TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday July 8, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
Guests
Mike Klopchin, Chair
George Ambrose, Selectman
Cash Ruane, Selectman
Robert Congdon, Selectman
Art Menard, Selectman
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer
Ashley Robinson, Administrative Assistant
Kevin Peck, Lister
William PEGTV
Bob Bixby
Jimmy Austin
Eddie Baker
Robert Stefanski
Chris Gatti-Palance
Aaron Hilliker
Stefanie Ianni
Cooper Babbitt
Lyle Jepson
Liz Kulas
Dan Pinkowski
Christian Laufer
Sarah Kumm
Call to Order
-Chairman Klopchin called the meeting to order at 6:00pm
Agenda additions/deletions
-Selectman Ruane to have executive session set for the end of the meeting to be removed from the agenda. Selectman Congdon motioned to approve the removal of the executive session; selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
-Regular meeting minutes from 6/24/24
Selectman Ambrose motioned to approve the minutes from the June 24th meeting, Selectman Congdon provided the second. The motion was approved by all.
Highway
-Selectman/Road Commissioner Ruane seeks approval to purchase winter sand that is used from Pike Industries at a rate of $9.10 per ton with an estimated use of 2500 tons. Total budget requested for approval- $22,750
Selectman Congdon motioned to approve the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board. Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
-Western Star truck has a blown radiator seam leak. It needs replacement, and to replace with an original it would be $6000. An aftermarket replacement would be $3700. Road Commissioner Ruane seeks input from the board on their thoughts. Ruane suggested to go forward with the aftermarket replacement. Selectman Ambrose motioned to approve the aftermarket, and Selectman Congdon provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
-The roadside mower is currently in Middlebury being worked on. Ruane called to get an update however there was not one available at that time. The town will be leasing a mower tractor from Haven House Farm rentals for a week beginning July 13th. Selectman Congdon suggested working in split shifts to be able to make use of the tractor and get as much completed as possible. Selectman Menard said to start where the mowing hasn’t been done yet.
–Ruane speaks on the Otter Creek EWP grant. He and Ashley will be meeting with Josh and Les (state personnel) to move forward with bidding needed to take care of the debris removal.
-Kingsley bridge is open for travel. There was discussion with Jim from Alpine Construction that there seems to be vehicles over the weight limit already moving through the bridge. Ashley is working with the sheriff’s department to verify where the proper signage should be to ensure the department would be able to provide warnings and citations to offenders.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
-All new warrants and warrants previously signed by the designated selectboard members were approved and signed by the present select board members.
Guests
-Cooper Babbitt, operations director from the Chamber of Economic Development speaks (CEDRR). Seeking approval from the town to move forward with a grant that is available for building a commercial 30,000sf spec structure at the airport industrial park. The commercial industry is lacking places to start/move business to. State of Vermont is releasing a ‘Rural Industry Development Program’ which would provide 20% of funding for projects like the one outlined. They are hoping to use that money and leverage it with other funds that are available to fund a feasibility study for this project. Cooper references two plots that are available for development in the industrial park that would be used if moving forward is feasible. First, they are requesting approval of the board to be able to send in a pre-application by July 15th. Second request is to hold a public hearing on August 26th for the application and third would be to add CEDRR to the agenda to the selectboard meeting on August 26th allow to request a resolution to be approved and signed by the town to apply for the grant. Wetlands are something the CEDRR team are aware and the feasibility study would provide insight if the plots they are looking into would not work, and there are other plots in the same area that are of interest. The development team would also do all the grant righting and administration of the grant. If town staff work is needed, the town would be reimbursed for the time that was spent doing so. Selectman Menard asks if the city sewer that is currently in place would be able to handle the new building, and Cooper believes it would not be an issue. Lyle Jepson and Cooper go in detail about the other items they are running into including the water having to be accessed from across the road. They are going through other phases of this project as well, which would include moving the utilities from the eastern side of 7B to the western side. As of this time, there was a grant awarded for the move of utilities for $450,000. The development team has also applied for another $150,000 grant through the state for this. Selectman Menard asks if we still share tax revenue with the city of Rutland, and the answer is yes, however the term was a 50-year term that ends roughly 2032. Selectman Congdon asks if there would be a town match for the grant they are currently requesting. Cooper explains that the match funds would be coming from the REDIT program, not out of the town budget. Cooper also wants to make the board aware that in roughly a year the CEDRR group would be back to seek approval for the implementation grant from the same funding source. Liz Kulas will work with Ashley for the grant administration side of this. Chairman Klopchin asks if they have spoken to Rutland City regarding any of the work that will be done including sewer addition, and Liz replies stating they don’t have enough information to bring anything to their attention as of this time. Selectman Congdon motions to approve CEDRR to begin the pre-application process. Selectman Ambrose provides the second. Liz questions selectman Ambrose with what the concerns he has, and that the residents may have for the public hearing. Selectman Ambrose stresses the publicity of the public meeting needs to be more than just the new paper for residents between Clarendon and Rutland City due to the revenue the city receives from the taxes, and prior questions with how that revenue is spent in the city. His other concern is keeping the town of Clarendon in the now through all of the process. Liz confirms that the communication will continue along the longevity of the project. Selectman Menard asks if the grant that is awarded comes to the town, and the answer is yes. The town treasurer would have to distribute the funds on a reimbursement basis. After the discussion the motion was approved unanimous.
Selectman Congdon also made a motion to approve a public hearing for CEDRR prior to our regular selectboard meeting at 5:30 on the 26th of August and hold both the hearing and the meeting at the community center. Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimous.
Public Comments
-N/A
Old Business
Cold River Discussion
-Selectman Menard suggests we move forward using budgeted money to have a river management plan done of the Cold River. He notes if we had this done previously, we would have been able to take advantage of the grants that are currently available. Fitzgerald Engineering had quoted roughly 7-10,000 to have the plan done. Selectman Congdon motions to approve the use of the funds that are in the budget to start the study with Fitzgerald. Selectman Ruane provides the second. The motion was approved unanimous.
New Business
N/A
Town Officer’s Report
-Administrative assistant Ashley Robinson speaks in regards to an email from Maggie O’Brian who was present at the previous selectboard meeting. The house that is abandoned on Cold River Rd is not eligible for the funding that is going to be available through the HMGP grant.
Ashley goes on to read another section of the email from Maggie;
- A property owner is experiencing accelerated erosion due to the changing course of the Cold River. Would armor embankments and the like be eligible – keeping in mind it is on private land? The owner doesn’t seem interested in a property buyout. Good question. For private property, my understanding is that the only eligible activities for benefiting a private residential facility are buyout, elevation, relocation, and mitigation reconstruction. However, if the Town were protecting the stream from damages to a public asset and the private property were to benefit, that could be eligible if cost-effective.
There was brief discussion of the railroad bridge on the cold river west of Middle Road. This would be something that VTRail and VTrans would have to take care of.
The board is hoping to have Fitzgerald do the management plan quickly, and then that the town may be able to take advantage of some of the HMGP Grant funding.
-Selectman Klopchin refers to Chris Gatti-Palance to speak on the Kingsley Bridge re-opening. There will be a ribbon cutting and bbq on July 25th at 5:30pm. The ceremony will be on the north end of the bridge, however Chris is requesting to have another cutting on the south side with Ellie Delong being the person to cut the ribbon due to her support to the crew that has been working there.
Select Board Member Concerns
-Selectman Ambrose asked if anyone had questions regarding anything during the meeting.
-Selectman Congdon had an email from a resident regarding roadside mowing, and wanted to let the board know that he responded with the same information Ruane had provided in his highway update.
-Selectman Menard asks Chris what amount of hamburger is still needed for the bridge opening ceremony. She responds stating roughly 75 people will be in attendance. Resident Sarah Kumm said she would be able to donate.
Adjournment
-Chairman Klopchin motioned to close meeting at 6:48pm. Everyone motioned and approved.
SIGNED:_______________________________ Mike Klopchin, Chair
SIGNED:_______________________________ George Ambrose, Clerk
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday July 8, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Approval of regular meeting minutes from 6/24/24
Highway
Sand Pricing
Kingsley Bridge Opening
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
-Cooper Babbitt- Chamber of Economic Development regarding early-stage project at the Rutland Airport Business Park
Public Comments
Old Business
Cold River discussion
New Business
Town Officer’s Report
Select Board Member Concerns
**Executive Session** Personnel
Adjournment
