TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday, February 12th, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
MINUTES
Attendees:
Selectboard
Mike Klopchin, Chair
George Ambrose, Clerk
Robert Congdon
Cash Ruane
Art Menard
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer
Ashley Robinson, Secretary
Gloria Menard, Clerk
Kevin Peck, Lister
William Chmielewski, PEG-TV
Shelley Lutz
Jimmy Austin
Jan McCoy
Bob Bixby
Jeannie Stimpfel
Teresa Miele
Call to Order
Chairman Klopchin called the meeting to order at 6:00PM
Agenda additions/deletions
N/A
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting: January 22, 2024
Special Meeting: February 1, 2024
Selectman Congdon motioned to approve both regular meeting and special meeting minutes simultaneously. Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Highway
Road Commissioner’s Report:
Selectman/Road Commissioner Ruane reported on dealing with mud problems for the 5th time this winter. Weather temperatures changing makes it difficult. Our roads in town look good compared to some other towns in the area. They will continue to fill in soft spots as needed.
Quarterline Road update:
Selectman/Road Commissioner Ruane spoke to the Quarterline Road update. Selectman Ruane, other selectboard members, as well as some residents went to meeting at Rutland Town. Rutland Town will be maintaining the road from here on out. At the meeting Mr. Sears, the road commissioner of Rutland Town, made comments about training two workers on a grader to help maintain that road.
Selectman Ambrose commented from attending the meeting, that it seems what Selectboard Ruane reported was the gist of it, and is hopeful that Rutland Town will follow through.
Resident, Jeannie Stimpfel noted that the Clarendon side of Quarterline road is great to the town line, and that the Rutland Town side tends to be a marsh and is hopeful that Rutland Town will learn to maintain the road. She would like to be able to communicate with Rutland town in a manner that is respectful for both residents of Clarendon and Rutland Town. She is hoping the towns can work collaboratively down the road when needed.
Selectman Ruane reinforced that Rutland Town will be working on the road and it is theirs to maintain. Rutland Town has spoken with a grater rental. Chairman Klopchin said they are being proactive with moving forward.
Part-Time Road Crew Position:
Selectman Ruane spoke of an applicant the town had hoped to interview, however, the applicant chose to remove himself from the applicant list.
Selectman Congdon suggested we look through the applicants again. Selectman Ruane will see if there is anyone qualified for the job and move forward. Selectman Congdon confirms that the posting is still listed for people to apply.
Highway Dept. Radios:
Selectman Ruane spoke on radios. Steve came from CVC Paging and installed trial radios for the crew to test out. The road crew team was impressed with the trial period. Three radios were used and were very clear over distance that has normally been a problem for them. The radios repeat off of towers from Pico down to Manchester. They’ve not even had a problem going up Walker Mountain Road in the known “dead zone”. There is a buyout option at 1200/radio, then we’d have to pay for the service and install a repeater. Selectman Ruane suggested we rent the units, as they would be fully covered if something happens to them or if they need updating. They will need to 8 radios, unless they are able to move one radio between the mower and the grader. Shelley Lutz questioned the difference between purchasing and renting. Selectman Ruane referred to the warranty between the two. Selectman Ambrose suggested the rental agreement as the solution. Selectman Menard questioned budgeting for the radios as they were not involved in the years budgeting numbers. Treasurer Congdon showed the highway fund balance has enough to be able to fund the radios and service. Selectman Congdon spoke to making sure budgeting in next year’s budget takes place to cover the cost of the radio rental/service.
Selectman Ruane said they should be able to be installed within two weeks.
Selectman Ambrose motioned to lease the radios; Selectman Congdon provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Construction Zone Trolley Lights:
Selectman Ambrose motioned to purchase the trolly lights with the remote control, without the countdown totaling $18,950
Selectman Congdon questioned if the crew had pushed for the delivery charge to be lowered, Selectman/road commissioner Ruane replied that the delivery is coming from Canada where they are manufactured and not Barre VT where the distributor is.
Selectman Congdon provided the second motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
EWP Revised Grant sign off
Admin Assistant Ashley Robinson spoke to the name change of Katie Nop on the EWP Grant signoff, to herself. Selectman Congdon motioned the sign off, Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
BRIC Local Match Letter
Admin Assistant Ashley Robinson reviewed the difference between the numbers that had been approved in 2023, now that the work will not be completed until 2025. Lisa M. Kolb, the Hazard Mitigation Grants Manager for the state, suggested we adjust the figures to account for inflation between now and 2025. 10% inflation was added for this. The change would be $57,700 as opposed to $52,500 previously approved. The town is responsible for 25% of this grant and would payout approximately $14,425. Selectman Congdon motioned to approve the higher inflated pricing signoff, and Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
All new warrants and warrants previously signed by the designated select board members were approved and signed by all select board members.
Guests
Jan McCoy welcomed Ashley, and wanted to acknowledge how well Katie Nop did her job. Jan would like to know about the previously mentioned school consolidation survey on election day. Selectman Ambrose sent letters to the other three towns in our district and asked towns if they wanted to join in survey. He attended a Wallingford selectboard meeting, and they had a brief discussion on how the consolidation survey would work. They all agreed that it is too late for March elections and to think about November instead, possibly working with the superintendent. Has not heard from Tinmouth or Shrewsbury. Selectman Menard asked what the schoolboard opinion is on this topic. Selectman Ambrose responded that he emailed school board chair Andrea Hawkins and she replied that she is open to the discussion. Selectman Congdon asked if Wallingford felt favorable to this. Selectman Ambrose replied that they weren’t ready to go forward yet, however were favorable to the conversation.
Jan McCoy questioned the covered bridge closure and wondered if the board had thought about continuing to keep Gorge Road closed after the bridge is re-opened for recreational purposes such as biking/walking/skiing. The Board spoke of the need for emergency services to be able to have access to the back side of the airport via the road, and that it would be something to question the state about. Jan expressed worry about the road being in rough shape for when the road is opened back up. Selectman Ruane commented that the brush and overgrowth had been the biggest problem as of now, but they recently mowed it back in the fall. Chairman Klopchin responded that the road is looking great as he had recently driven down it to see its condition.
Public Comments
N/A
Old Business
N/A
New Business
N/A
Town Officer’s Report
Lister Kevin Peck reported that the last few meetings they had spoken about re-appraisal. The listers reached out to property re-evaluation review folks at the state level and a statistical review will not be allowed due to the previous appraisal being five years prior. Kevin Peck spoke with NEMRC and they are willing to give a bid but are booking out to 2028. The appraisal in 2017-2019 cost the town $112,000. The listers are looking for a motion/direction to get bidding on re-appraisal. Selectboard Ambrose spoke of going with reappraisal personnel used in the recent past (NEMRC) and that they were easy to work with, and didn’t seem to have much push back from residents of the town as they did an exceptional job.
Selectman Congdon motioned to let listers go forward with bidding, Selectman Menard provided the second, however wants more than a single bid done. Selectman Congdon agreed to multiple bids, but also wants to make sure NEMRC is in the bid lineup. The motion was approved unanimously.
Clerk Gloria Menard gave an update on the upcoming election day, Tuesday March 5th at the town office from 10-7, and noted that absentee ballots are available to be sent out, as well as the ability to come vote in office from now until election day during business hours. The informational meeting is scheduled for Monday March 4th at 6pm at the Community Center.
Select Board Member Concerns
Selectman Ruane wanted to welcome Ashley, and again thank Katie Nop for all she did while she was here.
Adjournment
Chairman Klopchin entertained adjourning at 6:38pm. Everyone moved and approved.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday, February 12th, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting: January 22, 2024
Special Meeting: February 1, 2024
Highway
Road Commissioner’s Report
Quarterline Rd update
Part-Time Road Crew Position
Highway Dept. Radios
Construction Zone Trolley Lights
EWP Revised Grant sign off
BRIC Local Match Letter
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
Old Business
New Business
Town Officer’s Report
Listers- Reappraisal Information
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
