NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING
MEETING MINUTES  2008

DRAFT – All notes draft until approved by board at following meeting. 

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Unified Towns and Gores

Monthly Board of Governors Meeting Notes

Meeting date: January 10, 2008

In attendance were: Howard Walker, Barb Nolan, Board of Governors

                                    Jennifer Hanlon, Supervisor,

                                    Dave Snedeker - Zoning Administrator,

                                    George Carr - Road Foreman

                                    Steve Young, Beecher Falls Fire Chief

Also: Virginia Carr, Craig Nolan, Peter Rodin (residents) and Joanne Young.

The meeting began at 6:00 with Dave Lafoe on the telephone participating in the meeting.  The board spoke about the current status with 9-1-1 and the merits of having a fire district or not.  All were happy to have finalized fire coverage situation - as noted with contracts on file.  Beecher Falls Fire Chief Steve Young presented contracts which were signed by all parties.  Other contract with North Stratford department and Lyndon Rescue had been noted as signed too.  

Dave Lafoe was advised that Okeefe had resigned as lister.  Dave Snedeker said lister position doesn’t need to be filled by UTG resident only, can be anyone qualified.  Lafoe prefers someone who is landowner.  Listing to be posted on website.  Website being updated nicely and much progress made.  Lafoe ends phone call about 15 minutes in, no other business for him involved but will be by phone if needed.

The notes were read from December 13 and were amended slightly - a question over directions to to Supervisor to purchase the Fletcher Potter camp at tax sale.  Howard motion to accept amended notes, Barbara seconded.  The tax sale had occurred (agenda item 8) and Jay Stewart had sold camp.  However owner provided check so sale is null and purchaser’s check will be refunded. 

Expenses for the past month were reviewed, and motion by Howard and seconded by Barbara to accept all expenses.  Jennifer explained that transferring the money in Passumpsic to a higher interest generating account would be beneficial, and Barbara motioned with Howard second to transfer funds.  Jennifer would also look into the money market account and see if there is anything with a higher dividend return.

George Carr spoke about high snow, needed to get snow blower to get to dumpster.  Board advised him to keep up the good work and roads look good.  At 6:59 p.m., the Board meeting adjourned for a public hearing on the proposed town office.

At 7:00 PM the public hearing opened and the Board Chair opened the floor for public comments on the proposed method of financing for the new municipal building in Ferdinand, as warned.  Peter Rodin expressed concerns about not having enough public notice, however Jennifer said there had been several legally warned meetings and meeting notes on file if he’d like to review them. Rodin declined the offer, and the board said they would make sure to keep notifying the public - including Peter - of upcoming meetings.  Dave Snedeker said it appeared the UTG would take on indebtedness of approximately $130,500.00 if the grant was successful.  The total cost of the project would be approximately $230,500.  Bids would be solicited for the construction portion of the town office project.  Virginia Carr said she would like to make sure a kitchen is incorporated into the new facility because it will be a meeting place, and the benefits of incorporating the features of an emergency shelter facility into the new building were discussed. There were six of thirty voters in attendance at this meeting.  Howard said he would like to review the residency list also since the Board of Civil Authority hasn’t reviewed the voter checklist lately.  Jennifer said each BOG had been provided a copy of the latest checklist.  At 7:45 p.m. the meeting was closed.

Following the close of the public hearing, the Board of Governors (less Mr. Lafoe) re-adjourned and went into executive session to discuss legal and personnel issues.  Upon exiting that session, Howard motioned to rescind the fire department policies and memorandum of understanding adopted at the December 13, 2007 meeting, since it had been replaced by the contracts of the previous week (January 1, 2008).  Barbara seconded the motion to rescind the policy, and it was terminated.

The next meeting was scheduled for February 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM, with a zoning meeting to approve new zoning regulations will take place at that time.  All interested parties were given copies of pertinent documents via certified mail.

The meeting ended at 7:56 PM.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Jennifer Hanlon,

UTG Town Supervisor

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