TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
October 11, 2021
Minutes
Attendees
Select Board
Bob Bixby, Clerk
Cash Ruane
Robert Congdon
Rick Wilbur
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer
Katie Nop, Secretary
William Chmielewski, PEG-TV
Marjorie Southard
Matt Jakubowski
Bob Underhill
Sgt. Andrew Cross
Call to Order
Selectman Bixby motioned to elect Robert as Interim Chairman for the meeting (in Mike Klopchin’s absence), Selectman Ruane seconded, and motion passed 3-0.
Selectman Congdon called the meeting to order at 6:00PM.
Agenda additions/deletions
Selectman Ruane motioned to add an executive session to discuss personnel and Selectman Bixby seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Selectman Bixby motioned to approve the Regular Meeting minutes from September 27, 2021 as presented. Selectman Wilbur seconded and all of the Board members approved.
Highway
Road Commissioner Report- The Road Crew is doing one last round of roadside mowing across Town. They’ve completed grading on the east side of Town. They’ll be working on the west side as soon as the grader is fixed. It will be down for about a week and a half. They finished a small project on Mumford Road, that included ditching and culvert replacement.
MRU school zone speed limit discussion- Katie explained that she had reached out to VLCT to ask about the specifics of a school zone and its speed limit. They responded that it’s recommended that a school zone begin 200 feet before the school grounds. They also mentioned that a traffic study is recommended practice for changing a speed limit. The guidance stated that anyone can perform the study. The Board discussed having the Sheriff’s Department do it during their scheduled hours of working for Clarendon. Sgt. Cross was present and said he could bring it up at their staff meeting. He also suggested using the numbers from his directive patrols if that was allowed, where he has already marked down speeds. The Sheriff’s Department has also talked about putting the speed cart by the high school, and that also captures speeds. Sgt. Cross would get back to Katie with information about the traffic study. The Board asked Katie how much the flashing school zone signs were and she responded that she had gotten a quote for $5,032.83. They asked her to pursue grants before they made that purchase.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
All new warrants and warrants previously signed by the designated Select Board Member were approved and signed by all Select Board Members.
Guests
N/A
Public Comments
N/A
Old Business
Hazard Mitigation Plan Revisions- Selectman Congdon explained that there were questions from RRPC about the comments received at the public hearing. Steffanie Bourque pointed out in an email to the Board, that there would be a contradiction in the plan if the Board decided to delete the natural protection system mitigation action, while keeping support for restoring floodplain capacity with flood chutes on Mill River. The Board discussed the mitigation action of establishing vegetative buffers in riparian areas, stabilize stream banks, remove berms, and/or accumulated debris to restore flood capacity. They decided to keep the action in the Plan but edit its description and project timeline. Selectman Congdon emphasized that the Board wants to keep this action at the local level and under local control, rather than involving the Rutland NRCD. The Board wanted to change the timeline to something vaguer that didn’t include Rutland NRCD. Katie said she would draft an email with these changes and word the project timeline to specify that the Select Board would review the projects on an as needed basis. Katie pointed out that Steffanie created an “Appendix D” which would be a summary of the public comments received on the Plan. The Board was not in favor of including that Appendix and asked that it be deleted from the Plan. Town resident, Marjorie Southard, pointed out that bullet point 3 on page 26 should be edited to coincide with the changes to the mitigation action. The Board decided to reword that bullet point to exclude working with the Rutland NRCD. Selectman Congdon asked that Katie draft an email with the changes and send it to the Board for them to okay it, before sending it to RRPC.
New Business
Animal Control Ordinance discussion- It has come to the Board’s attention, as well as the Sheriff’s Department that a couple horses in Town have gotten loose repeatedly. The neighbors and Sheriff’s Department have tried multiple times to ask the owner to make sure the horses stay on their owner’s property. The adjoining property owners have suffered property damage because of the situation. Because Clarendon’s animal control ordinance does not include equines, Sgt. Cross cannot ticket the owner. Sgt. Cross provided the Board with two different towns’ animal control ordinances as examples to show how Clarendon could change their ordinance to include horses, as well as several other animals. Bob Underhill, a neighbor to the horses’ owner, was present and stated that he isn’t one that advocates for more regulation, but wishes to see this issue come to an end. Selectman Wilbur motioned for Clarendon to begin the process of changing its Animal Control Ordinance definition to the same as Town of Proctor’s Article II, Section 1 Domestic Animal definition. Selectman Ruane seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Town Officer’s Report
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer, reported that this is the last week of tax collection with the due date being October 16. Her office is open 10AM-4PM, Monday – Saturday (10/11-10/16). She does accept post marks.
Bob Underhill, Lister, reported that properties have been selling rapidly and way above their appraised value. Other than that, the Listers Office has been running smoothly.
Katie Nop, Secretary, reported that the Road Crew completed projects on East Street and E. Tinmouth Road that were funded by Grants-In-Aid. Steffanie from RRPC will be coming out this week to do a follow up site visit and then Katie will be working on the reimbursement for the project.
Select Board Member Concerns
Selectman Ruane stated that one of the employee’s close family members was involved in a serious accident. He asked that the Board keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
Selectman Congdon wished the Chairman a speedy recovery.
Executive Session- Personnel
Selectman Ruane motioned to move into executive session at 6:45PM to discuss a personnel issue. Selectman Wilbur seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Selectman Bixby motioned to come out of executive session at 6:59PM, Selectman Wilbur seconded, and all approved. The Board had a conversation on how employee trainings are handled and potential employee pushback.
Adjournment
Selectman Ruane motioned to adjourn at 7PM. Selectman Bixby seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday, October 11, 2021
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting: September 27, 2021
Highway
Road Commissioner Report
MRU school zone speed limit discussion
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
Old Business
Hazard Mitigation Plan Revisions
New Business
Animal Control Ordinance discussion
Town Officer’s Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment