MINUTES
ARLINGTON SECECTBOARD
April 18, 2022
Members Present: Dan Harvey, , Cynthia Browning, and Jamie Paustian
Members Absent: Todd Wilkins and Glenn Sherman
Also Present: (In person, or via Zoom) Town Administrator- Nick Zaiac, Bebe Bullock, Randy Novotny, John Mendenhall, Susan Paustian, and Janet Barry
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM, by Mr. Harvey.
Public Comments: Mr. Harvey asked for public comments unrelated to agenda items. There were none.
Minutes of the Meeting of April 4, 2022 Ms. Browning made a motion to accept as presented, the minutes of the previous meeting of April 4, 2022. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
New Business: Approval for Arlington Commons Grant: The Board was asked to sign a single applicant, pass through grant from the Vermont Community Development Program for Arlington Commons. The Board had no questions for Ms. Bullock. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve the VCDP grant application for Arlington Commons Project. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Sherman absent.
Liquor Licenses: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve a 2nd Class License to sell malt and vinous beverages for Wayside Country Store. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve a 1st and 3rd Class Liquor License for the Arlington Inn for 2022. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve an Outside Consumption Liquor License for the Arlington Inn. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed. This license only required a verbal approval from the Board.
Amend Cell Phone Reimbursement Policy: Mr. Zaiac provided the Board with a revised Cell Phone Reimbursement Policy to allow for the new Park Lead to be eligible for the reimbursement, as it is the most economical way to be able to be in touch with Mr. Knight at the Park. Section 5 of the policy was the addition. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve the revision to the Town of Arlington Cell Phone Reimbursement Policy, adding #5, and renumbering accordingly. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Old Business: “No Thru Trucks” on Warm Brook Road South: Mr. Harvey said this is the revised Town of Arlington Traffic Ordinance that had been adopted in the past. The revision has typos from the original corrected, and a new section added. He read Section 8. “The portion of Warm Brook Road beginning at the southwest end at the edge of the right of way of Vermont Route 7A and at the north end at the edge of the right of way of Vermont Route 313 shall be designated as “NO THRU TRUCKS”. This designation shall not be interpreted as preventing trucks from serving properties adjacent to or accessed via the road. The Arlington Select Board or its designated agent (s) may waive this rule as they deem necessary. This agreement shall not supersede previous explicit agreements by the board that allows truck access to the road.” Itwas discussed that the goal of this ordinance is to preserve the pavement and to keep big trucks on the bigger roads. Ms. Browning made a motion to adopt the language of a new Section 8 to be added to the Town of Arlington Traffic Ordinance, for the south leg of Warm Brook Road between RT 7A and RT 313. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Sherman absent. This was the first reading of the revision, and will be decided at the next meeting.
Public Comments, Part Two: John Mendenhall came to the meeting to raise the question of how drainage works in the area west of the school, and noted some recent work he’d done near the wetlands behind his property. He asked for help from the Town to dig out drainage ditches, and clear a plugged culvert on his neighbor’s property that would then help his, and the next two properties. Mr. Harvey said it has to be investigated for past agreements and deeds. Ms. Browning asked Mr. Zaiac to investigate and see what the Town’s role and jurisdiction is in the issue. Mr. Mendenhall also noted the recent enforcement, with regard to junk on a nearby property. Mr. Harvey noted that because the offender had been previously warned in years past, it needs to be enforced to the full extent of the law. Mr. Zaiac asked Mr. Mendenhall to supply him with photos of the property in question. Mr. Mendenhall commented on the general degradation of Town properties. The Board responded that it would be beneficial if neighbors would work together and help clear properties, in an effort to help each other and to protect property values.
Executive Session: Ms. Browning made a motion that premature discussion of a legal matter would cause the municipality to suffer substantial disadvantage. Seconded by Mr. Paustian. Ms. Browning made a motion to enter into Executive Session for discussion of a legal matter, and to allow Town Administrator, Nick Zaiac, and Firefighter Randy Novotny to remain in the room. Seconded by Mr. Paustian. The Board entered into Executive Session at 7:38PM. The Board exited the Executive Session at 8:26PM, with no decisions being made as a result of the Executive Session.
Old Business, Part Two: ARPA Joint Committee Creation Vote: The Board reviewed the memo from Mr. Zaiac about forming a joint ARPA committee with Sunderland and Sandgate that was discussed at the last meeting. Mr. Paustian said he had spoken with representatives from Sunderland and Sandgate and they are interested in joining forces and moving forward, with possibly two members from each town on the Committee. Ms. Browning made a motion to authorize the creation of a Joint ARPA Advisory Committee. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Sherman absent.
Disk Golf Award: The Board reviewed the two quotes for disk golf that Mr. Zaiac obtained, from Amazon for $2,753.28, and DGA for $5,400.00. The equipment will be set up in the back area of the Rec Park. Mr. Paustian inquired about the grant that the Town received that made this purchase possible. Mr. Zaiac explained it is a $5,500 grant, with a 50% Town share. Ms. Browning made a motion to authorize the purchase of MVP Black Hole Pro Disk Golf from Amazon for $2,753.28. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Sherman absent.
Highways: Road Conditions/Maintenance: Mr. Zaiac said the highway crew has been patching, and doing odds and ends at the Park, and will be helping the Water Department with ditch digging. He said Mr. Towslee is on vacation this week. Ms. Browning said she has big concerns on the conditions of some roads such as areas of River Road and Benedict Hollow Road that have plow humps, and culvert issues in need of repair, and that she feels are a safety concern. Mr. Zaiac said a road erosion inventory for the State will due in a year or two, and perhaps the study could be done sooner. He said he will look into the cost of a study. Ms. Browning said she will do her own inventory, and that the Board needs to have a plan of action for road maintenance. Mr. Harvey said it is important to prioritize spring and fall grading, and Mr. Zaiac agreed that the best plan is to have grading done in spring and fall and the core of summer road work should be drainage.
Town Administrator’s Report: The Board had been supplied with Mr. Zaiac’ s Town Administrator Report and it was entered into the record. Mr. Zaiac said there is an Abatement Hearing on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 6PM, with the Town Clerk, Treasurer, Listers, and Justices of the Peace to be in attendance, and a Water Board meeting to follow at 7PM.
Water Department Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant WD#8 dated 4/15/22, in the amount of $3,003.95, with the biggest items being GMP and BC/BS payments. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Sherman absent.
Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve CRF Warrant #22-02, dated 4/14/ 22, in the amount of $6,800.58 for grader blades. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant #8, dated 4/15/22, in the amount of $17,906.03, with the biggest amounts being diesel, health insurance premiums, and Public Safety line. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Browning made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Browning seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Barry, Recording Secretary
Cc: files, Town Clerk