TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday June 10, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
DRAFT MINUTES
Guests
Mike Klopchin, Chair
George Ambrose, Selectman
Cash Ruane, Selectman
Robert Congdon, Selectman
Art Menard, Selectman
Gloria Menard, Town Clerk
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer
Ashley Robinson, Administrative Assistant
Jimmy Austin
Aiden Cote
Craig Knapp
Kevin Peck
Shelly Lutz
Wayne Willhaus
Bob Bixby
Tim Rice-Walk Paving
Tom Fuller- Fuller Sand & Gravel
Lieutenant Andrew Cross- Sheriff Department
Call to Order
Chairman Klopchin called meeting to order at 6:00PM
Agenda additions/deletions
-Executive Session: Joseph Parker personnel- add to start of meeting
-Paving Bids
-Concrete color for Kingsley Bridge
Selectman Ambrose motioned to approve the additions. Selectman Ruane requested to have the executive session to be no longer than 15 minutes, and to be at the end of the meeting. Chairman Klopchin agreed that the best time to hold executive session is at the end of the meeting. Selectman Menard provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Selectman Klopchin motioned to enter into executive session at 6:02PM for personnel and to be no longer than 15 minutes. Selectman Ambrose moved the motion, and Selectman Menard provided the second. All board members approved.
Selectman Klopchin motioned to move out of executive session at 6:19PM. Selectman Congdon moved on the motion and Selectman Ruane provided the second. The board approved unanimously.
Selectman Congdon provided a statement that a couple personnel items that were brought up. Some inter-employee relationship items that will be further discussed, and some personal personnel items the board as made aware of.
-PAVING BIDS-
-Wilk- $265,941.00
-Pike- $288,532.30
-Fuller $263,967.55
Selectman Congdon motioned to approve Fuller Sand & Gravel bid. Selectman Menard provided the second. All Board members approved the motion. Selectman Ruane adds that the work being done is contingent on final paperwork from the state.
-Kingsley Covered Bridge
Concrete color discussion was had. Selectman Congdon made a motion to have the chairman to sign on the behalf of the selectboard to have the concrete be the color dark grey that had previously been approved. Selectman Ambrose provided the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular meeting May 29, 2024
Selectman Ambrose motioned to approve the minutes from April 22nd. Selectman Ruane provided the second. Selectman Congdon recused himself from the motion as he was not present. The members of the board that were present at the April 22nd meeting approved.
Highway
Road Commissioner Report
The road crew has been finishing up Windy Lane. The mower tractor will be picked up on Tuesday. The crew will change fluids and see what they can do to get it up and working again. Commissioner Ruane reached out to Joe Davis in regards to doing one pass around town to mow the sides as well as intersections. Selectman Ambrose wanted to make sure he understood correctly that the road crew will be attempting to fix the mower, and Ruane said yes, in house.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Selectman
Guests
Public Comments
Old Business
-Guest Craig Knapp regarding last week’s meeting and follow-up
-Craig talks about being here at the last meeting, and increased traffic, and speed on North Shrewsbury Road. He appreciates having the opportunity to be here last meeting and tonight. Craig would like to know what actions are going to happen with signage. He did not feel that Ruane’s answers of not adding signs were appropriate at the previous meeting. He says coming from Gallow’s house, you wouldn’t know that there are driveways coming up the hill.
Selectman Menard requests assistance from the Sheriff’s department. Lieutenant Andrew Cross with the Rutland County Sheriffs Department attended the meeting, and was able to provide insight. He would be more than happy to look and give a non-binding opinion. He can also ask the highway safety coordinator Lieutenant Geno to assist. Lieutenant Cross will be able to provide a written report on what they come up with. There was talk about speeding in town and finding out when the speed cart will be coming back to town. Lieutenant Cross will find out and let us know on that well. Commissioner Ruane requests to be present when the Sheriff department does an assessment in the area. Sargent Cross wants to stress that speed is a factor all over the area, and that Corporal Cram has been working hard to slow people down.
New Business
-Childcare payroll tax ACT76 (Heidi)
Treasurer Heidi Congdon speaks regarding new childcare payroll tax that starts in July. She would like a decision on how the board wants to move forward with the deductions.
The breakdown could either be one of the two options:
- The town pays the .44% directly without deduction from employees
- The employees pay .11% of the tax, and the remaining .33% would be paid by the town
The board and attendees speak on what the town payroll is and how much of a contribution it would mean for the town in the long run. After discussion, Selectman Congdon motions to have the town take on the childcare payroll tax of .44%, with a yearly revisit. Selectman Menard provided the second. The motion was approved by all.
-FY25 SHERIFF’s Contract
Selectman Ruane questions Lieutenant Cross regarding the line item on the contract that talks about training hours and payout that the town is responsible for. Lieutenant Cross says that it is ‘up to’ 25 hours of trainings paid to the Sheriff department, and to not exceed the 25 hours. The trainings keep certifications up to date, and if there is a specific training that would benefit the town they would attend. He states that most trainings are absorbed through the Sheriff’s department directly, not the towns. Selectman Ambrose requests the treasurer to pull invoices to see how many hours are billed for trainings in the past. Selectman Congdon asks about line item 3. It states that there is a bi-weekly schedule that the town approves and wonders if this is something that happens. Lieutenant Cross says that they tend to go where they are told the issues are within the town, and that he can send us a more detailed type of schedule. The town can always call the department to let them know of any concern, and rearrange scheduling for coverage if needed for a directed patrol.
Treasurer Congdon wants the board to be aware of the current budgeting of $75,000 for the year, and the contract being a bit over $80,000. Looking at previous years the budgeting has always been over what the town is actually billed, and that she believes we do not need to adjust for the new contract. Lieutenant Cross does track hours for towns bi-weekly. He will let the town know if there seems to be overage in the area for hours, and ask what the town would like to do when that does happen.
Selectman Congdon motions to approve the Sheriffs contract for FY25. Selectman Menard provides the second. The motion is approved unanimously.
-RRPC FY25 Appointment
Re-appointment for Rutland Regional Planning Commission Board for Brownson Spencer, and re-appointment on the Transportation Advisory Committee through RRPC for Dave Potter. Selectman Congdon motioned to approve both re-appointments and have the selectboard chair sign on behalf of the board. Selectman Ruane provided the second. All board members approved.
-Firework permit approvals
Selectman Congdon reviews permit’s: 698 Knipes Drive and 2737 Walker Mtn Road. Specific rules apply no more than an hour, and not after 10pm.
Selectman Ambrose motions to approve both permits for fireworks and have the chair sign off. Selectman Congdon provides the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
-Revival of exterior of town hall
Chairman Klopchin would like to begin looking at painting and maintenance of the exterior. Treasurer Congdon, speaks on the $10,000 budget, that this year only $2000 has been used. There is also a municipal building fund that has $225,138.28. She talks about the furnace needing to be replaced, adding a hot water heater, as well as an outdoor water spicket. The building fund is for big projects for all municipal facilities. Ashley is working on looking into furnace pricing. Selectman Congdon suggested reaching out to Efficiency Vermont, and she will do that.
Selectman Congdon motioned to have Ashley begin the process of bidding for painting the building. There was discussion on scraping vs pressure washing as there was problems in the past not wanting the building to be pressure washed. The board agreed that pressure washing would be acceptable in the bidding process. Selectman Ambrose provided the second to the motion. All board members approved the motion.
Town Officer’s Report
Administrative Assistant Ashley brought up a quote of up to $500 that had been given to have an outdoor spicket added to the building as there is no outdoor water source. After a brief discussion on where it would be located Selectman Menard motioned to approve the installation of the outdoor spicket. Selectman Ambrose provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously.
Select Board Member Concerns
Selectman Ruane had concerns from the community regarding only having 54 students graduate from Mill River this year. His suggestion to the residents was to speak directly to the school board and all members agreed.
Selectman Ambrose was hoping to better understand what his role as the liaison for the Sheriff’s department does. There was a brief discussion that he is listed in the town report for residents to have someone to direct questions to, and that as of now most questions and concerns go through the liaison or the administrative assistant. The board agreed to not change the process of how things are going.
Adjournment
Chairman Klopchin motioned to close the meeting at 7:17PM. Everyone motioned and approved.
SIGNED:_______________________________ Mike Klopchin, Chair
SIGNED:_______________________________ George Ambrose, Clerk
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday June 10, 2024
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular meeting May 29, 2024
Highway
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
Old Business
-Guest Craig Knapp regarding last week’s meeting and follow-up
New Business
-Childcare payroll tax ACT76 (Heidi)
-FY25 SHERIFF’s Contract
-RRPC FY25 Appointment
-firework permit approvals
-Revival of exterior of town hall
Town Officer’s Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
