PITTSFIELD SELECT BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
To listen to a recording of the meeting, click: https://bit.ly/4j2sMfP (1). https://bit.ly/4lmhzrX (2)
DATE: April 3, 2025
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, Joyce Stevens, AJ Ruben
PUBLIC PRESENT: Jake Hunt re: NB#1
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#2 – Petition for reconsideration of Article from Town Meeting
MINUTES APPROVAL: March 20, 2025 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. VT Climate Council
2. VT Emergency Services Housing Program
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Appointments – Town Office
2. Town Policy – Municipal Code of Ethics
3. Dogs – Ordinance re: Tickets
4. Town Ordinances – Code of Ethics Enforcement Ordinance
5. Finances – Community Tree Fund Estimate
6. Building Maintenance –
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Insurance – PACIF Playground Loss Control Report
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, April 17, 2025 @5:30pm Town Hall
ADJOURN:
Ann called the regular meeting of the Pittsfield Selectboard to order at 5:33pm. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Ann said she had one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann moved to approve the Minutes of 3/20/2025. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Jake Hunt, Chair of the Recreation Commission, is in attendance to discuss NB#1. Ann made a motion to take NB#1 out of order and move to the top of the agenda. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. VT Climate Control – Ann said this correspondence addressed the schedule of hearings on the draft of the Climate Action plan as well as posters to put up.
2. VT Emergency Services Housing Program. This is a notification that a number of people have lost their eligibility for the shelter and housing program in the motels. One hundred and thirty-three people out of the Rutland office and 62 children are now homeless and have used up their entitlement to have access to the housing and shelter program.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting page 2
April 3, 2025
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Appointments – Town Office. Candace Kadamik has responded to her appointment as an Emergency Management Co-Director and has declined to serve as she leaves Pittsfield for part of the year. Her resignation was noted. Joyce said that she had spoken with Tim Thody. He is interested so Joyce said she would get some of the position information to him. Ann mentioned some things that need to be done. Ann said she would serve as the second co-director if no one else is found. There are still vacancies for the EC Fiber delegate and alternate, and a position on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Ann noted that the Green Up information that the State has is out of date. Joyce has found two people to assume the Co-Ordinator positions for next year as Kristina Tooker and her daughter Olivia Grasso will not be able to do it next year. The Secretary will send appointment letters to Chris Evans and Maddie Kopicki for next year. Ann added that she isn’t sure if the White River Valley Consortium is still meeting and is waiting to hear back from them.
2. Town Policy – Municipal Code of Ethics. This has been posted on the Town’s website and the old one shows it has been rescinded.
3. Dogs – Ordinance re: Tickets. The unlicensed dog list has been updated as of 4/3. Joyce said that she called them almost all on the list. AJ thought the call was better than going out to issue a ticket. There was some discussion about the late fee and the ticket to the judicial bureau. AJ presented options to pay before issuing tickets. He said that he and Doug will need copies of the ordinance and Minutes where they were appointed to do this to present to the court. Ann expressed some concern over the time of violation. Once past April 1st, they should be issued a ticket and not pay a late fee, etc. AJ felt that ticket should be the last resort. Joyce suggested making calls again and if the dog is not licensed/paid for by 4/10, then a ticket would be issued. AJ felt that by waiting to issue a ticket, they are not wasting time and spending the Town’s money. Ann expressed her concern that this was a civil matter. It was decided that the Board members would make some phone calls and go from there. Ann asked about people not on the list but known to have a dog/s.
4. Town Ordinances – Code of Ethics Enforcement Ordinance. Ann handed out A draft of the ordinance
Joyce asked to review it. Ann moved to adopt and sign the ordinance. AJ seconded. All in favor. It needs to be posted in 5 places in Town and in a newspaper. Ann said she would send this to Trish to post. Five percent of voters can petition to disapprove the Ordinance within 44 days. If no petition Ordinance goes into effect 60 days following adoption by the board.
5. Finances – Community Tree Fund Estimate. There have been no estimates from Connie yet. Ann said she reached out to businesses regarding what type of tree would do best and some advice on buying. The deadline for applying for the grant is April 18. Joyce said she would check in Rutland and AJ suggested a business on Route 4 going towards West Rutland. The number of trees was also discussed.
6. Building Maintenance – Joyce said that she was away but that she is looking into windows She will check the grant as to any specifics or restrictions. Ann suggested contacting the Preservation Trust. The Minutes of the Building Committee will be checked in case there Is something in writing. Ann also said she would like to review the invoices when they come in to make sur they aren’t related to MERP and would like detailed invoices.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Insurance – PACIF Playground Loss Control Report. Ann said that in 2017, PACIF sent a loss control inspector to check the playground equipment and grounds. In the report sent to the Town, there were eleven issues ranging from low priority to high. Ann highlighted the issues that have been addressed since then. She said that last week an officer came to the office to see what had been done. He was told that the Recreation Commission is looking into the playground. Ann gave the information to Jake and urged him to reach out to Wade at PACIF. Ann said she would follow up with PACIF and copy Jake on the email.
2. Petition for reconsideration of Article 5 from Town Meeting – Ann said that there are 47 certified signatures that meet the requirements for reconsideration. The taxes on rooms, meals and alcohol were proposed as an alternate method for raising municipal revenues that would be largely borne by out of towners and tourists who frequent our inns and AIRBNB’s and get meals and drinks at the four main meals venues. Local property owners would also be subject to the tax at these venues, but would see reductions in property taxes to more than make up for the local option taxes. Joyce suggested the board try to get more estimates from the State on how much could be collected, then show how much it could reduce property tax bills. It was thought that perhaps this should have been and will be a paper ballot vote at Town Meeting. There was some discussion about when to have the meeting. It must be held within 60 days from adoption and warned, with the warning signed. Ann said she would look back at the draft Warning when the fire truck Article had a special meeting as a result of a petition. Ann made a motion to accept the petition for reconsideration of the Article and set the date for the special election for Saturday, May 10th at 9:00am. She said she would prepare a Warning and leave it for signatures as soon as possible. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
As there was no further business to conduct, Ann moved to close the meeting at 7:04PM. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Approved: April 17, 2025_____________ Martha L. Beyersdorf
__________________________ ________________________ _______________________
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens AJ Ruben
To listen to a recording of the meeting, click: https://bit.ly/4j2sMfP (1). https://bit.ly/4lmhzrX (2)
DATE: April 3, 2025
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, Joyce Stevens, AJ Ruben
PUBLIC PRESENT: Jake Hunt re: NB#1
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#2 – Petition for reconsideration of Article from Town Meeting
MINUTES APPROVAL: March 20, 2025 Regular Meeting
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. VT Climate Council
2. VT Emergency Services Housing Program
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Appointments – Town Office
2. Town Policy – Municipal Code of Ethics
3. Dogs – Ordinance re: Tickets
4. Town Ordinances – Code of Ethics Enforcement Ordinance
5. Finances – Community Tree Fund Estimate
6. Building Maintenance –
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Insurance – PACIF Playground Loss Control Report
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, April 17, 2025 @5:30pm Town Hall
ADJOURN:
Ann called the regular meeting of the Pittsfield Selectboard to order at 5:33pm. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Ann said she had one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann moved to approve the Minutes of 3/20/2025. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor. Jake Hunt, Chair of the Recreation Commission, is in attendance to discuss NB#1. Ann made a motion to take NB#1 out of order and move to the top of the agenda. Seconded by Joyce. All in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. VT Climate Control – Ann said this correspondence addressed the schedule of hearings on the draft of the Climate Action plan as well as posters to put up.
2. VT Emergency Services Housing Program. This is a notification that a number of people have lost their eligibility for the shelter and housing program in the motels. One hundred and thirty-three people out of the Rutland office and 62 children are now homeless and have used up their entitlement to have access to the housing and shelter program.
Pittsfield Select Board Regular Meeting page 2
April 3, 2025
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Appointments – Town Office. Candace Kadamik has responded to her appointment as an Emergency Management Co-Director and has declined to serve as she leaves Pittsfield for part of the year. Her resignation was noted. Joyce said that she had spoken with Tim Thody. He is interested so Joyce said she would get some of the position information to him. Ann mentioned some things that need to be done. Ann said she would serve as the second co-director if no one else is found. There are still vacancies for the EC Fiber delegate and alternate, and a position on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Ann noted that the Green Up information that the State has is out of date. Joyce has found two people to assume the Co-Ordinator positions for next year as Kristina Tooker and her daughter Olivia Grasso will not be able to do it next year. The Secretary will send appointment letters to Chris Evans and Maddie Kopicki for next year. Ann added that she isn’t sure if the White River Valley Consortium is still meeting and is waiting to hear back from them.
2. Town Policy – Municipal Code of Ethics. This has been posted on the Town’s website and the old one shows it has been rescinded.
3. Dogs – Ordinance re: Tickets. The unlicensed dog list has been updated as of 4/3. Joyce said that she called them almost all on the list. AJ thought the call was better than going out to issue a ticket. There was some discussion about the late fee and the ticket to the judicial bureau. AJ presented options to pay before issuing tickets. He said that he and Doug will need copies of the ordinance and Minutes where they were appointed to do this to present to the court. Ann expressed some concern over the time of violation. Once past April 1st, they should be issued a ticket and not pay a late fee, etc. AJ felt that ticket should be the last resort. Joyce suggested making calls again and if the dog is not licensed/paid for by 4/10, then a ticket would be issued. AJ felt that by waiting to issue a ticket, they are not wasting time and spending the Town’s money. Ann expressed her concern that this was a civil matter. It was decided that the Board members would make some phone calls and go from there. Ann asked about people not on the list but known to have a dog/s.
4. Town Ordinances – Code of Ethics Enforcement Ordinance. Ann handed out A draft of the ordinance
Joyce asked to review it. Ann moved to adopt and sign the ordinance. AJ seconded. All in favor. It needs to be posted in 5 places in Town and in a newspaper. Ann said she would send this to Trish to post. Five percent of voters can petition to disapprove the Ordinance within 44 days. If no petition Ordinance goes into effect 60 days following adoption by the board.
5. Finances – Community Tree Fund Estimate. There have been no estimates from Connie yet. Ann said she reached out to businesses regarding what type of tree would do best and some advice on buying. The deadline for applying for the grant is April 18. Joyce said she would check in Rutland and AJ suggested a business on Route 4 going towards West Rutland. The number of trees was also discussed.
6. Building Maintenance – Joyce said that she was away but that she is looking into windows She will check the grant as to any specifics or restrictions. Ann suggested contacting the Preservation Trust. The Minutes of the Building Committee will be checked in case there Is something in writing. Ann also said she would like to review the invoices when they come in to make sur they aren’t related to MERP and would like detailed invoices.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Insurance – PACIF Playground Loss Control Report. Ann said that in 2017, PACIF sent a loss control inspector to check the playground equipment and grounds. In the report sent to the Town, there were eleven issues ranging from low priority to high. Ann highlighted the issues that have been addressed since then. She said that last week an officer came to the office to see what had been done. He was told that the Recreation Commission is looking into the playground. Ann gave the information to Jake and urged him to reach out to Wade at PACIF. Ann said she would follow up with PACIF and copy Jake on the email.
2. Petition for reconsideration of Article 5 from Town Meeting – Ann said that there are 47 certified signatures that meet the requirements for reconsideration. The taxes on rooms, meals and alcohol were proposed as an alternate method for raising municipal revenues that would be largely borne by out of towners and tourists who frequent our inns and AIRBNB’s and get meals and drinks at the four main meals venues. Local property owners would also be subject to the tax at these venues, but would see reductions in property taxes to more than make up for the local option taxes. Joyce suggested the board try to get more estimates from the State on how much could be collected, then show how much it could reduce property tax bills. It was thought that perhaps this should have been and will be a paper ballot vote at Town Meeting. There was some discussion about when to have the meeting. It must be held within 60 days from adoption and warned, with the warning signed. Ann said she would look back at the draft Warning when the fire truck Article had a special meeting as a result of a petition. Ann made a motion to accept the petition for reconsideration of the Article and set the date for the special election for Saturday, May 10th at 9:00am. She said she would prepare a Warning and leave it for signatures as soon as possible. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
As there was no further business to conduct, Ann moved to close the meeting at 7:04PM. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Approved: April 17, 2025_____________ Martha L. Beyersdorf
__________________________ ________________________ _______________________
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens AJ Ruben
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