisory Board or the Recreation Commission. Ann moved to accept Mike Moran’s resignation. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Appointment – Planning Commission. Ann said that the Planning Commission has forwarded the name of Rose O’Brien to assume Mike’s position. Ann moved to officially appoint Rose O’Brien. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. The Secretary will send Rose a Letter of Appointment.
ADJOURNMENT: As there was no further business to discuss, Ann moved to adjourn this meeting at 7:01pm. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
NEXT MEETING DATES:
· Regular – December 5, 2024 5:30pm Town Hall
· Budget – December 12, 2024 5:00pm Town Office
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf
Approved: December 5, 2024
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
To listen to a recording of the meeting please click here: https://bit.ly/3B0cYJJ
DATE: November 21, 2024
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, Joyce Stevens, AJ Ruben
PUBLIC PRESENT:
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: OB#3 – MERP grant
MINUTES APPROVAL:
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Barnard Select Board – request for information
OLD BUSINESS
1. Audit - RFP
2. Fire Department – new fence
3. Grants – MERP grant
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Finance – Treasurer’s Report for October
2. Maintenance – Town Office Renovations
3. Town Warrant – potential articles
4. Resignation – Planning Commission Appointment – Planning Commission
ADJOURNMENT:
NEXT MEETING DATES:
· Regular – December 5, 2024 5:30pm Town Hall
· Budget – December 12, 2024 5:00pm Town Office
Ann called the Regular Meeting of the Select Board to order at 6:08pm. Seconded by AJ . All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Barnard Select Board – request for information. Ann said that Barnard was interested in talking about how Pittsfield moved from the Bethel Solid Waste District to the Rutland Solid Waste District. Our contract was up and provided the opportunity. Ann said she would follow up with Cathy, Barnard’s Town Administrator.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Audit – RFP. Ann said she drafted the information for the audit, and we were wondering about who counts as part-time/seasonal. She asked VLCT and they responded. Basically, it’s not an
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 2
November 21, 2024
Elected official on a on a stipend. VLCT gave an example of who they consider to be employees and who they don’t count. The Board had some questions about certain positions. Ann said that the RFP requests that we tell them who are employees. Discussion. She said Pittsfield has 2 full-time employees and 15 part-time/seasonal. Ann said she would get payroll information from Trish and bring this back to the Board at the December 12th meeting or maybe the budget meeting. It was decided to send the RFP out on December 13th with a deadline of January 25th. Then bids could be addressed at the February 1st meeting.
2. Fire Department – new fence. Capital Steel will supply the materials. Joyce explained what would be involved in the installation. AJ said he would like the Fire Department to approve the plans before starting the project. Joyce will get Fire Department approval. The materials could probably be stored over the winter at the Town Garage where they can be painted and ready for installation in the spring. The total cost for the materials from Capital Steel comes to $3,264 with probably another $3,000 for installation. AJ made a motion contingent upon getting everything from the Fire Department, that we approved the supplies and quote. Seconded by Ann. All in favor. Ann said she felt the money could come from the ARPA funds.
3. Grants – MERP grant. Ann said that Pittsfield was one of twenty towns selected, and we were awarded $157,899.07. Ann presented the grant agreement. She explained that the grant goes into effect once Pittsfield gets the agreement back. The start date for the award is December 16th, and the completion date is December 31, 2026. Ann reviewed the projects planned. Discussion. Ann moved that the Board accept the grant and sign it. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Ann felt the Board should produce a schedule as to when each project could be started. This could be done at a later time.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Finance – Treasurer’s Report for October. Ann made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report for October. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
2. Maintenance – Town Office Renovations. There was discussion as to what was planned and other options. The primary concern is the safety of office staff and the library. Joyce made a motion to start the work based on the $5,200 estimate of Denis Veilleux plus an estimate of $500 for the electric to be relocated. Seconded by AJ. All in favor. Joyce said she would speak with Denis.
3. Town Warrant – potential articles. Ann said that she was looking at how the Town Report could be delivered differently. She said that thirty days before Town Meeting, a postcard would be sent out explaining that Town Report will be available on the Town’s website and if residents wanted a hard copy to contact the Town Clerk. A link would be provided. This change would save the Town money especially since the number of printed reports could possibly be 100 instead of 450. Ann read the wording of the proposed Article. She then moved that the Board put this on the Warrant as an Article. Seconded by AJ. All in favor.
The subject of a 1% local Rooms & Meals Tax was discussed. It was suggested that the Board find out from the Tax Department how much was collected last year. AJ said he would contact them. It has to be voted on, and we would like to know how much Pittsfield could potentially receive from this. Further discussion. It was pointed out that a local option tax is effective beginning the next tax quarter following 90 days’ notice to the Department. Ann pointed out that this Article could be rescinded as well. Ann moved to also include an Article on the local meals and room tax on the Town Meeting warrant. Joyce seconded. All In favor.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting Minutes page 3
November 21, 2024
4. Resignation – Planning Commission. Ann said that Mike Moran said he would like to resign from this position. He still needs to send a formal resignation letter. Joyce said she would check with him in the morning at the store. Discussion followed for a possible position with the Building Advisory Board or the Recreation Commission. Ann moved to accept Mike Moran’s resignation. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Appointment – Planning Commission. Ann said that the Planning Commission has forwarded the name of Rose O’Brien to assume Mike’s position. Ann moved to officially appoint Rose O’Brien. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. The Secretary will send Rose a Letter of Appointment.
ADJOURNMENT: As there was no further business to discuss, Ann moved to adjourn this meeting at 7:01pm. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
NEXT MEETING DATES:
· Regular – December 5, 2024 5:30pm Town Hall
· Budget – December 12, 2024 5:00pm Town Office
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf
Approved: December 5, 2024
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
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