Approved

Middlesex Select Board
Minutes of 10/10/2006

Present: Walter Kelly, Mary Just Skinner, Peter Hood, Cindy Carlson, Gary Lamell, Mary Alexander, John Puleio, Betsy Shapiro, Elliot Burg

Meeting called to order at 6:35 pm.

Gary Lamell, Road Commissioner
The replacement of the culvert on the Brook Road is on schedule, the road should be open next week. The crew continues to do ditching and is ready for the winter season. One of the trucks is in for a possible head gasket replacement. 

The Board discusses upcoming meetings. There will not be a meeting held 10/24/2006, as there will not be a quorum. 

Correspondence
 From Watershed to Well Fall 2006 newsletter

Audit Engagement Letter dated June 30, 2006 from William Yacavoni

Vermont Cemetery Association Newsletter

Revolt & Repeal – letter to enlist support regarding repealing the statewide property tax

State of Vermont District #5 Environmental Commission – I-89 Ledge Work, Town of Middlesex

Letter of introduction from Vision Appraisal Technology

VLCT presents Municipal Budgeting and Finance seminary 11/2/06

VT Rural Fire Protection Task Force – Wildland Fire Gear Available

Article concerning towns billing for fire department fees

Other Business
McGee, Guiliani and Cleveland has submitted a letter to the Town Tax Collector advising there will be a 15% legal fee as part of the tax collection process. 

Motion: Mary Just Skinner moves to authorize Elizabeth McGill of McGee, Giuliani & Cleveland to act on the town of Middlesex to collect delinquent property tax and include a flat 15% of the tax amount plus reimbursement of any advanced charges for advertising or recording as long as she is the attorney for the town of Middlesex conducting tax sales for the town pursuant to 32 VSA sec. 5258. And further we request she send two copies of the tax sales summaries: one to the Town Treasurer and the second directly to the Select Board. Mary Alexander seconds, motion carries.

Bandstand Committee - John Puleio, Betsy Shapiro, Elliot Burg

The Committee thanks the Board for their support of the Band Stand and a special thanks to Bill Callnan for his continued support over the past year. Bill has advised the Committee that he will step down from his role. The Committee has been asked by a local gardening club if a garden can be created on the property. The Board discusses keeping any gardens on a small scale, with minimum maintenance and with the idea the property can be converted back to lawn if need be.  The master gardeners will guarantee their service for 5-year period. There has been some Board concern regarding the addition of a garden as a memorial. 

The Committee has discussed potential traffic control for future concerts to include the possibility of signs, traffic tape, and more volunteer services. They asked if the Town Constable could assist, which the Board agreed to, with funding from the concerts to reimburse for the Constable expenses. The Committee would also like to rent the bandstand and will develop a written set of rules as well as a hold-harmless agreement. There was discussion of who would monitor events. The Board will and will have the events approved at a Board meeting. 

There is discussion of whether to allow alcohol during the bandstand functions. The Board prefers not to have the Town Constable enforce alcohol issues. The Committee will review how other towns handle these situations. 

There is discussion of accessing the bandstand and how to get equipment to the site. Equipment was transported by hand this summer and it was difficult. It was suggested the Committee talk to the Road Commissioner concerning his recommendations about a second access and come back to the Board. 

The Committee was advised that a tree was available and they were going to ask the Board’s approval to plant the tree. It was noted that the tree had been ordered and an invoice in the amount of $125 is in the order to be charged to the Conservation Commission budget. The tree has been delivered and a plan has not been put in place for the planting of the tree. The Bandstand Committee will contact the Conservation Commission and ask for their assistance in planting the tree.

All orders were signed. 

Mary Alexander reports that she has been contacted regarding construction of a garage without a permit. The Zoning Administrator has contacted them and is in the process of sending out a violation letter. There is a possibility that there may be a setback issue, which will have to go before the Board of Adjustment. 

Mary Alexander updates the Board on the Kellogg-Hubbard Library as a result of attending two of their budget meetings. The Library will petition the Town of Middlesex to approve $20,000 in the next budget period. They applied for a grant in the amount of $50,000, which they did not receive, and their donations have been down. Their proposed budget was reviewed.

Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Carlson
Assistant to the Middlesex Select Board