Selectboard
Minutes of 1/11/2005

Present: Walter Kelley, Bill Callnan, Cindy Carlson, June Lakin, Gary Lamell, Abe Lewis, Shawn Fielder, Peter Hood, Karen Greenwood, Dick Alderman

Meeting called to order at 7:05 pm.

Abe Lewis and Shawn Fielder update the Board on the Rumney School Budget. The School has set their proposed 2005-2006 budget with a 1.5% increase. The CLA is 101.77 this budget period and was 116 which means that the town will have to raise in local taxes $160,000. A meeting has been called for next week with all the schools in the district concerning this. Approximately 10% of the school budgets will need to be raised by the towns because of the CLA’s. 

Gary Lamell, Road Commissioner
The proposed 2005-2006 budget is discussed. Gary is level funding, knowing his proposal is tight, but he feels he can stay within what he is requesting. If there were additional funding available, he would accelerate his 5-year plan. Last year Gary projected some additional work that was to be done on the Great Brook, which was started but not completed. He expects to have that work completed before July 1, 2005 so it will not carry over into the next budget period. 

The road crew salaries and health insurance benefits were discussed. When the new employee was hired, it was agreed that at the end of his probationary period, (90 days) his rate of pay would be reviewed. The Board discusses a proposed rate of pay increase for all town employees. It was agreed that a 3% increase would be projected for everyone and that Carl’s rate of pay will increase immediately to $11.40 per hour. There was also discussion of reviewing the entire payroll package including retirement when reviewing individual salaries.

The Board signs the certificate of mileage, which Gary has reviewed. 

A Notice of Issuance for Conditional Use has been received from the Agency of Natural Resources for the bridge between Shady Rill and Putnamville.

June Lakin, Town Clerk
Karen Greenwood, Dick Alderman, Listers
The Listers are requesting an increase in their number of hours for the 2005-2006-budget period. They expect approximately 1230 hours will be needed which would put their wage line item to $13,000. Due to the increase of building in town, new decks, garages and new homes there will be additional time needed to make adjustments. There is also additional work that needs to be completed because of the re-appraisal. The Listers have discussed the number of hours and agree that between the 3 of them, they will be able to carry this number of hours. 

There was a meeting held last night in Berlin, for town mayors, legislative, and select boards to discuss the possibility of pooling some resources. An example would be, appraisers could be hired as a group, and the towns could share them when needed. There will be further discussions and more information to follow.

Dick explains the principal of the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA). When the appraisals were completed, 7/04, the town was at 1.15, which is quite high. Next years rate is 1.02 this drop means that approximately .10 cents will need to be added to the tax rate to cover the loss of state aide.  The State uses $6,800 as an annual cost per student; the town’s cost is over $9000. It is important to keep the cost per student down, under this CLA formula to receive the most state aide. The CLA went down, because the property values went up. 

GIS Maps- The town has a set of tax maps that was started in the 1980’s. The tax maps are updated on an annual basis to reflect any subdivisions and changes in ownership. If the town were to switch to the GIS system, digitalized tax maps would be available and there would be more flexibility for any one using the maps. Most towns are updating to this system. They have obtained an estimate from Judy Bond, a private individual, that could take the town’s tax maps and digitalize them. She has given an estimate of approximately $5,000.  The listers feel they can live with the current tax maps for a while, but would like to take steps to move towards a GIS program. They would like to set aside $5,000 for the 2005-2006 budget period and then add another $5,000 in the following period. The Town of Duxbury has recently received a grant for the GIS Map Program. Cindy will call the town of Duxbury and Bill Rossmassler for further information.

The General Government proposed budget was reviewed and discussed. It was decided that the data on June’s old computer which Janet makes use of, should be moved to either June’s computer or the spare computer. 

The Constable would like to buy a hat and a jacket to identify him when he goes out on calls. The cost is $40.00, the Board is in agreement that he can do this. 

Orders – Giuliani’s office has submitted two invoices for payment, one for $3,000 and one for individual items.
The intent of the invoices is a prepayment in the $3000 amount for 2005-2006. Cindy will find out exactly what was spent for 2004-2005 for further discussion.

There is discussion of the special articles for the upcoming town meeting. The Feasibility Committee will be asked to have a summary report ready for the town report. 

Milford Leonard Fund was discussed. The balance of the fund is $14,078. June will remind the school that the annual amount of $1,000 needs to be granted this school year.

Tax Sales – In the future the Board will be notified of all tax sales. June has talked to both the Tax Collector and the Town Attorney regarding this. Mary Alexander will do some further research on this with the town attorney on the properties that recently were up for tax sale, but not purchased by anyone. 

The deed for the North Branch Cemetery has been executed and is ready to be recorded. The Board signs the property tax return. All funds are in an Edward Jones account including all recovered money from the bonds. Current balance is $116,760.00 invested in cash and money markets, certificates of deposit, mutual funds. The Board feels that Edward Jones should recommend an investment policy to the town. The final minute book is in the process of being updated and given to the town. Mary Alexander will be the point of contact at this time, until Karen and Cindy can organize the information. There may be deeds that need to be recorded. 

Motion: Bill moves minutes of 12/21/04.  Mary Alexander seconds, motion carries.

The Board discusses the 1.5% early payment credit on tax bills and the penalty on delinquent tax payments. It is recommended that the 1.5% be increased to 2%. 

Overweight Permits
The Hartigan Company
Motion: Bill moves approval of the overweight permit for The Hartigan Company. Mary Alexander seconds, motion carries.
 
Correspondence

Youth Service Bureau News Letter

State Police Enforcement Contract for the Month of October and November 2004

Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police invitation for a luncheon

Opinions newsletter

VLCT News

State of Vermont Department of Public Safety FFY 2005 State Homeland Security Program Grant nd FFY 2005 Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program Grant

Health Officer newsletter

Copy of FY2005 Transportation Enhancements Program grant application for The Transportation Enhancement Grant, Middlesex Village Project.

Newsletter from Middlesex United Methodist Church

Results of the 2004 Central Vermont Public Safety Survey

The Manager newsletter

Meeting adjourns at 10:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Cindy Carlson
Executive Assistant to the Middlesex Selectboard