MINUTES
ARLINGTON SECECTBOARD
June 7, 2021
VIRTUAL MEETING
Members Present: ( Via phone or Zoom) Dan Harvey, Matthew Bykowski, Cynthia Browning, Todd Wilkins, and Glenn Sherman
Members Absent: None
Also Present: (Via phone or Zoom) Town Administrator- Nick Zaiac, Mike King, Mark Towslee, Brian Hawley, Jessica Roberts, Darren Marcy-Manchester Journal, and Janet Barry
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM, by Mr. Harvey
Public Comments: Mr. Harvey opened the meeting by asking for public comments. There were none.
Minutes of the Meeting of May 17, 2021. Mr. Wilkins made a motion to accept as presented, the minutes of the previous meeting, May 17, 2021. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Highways: Highway Foreman, Mark Towslee, although on vacation, spoke at the meeting. Mr. Harvey thanked him for attending the meeting while on vacation. Mr. Towslee said the new equipment was now in house, and ready to go. He said the roads are in good shape, and ditching will be full steam ahead when he returns from vacation. Ms. Browning said she would like to meet with Mr. Towslee after his vacation to discuss any potential use of herbicides for roadside vegetation.
Old Business: Fire Department Utility Truck Purchase: Mr. Harvey said he and Mr. Wilkins, both Fire Department liaisons, had met with Fire Chief Mike King, and other officers to discuss the best direction to go in terms of truck maintenance and replacement going forward. They discussed a change of mindset, from running vehicles until there is no value left in them, to running them for 10-15 years and selling them while they still have substantial value. It was discussed that selling a truck after 15 years of use will usually result in the truck selling for half it’s original purchase price, and not keeping aging vehicles will also save money in maintenance. Mr. King said they had found a used utility truck for sale in Waterford CT for $28,500, with only 15,000 miles on it, and the body is in great condition. He said he was seeking the Select Board’s permission to purchase the vehicle, and $1000 cash had already been given to the seller to hold the vehicle, bringing the remaining cost to $27,500. The $1000 was raised through donations from filling pools in Town. He said they would then be able to sell aging truck #74, possibly for $50,000-$60,000. It was discussed that #74 holds 500 gallons of water and the utility vehicle will not hold water, and there would be no truck that holds water until the brand-new truck, that can hold 1,250 gallons of water, will be ordered and arrives, which could take up to 18 months. Mr. King said with mutual aid, there can be 7000 gallons of water available within 15 minutes. Mr. Bykowski voiced concern over the Town’s ISO rating as a result of having to rely on mutual aid for water. It was agreed that proceeding with the purchase of the used utility truck is a good idea, but the Board would like to have a spreadsheet to be able to see the figures involved with the new truck cycle timeline. Mr. Harvey said the spreadsheet was the next step and there should be figures available by the next meeting. Both Mr. Zaiac and Mr. Bykowski said they were both willing to help with the spreadsheet, and Mr. Bykowski said it is important for the taxpayers to be able to see the plan as well. Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve $27,500 for the purchase of the used utility truck out of the Arlington Fire Truck Sinking Fund. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Zaiac said a special meeting would be held to approve the Warrant for the truck purchase this week so Mr. King can pick up the truck this weekend.
New Business: Town Logo: Emergency Management/Rescue Squad Director, Josh Williams, designed a new Town logo. Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve the Town logo as designed by Mr. Williams. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Emergency Management Plan Adoption: The Board discussed the annual readoption of the Local Emergency Management Plan. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to amend the Emergency Management Plan to reference Mount Anthony Middle School or Rutland High School as regional local shelters. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to readopt the Emergency Management Plan as amended. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Roads and Bridge Standards: Mr. Zaiac informed the Board of the need for the Town Road and Bridge Standards to be adopted, and explained the old standards have timed out, and it is necessary to have standards up to date as a requirement for highway grants and compliance. Mr. Wilkins made a motion to adopt Sections 1-7 of the Town Road and Bridge Standards as presented. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mobile Vendor Application: Mr. Zaiac said a young man applied for a Peddler’s License to sell educational items door- to- door in Arlington. Mr. Zaiac said he could not recommend this application based on the door-to-door business model, which may cause the public to react negatively to someone coming onto their property. Ms. Browning made a motion to disapprove the application. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously, with a yes vote indicating disapproving vote. Vendor permit denied.
Monument Applications: Following the approval of the Memorial and Monuments Policy at the last meeting, Mr. Zaiac presented the Board with two applications, which would yield $400 total for the Park Sinking Fund. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the Monument Application of an engraved plaque to be mounted to a bench in the Park. Mr. Sherman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the Monument Application for an “inconspicuous” rock with name, determined in Park at a later date. Mr. Sherman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Grants In Aid Program: It was briefly discussed that the Town participates in the Highways, Clean Water Grant each year. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to participate in the Grants In Aid Program. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Disposal of Outdated Air Conditioners: Mr. Zaiac asked the Boards approval to dispose of 2 outdated AC units from Town Hall, by means of sealed bid requests, starting at $1, to be decided at the next meeting. Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve sealed bids for the two old AC units that are obsolete for Town Hall. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Town Administrator’s Report: Mr. Zaiac said his report covers a three-week period since the last meeting. He has done research on Red Mountain, a stewardship meeting at the Yellow Barn that went very well, and has received information that the intersection of Warm Brook Rd and RT 313 is due for a study from the State which will be beneficial because there have been complaints about the intersection. He said internet at the Pump House is nearly completed, and he has gotten some clarity on the wells and chlorine contact issue on South Rd and will have information at the next Water Board meeting.
Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion that premature discussion of multiple personnel issues would cause the municipality to suffer substantial disadvantage. Seconded by Mr. Sherman. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to enter into Executive Session for discussion of several personnel matters, and to allow Mr. Zaiac and Mr. Towslee to remain in the room. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed. The Board entered Executive Session at 8:03PM. The Board came out of Executive Session at 8:33PM.
As a result of the Executive Session, Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the hiring of Brian Hawley as the #2 crew man to the Highway Department at a rate of $20.00 per hour. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to hire Robyn Champine as Animal Control Officer for a term of one year with quarterly reviews. Mr. Sherman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
The third item discussed in the Session required no action to be taken.
Town Attorney, Joe O’Dea is retiring after nearly 50 years of service to the Town, effective August 1, 2021. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to hire Merrill Bent of Woolmington, Campbell, Bent and Stasny, PC, as Town Attorney of Record. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
All Other Business: None
WD Warrants and Orders: Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve WD#11 in the amount of $3,551.37. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Warrants and Orders: Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve Warrant #11, from the General Fund, in the amount of $39,148.07. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Warrant # C21-6, in the amount of $2,569.40, from the CRF fund, for tele conference equipment for Town Hall. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bykowski made a motion approve Warrant #CRF21-7, in the amount of $185.17 to R.K. Miles for Yellow Barn project supplies. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Warrant #R21-7, Reappraisal Account, in the amount of $10,548.38, for NEMRC Assessment Fees, and mailings postage. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Wilkins made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:46PM
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Barry, Recording Secretary
Cc: files, Town Clerk