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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/15/1969BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DECEMBER 15, 1969 The South Burlington Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting in the library of the Middle School, Dorset Street, South Burlington, Vermont, on Monday, December 15, 1969, at 7:00 P.M. Mr. Behney, Chairman, called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT Charles H. Behney, Chairman; Vincent J. D'Acuti, Walter Nardelli, Gregory L. Premo and Raymond E. Stearns. MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT Henry LeClair, Town Manager; Town Engineer Szymanski, Paul Hurley, George Smith and Vernon Wamsganz from the Volunteer Fire Department Committee; Fred Blais and Richard Ward from the JayCees, Jean Hildick from the League of Women Voters, Charlotte Marsh and George Lambert, Free Press Reporter. READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 8, 1969 On a motion made by Mr. Stearns and seconded by Mr. D'Acuti, the minutes of the meeting of December 8, 1969, were approved as read. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA Mr. Behney announced that Mr. Blais would be present at the meeting to discuss details relating to closing transactions of the JayCee Park, and also that Mr. Richard Tarrant was to be present at the meeting of December 22, 1969, to discuss data processing. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX Chairman Behney also reported that the Personal Property Tax Appraiser, Mr. Alexander, had been contacted about his procedure in revaluation of the personal property in town, and that the matter had been resolved so there would be an equitable appraisal arrived at for all concerned by April 1, 1970. CENTRAL SCHOOL - USE AS TOWN OFFICE Chairman Behney and Mr. Stearns reported on a meeting with the School Board and the Chairman of the School Board concerning the town's request to use the facilities of Central School for town offices. They said the School Board had taken no action on the request as yet, as they are waiting for written reports as to the town's plans for renovation, parking, landscaping, and an access road to Mary Street. Mr. Stearns said this written material should all be available for the joint School Board meeting of December 30, 1969. During a discussion later on at this meeting Mr. LeClair reported that he had inspected the School site with Mr. Lamphere, architect with Julian Goodrich, had showed him our present offices and explained our needs. Mr. Lamphere figured it would cost around $800 for estimates of the cost of needed renovations so the building could be used for town offices. Mr. Nardelli made a motion to expend the $800 for the estimate. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stearns and passed unanimously. Mr. LeClair was instructed to be sure the School Board received the written material as requested. TRANSFER OF TITLE OF THE O'BRIEN PROPERTY TO THE TOWN Mr. Blais reported that transfer of title of the O'Brien property to the town was to take place at the Town Office on Wednesday, December 17, 1969, at 1:30 P.M., asked if the town would cancel the previous agreement which he read in part, and also requested a long term lease of a large garage on the property for use as a meeting place for the JayCees. He explained that the JayCees would renovate the garage and make it available for meetings of other groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. Mr. Premo questioned whether or not Hud had any stipulations as to what use could be made of the property. Mr. LeClair said he felt the money was granted for the land, and the use of the building did not enter into the Hud arrangements. Mr. Blais said the JayCees expected to develop a parking lot right away and the major renovation to the outside of the building would be to remove the garage doors, fill in the space, and put in an ordinary door. After a discussion in which Chairman Behney said it was important to have the Town Attorney look into the legal aspects of such a lease, Mr. Nardelli made a motion that if all legalities are met the JayCees be permitted to lease the building, with the stipulation that they present a rough draft as to the proposed renovations and plans for use of the building to the Board. Mr. Premo seconded this motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Blais said he felt that the present agreement between the town and the JayCees should be voided and a new agreement drawn up that would allow the JayCees to work with the town and the Park and Recreation Committee on the development of the park. He said as the JayCees had initiated the project they would like the opportunity to review any plans. This was agreeable to the Board. Mr. Stearns moved that the agreement be dissolved immediately and a new agreement drawn up with the JayCees whereby they will have the right to review any plans for the O'Brien property until Dec. 31, 1972. Mr. Premo seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. Wamsganz of the Committee read a detailed report on the findings of the Committee as to the cost of operating a fire department in town, using salaried personnel as well as volunteer, and including the cost of equipment. The report is filed with these minutes, and the Committee's estimate of cost per year is approximately $60,000. Discussion centered on the time element in getting equipment, number of salaried personnel as well as volunteer, cost and delivery date of small equipment such as clothing, nozzles, etc., alarm systems, insurance rates, advisability of hiring a fire chief ahead of time to plan the operation, whether or not to have a special meeting for a bond issue for a building, and related matters. Mr. Behney said a warning for a special meeting for such a bond issue had to be advertised and posted 30 days before the meeting, and asked the Volunteer Committee to check further into their facts and figures, suggesting they get the budgets of the fire departments in towns of comparable size for review. Mr. Nardelli said he felt we should have more information by the next meeting if this was to go before the voters in January. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT, CONTINUED Mr. Wamsganz suggested that a member of the Board of Selectmen be appointed to work with the Committee. Mr. Stearns made a motion to appoint Chairman Behney to work with the Committee, nothing his experience as a Volunteer Fireman, and his interest in the project. The motion was seconded by Mr. Nardelli and so passed. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PROPOSED 1970-1971 BUDGET Mr. LeClair went over the figures in the proposed budget, explaining the reason for any increases in the accounts. Mr. D'Acuti noted that the department would eliminate the hiring of a maintenance patrolman as previously planned, and wondered if the maintenance of the streets would be up to par. Town Engineer Szymanski said yes, that with one new man, and because we have more good equipment, including a sweeper, he expected maintenance of the streets would be better than it has been. Mr. D'Acuti noted that construction of sidewalks in the south end was not budgeted, and said the School Board wants the Selectmen to obtain right-of-ways in the Orchard School District, have sidewalks constructed so the children could walk to school safely. Town Manager LeClair said the request from the School Board had been forwarded to the Planning Commission for recommendation, but the Commission had not acted on it. Mr. LeClair was instructed to resubmit the item to the Planning Commission for a recommendation and Mr. Stearns asked Mr. Szymanski to be sure and contact the principal of the Orchard School for her views on where the sidewalk should be constructed. Mr. Nardelli made a motion to accept the proposed 1970-71 Highway Department budget. Mr. Stearns seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SOUTH BURLINGTON ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE EXPIRATION OR REVOCATION OF BUILDING PERMITS AND VARIANCES Chairman Behney read the pertinent parts of the ordinance after the Selectmen voted to waive the complete reading. Mr. D'Acuti moved to adopt the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Mr. Premo and so passed. The ordinance reads as follows: CONSIDER NORTH STAR CORPORATION REQUEST RE ESCROW AGREEMENT Town Manager LeClair read from a letter from Attorney Piche, Attorney for the North Star Corporation, in which Mr. Piche requested the release of a portion of the $3875 that the town is holding in an escrow agreement. Mr. LeClair then read the agreement which listed items to be completed and the stipulated time of completion. The Selectmen determined that the items in question were not completed on time, and agreed to deny the request. Mr. Nardelli moved that a formal notice of default be forwarded by the Town Attorney to Mr. Cranwell, President of the North Star Corporation. Mr. Stearns seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO UPDATED MASTER PLAN Town Manager LeClair outlined the steps to be taken in order to have a public hearing on the updated master plan. He emphasized that the Board had only 90 days in which to act after receipt of the amended plan from the Planning Commission. The Board agreed to table this item until the meeting of December 22, 1969. RESIGNATION OF JOHN J. DWYER FROM THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE Chairman Behney read a letter of resignation from the Park and Recreation Committee that he had received from Mr. Dwyer. On a motion made by Mr. Premo and seconded by Mr. Stearns the Board voted to accept the resignation with sincere regret. RESIGNATION OF ROBERT S. BABCOCK FROM THE TOWN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Chairman Behney read a letter of resignation from the Town Government Committee that he had received from Mr. Babcock. On a motion made by Mr. Premo and seconded by Mr. Stearns, the Board voted to accept the resignation with sincere regret. DEMOLITION OF KIRBY PROPERTY Chairman Behney read a letter from the Senesac Wrecking Company which quoted a bid price of $300.00 for demolition of the town owned Kirby property in Queen City Park. The Selectmen were agreed that this was a reasonable price. Mr. Nardelli made a motion to accept the bid for demolition, the cost of $300 to be paid for from the sewer account. Mr. D'Acuti seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. CAMERON ACCOUNT FOR DAMAGES Chairman Behney asked Selectman Nardelli if he had investigated Mr. John Cameron, Sr's. request of December 1, 1969, for $79.70 for replacement of his poultry loss caused by dog damage on Nov. 15, 1969. Mr. Nardelli said his investigation proved this was a legitimate charge. On a motion made by Mr. Nardelli and seconded by Mr. Premo, the Board unanimously approved payment of the bill. On a motion made by Mr. Nardelli and seconded by Mr. Premo, the Board voted unanimously to go into Executive Session at 9:45 P.M. Approved Gregory L. Premo, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.