TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SELECTMEN’S HALL – 96 MAIN STREET – THIRD FLOOR
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2012
7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:
Chairman, Kristi Morris, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Board Members Present: Chairman, Kristi Morris, Vice Chairman, Michael Knoras, Stephanie Gibson, David Yesman, and Peter MacGillivray.
Also Present: Town Manager, Robert Forguites, Comptroller, Jeffrey Mobus, and Superintendent of Public Works, Jeffrey Strong.
B. MINUTES:
1. Regular Board Meeting, Monday, December 10, 2012
2. Budget Workshop for Police & Fire Departments, Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Chairman Morris asked if there were any changes to the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2012 and Budget Workshop Minutes for Police & Fire Departments of December 12, 2012. There were none.
MOTION: Stephanie Gibson moved to accept the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2012 and
Budget Workshop Minutes for Police & Fire Departments of December 12, 2012. David Yesman
seconded, passed unanimously.
C. ANY REQUESTED ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: -
Vice Chairman Knoras proposed to cancel Budget Workshop Meeting of Thursday, December 27, 2012 scheduled to start at 7:00 PM. This topic will be discussed under: J. NEW BUSINESS, No. 5.
D. CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: - None
E. PRIORITY BUSINESS: - None
F. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: - None
G. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND DEPARTMENTAL MINUTES AND REPORTS:
1. Springfield Justice Center combined Reports, November 3rd to December 8th, 2012
2. Springfield Senior Center, Monthly Newsletter, January 2013
3. Springfield Regional Development Corporation, Newsletter Winter 2012
Chairman Morris acknowledged the Springfield Justice Center combined Reports, November 3rd to December 8th, 2012, Springfield Senior Center, Monthly Newsletter, January 2013, and Springfield Regional Development Corporation, Newsletter Winter 2012. Chairman Morris noted copies of these reports and newsletters could be picked up at the Town Manager’s Office.
H. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: - None
I. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Citizen Concerns – Update a. Police Activity –
Robert Forguites, Town Manager, and Kristi Morris, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, are still continuing to meet at least twice a month to discuss ongoing events. Currently, there as been a decrease in Foot Patrol time due to the fact there is not much outside activity at this time of the year. In addition, the Police Department has a couple of injured Police Officers out.
1. Citizen Concerns – Update b. Ordinance Review –
Mr. Forguites stated there were scheduling difficulties over the Holidays for the Ordinance Review Committee to meet. On Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 3:30 PM there is a scheduled meeting. William Kearns, Administrative Officer, has a scheduled Planning Commission Meeting for Wednesday, January 2, 2013 to discuss ordinances for Abandoned Buildings and Rental Property.
Vice-Chairman, Michael Knoras, requested to reschedule the Ordinance Review Committee Meeting of Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 3:30 PM. Mr. Forguites and Stephanie Gibson did not have any problem with the request. A short discussion of dates and times followed. There was not a decision on the reschedule meeting date and time. Mr. Forguites will contact Stephen Ankuda and the Ordinance Review Committee via email for new date and time.
Mr. Forguites inquired if the Board of Selectmen knew about the new ordinance from the Village of Ludlow, Vermont. Ludlow has an ordinance prohibiting Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Establishments that sell or display Drug and Tobacco Paraphernalia. The Board confirmed they were aware of the new ordinance.
1. Citizens Concerns – Update c. Sub-Committee Report –
Stephanie Gibson and Peter MacGillivray said they were waiting follow up from Chief Johnston for information on the codes.
2. Park Street/East Schools -
Mr. Forguites informed the Board of Selectmen he has contacted and met with a Surveyor. The Surveyor will review the maps and has information Linda Rousse had found. The Surveyor also mentioned he had previously reviewed adjoining properties of Park Street School from previous jobs. Mr. Forguites is waiting to hear from the Surveyor the cost of the project.
J. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Request -
Mr. Forguites received a request from Mr. Barry Messer on behalf of the Hawks Mountain Ridgeriders for permission to run snowmobiles on both side of Maple Street Extension in N. Springfield to enable them to access the gas station, (Irving). In the past, the snowmobilers drove across the land where the dog kennels are now located. Mr. Messer indicated the Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Club is still trying to get a permanent trail to the gas station without driving near the road.
Vice Chairmen Knoras questioned Mr. Messer about state statues to cross the road diagonal and driving in the road. Mr. Messer presented to the Board of Selectmen Title 23: Motor Vehicles, Chapter 29 covering the operation on and across public highways, sidewalks; age restrictions; private lands; prohibited areas and prohibited methods of operation; reckless operation state statue.
Mr. Messer said he spoke with Police Chief, Douglas Johnston, and Superintendent of Public Works, Jeffrey Strong, and neither of the gentlemen had a problem with his request. Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Club will post all the signage. Mr. Messer also submitted a map of his proposal, known now as “Exhibit A”. Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Club also carries a “Certificate of Liability” from Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc., (VAST), for Two Million Dollars of coverage. Mr. Messer also presented to Mr. Forguites a Landowner Permission Form.
Mr. Strong said that he and John Johnson, of the Highway Department, checked out the sides of the road for Maple Street Extension. Mr. Strong confirmed there was room for the snowmobile trail. He also suggested until the Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Club and the Town of Springfield knows this new proposed trail will work, the permission should be granted on a yearly basis.
Mr. Forguites stated there were no complaints in the past about the snowmobilers.
MOTION: David Yesman moved to grant the Hawks Mountain Ridgerider Snowmobile Club permission to ride
snowmobiles on both sides of Maple Street Extension, Route 106 and Gurney Road toward the
Reservoir from Thursday, December 27, 2012 through Monday, April 15, 2013 per map, known as
Exhibit A. Michael Knoras seconded, passed unanimously.
Mr. Messer thanked Mr. Forguites and the Board of Selectmen for their time.
2. Transportation Grant Agreement -
Mr. Forguites reminded everyone on August 13, 2012 the Board approved applying for a grant to fund a Scoping and Feasibility Study for a shared use path from the Park Street School area to N. Springfield and ultimately the Springweather Nature area. The grant application was approved and the grant will be for $27,000. with a local match of $3,000. The $3,000. will come from money belonging to Springfield Trails and Greenways, (STAG).
The Grant Agreement has been received by the Town of Springfield. The Town Manager needs permission to sign the Grant Agreement and any other forms that may need to be signed in connection with the Grant.
The Grant Application included $3,000. to be used for Administration and Local Project Manager Costs. Mr. Forguites said he would like approval from the Board of Selectmen to negotiate an agreement with the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission to act as the Local Project Manager.
There was a brief discussion between Peter MacGillivray, Michael Knoras, and Robert Forguites about the amount of grant funding between the Federal and State Government. An addition, David Yesman questioned where the previous Study and Planning information was. Mr. Forguites replied the STAG group still had the information and imaged they would use it.
MOTION: David Yesman moved to authorize Town Manager, Robert Forguites, to sign the Grant Agreement and
any other forms that may need to be signed in connection with the Grant received by the Town of Springfield for the Scoping and Feasibility Study for the shared use path from the Park Street School
area to N. Springfield and ultimately the Springweather Nature area. The Grant Application is for
$27,000. with a local match of $3,000. of which belongs to STAG. In addition, the Town Manager
has also been authorized to negotiate an agreement with the Southern Windsor County Regional
Planning Commission to act as the Local Project Manager. Peter MacGillivray seconded,
passed unanimously.
3. Equalized Education Property Value Report -
Mr. Forguites said the Town received the Equalized Education Property Value Report from the Vermont Department of Taxes. The values are effective January 1, 2013. The report lists the Coefficient of Dispersion, (COD), and the Common Level of Appraisal, (CLA).
Mr. Forguites asked Comptroller, Jeffrey Mobus, to give a brief explanation of the report. Mr. Mobus said this year the Common Level of Appraisal, (CLA), is going up from 105.43% to 107.14%, the number is determined by a three year rolling average of actual qualified sales in the Town of Springfield. (Qualified sales are if property is advertised for three weeks, between none family members, is not a distressed sale or short-sale. The qualifying sales are market based sales to find the true value of the property.) The fact the CLA went from 105.43% to 107.14% means that the accessed value this year versus last year is a little bit higher relative to sales a year ago based on the three year rolling average. For the Tax Payers of Springfield it means the Education Tax Rate will go down about 1.5%.
Mr. Mobus said the other good news is the Coefficient of Dispersion, (COD), went from 17.13% down to 14.80% which measures how equitable our numbers are. The 107.14 is measured on an average house versus equal houses statewide. The data is more accurate all around. The State gets nervous and starts looking at reappraisal when the CLA is off more than 20%, (meaning below 80% or over 120%) or when the COD gets more than 20% because that rating would not be fair to different houses within the Town. The fact the Town is 7 years down from a reappraisal and we are at 14.80% isn’t bad news at all, that is pretty good news. If you look at the detail on residential the COD on residential 1, (which is 2/3 of our properties), is actually under 13%. That the Town’s residential properties are really equitable, equal houses are paying equal taxes.
Chairman Morris asked if there were any questions or concerns. Mr. Forguites said there was no action to take unless the Town wanted to grieve this report. Mr. Forguites said the Town did not have any reason to grieve this report.
4. Parade Permit Application -
Mr. Forguites reported the Town received a Parade Permit Application from Christian Craig on behalf of the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center to hold the Sixth Annual New Year’s Day 5K Fun Run/Walk on January 1, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The route of the Run/Walk will be from the Foundry Building on Bridge Street, turning onto Wall Street to Summer Street, up Summer Street to Cutler Drive, around the Cul-De-Sac and back down Summer Street to Bridge Street and return to the Foundry Building. Mr. Forguites indicated he was not aware of any problems over the past five years and recommended approving the Parade Permit Application.
Mr. Craig will need to work with the Police Department about the details and route of the 5K Fun Run/Walk and submit a Certificate of Liability Insurance to the Town of Springfield.
MOTION: David Yesman moved to approve the Parade Permit Application for the Edgar May Health and
Recreation Center to hold the Sixth Annual New Year’s Day 5K Fun Run/Walk on January 1,
2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM using the proposed route. Peter MacGillivray
seconded, passed unanimously.
5. Budget Workshop Meeting –
Vice Chairman Knoras requested Chairman Morris to hold a discussion of whether or not to cancel the scheduled Budget Workshop Meeting of Thursday, December 27, 2012 @ 7:00 PM. Everyone was in agreement to cancel the scheduled Budget Workshop Meeting because of the bad weather conditions. The Budget Workshop Meeting will be on Thursday, January 3, 2013. There was a suggestion to start the meeting at 6:00 PM. Mr. Forguites needs to confirm the time with the Budget Advisory Committee.
K. LEGISLATIVE REPORTS: - None
L. CITIZENS COMMENTS: - None
Local Control Commission Opened at 8:00 PM
Mr. Forguites said Tobacco and Liquor Licenses are due for Renewal by April 30, 2013. The Renewal Applications have gone out and a few of the completed Renewal Applications have been returned to the Town Clerk’s Office. The first Renewal Application returned is from LeAnna LeBarron, owner of The Magic Mushroom. Mr. Forguites said there have been no complaints against The Magic Mushroom.
MOTION: Stephanie Gibson moved to renew the Tobacco License of LeAnna LeBarron d/b/a The Magic
Mushroom. Kristi Morris seconded. 3 Yes Votes and 2 No Votes (Michael Knoras and David
Yesman)
Local Control Commission Closed at 8:05 PM
M. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Chairman Morris asked each Board Member if they had any future agenda items to add. Peter MacGillivray, Stephanie Gibson, and Chairman Morris did not have any additions.
Vice Chairman Knoras wants to finish up with the Streetlights.
David Yesman would like to have a presentation about Solar Electricity. Recently he had attended a presentation at a Borad of Selectmen Meeting in Chester. He is very interested to know how this would work in the Town of Springfield. Mr. Forguites said he would contact Efficiency of Vermont about a presentation. Mr. Forguites will keep the members of the Board posted.
Mr. Forguites also reminded everyone the next Board of Selectmen Meeting will be on Monday, January 14, 2013.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: - Contracts
N. ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION: Michael Knoras moved to close the regular Board of Selectmen Meeting and go into Executive
Session. Stephanie Gibson seconded, passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna M. Hall,
Recording Secretary
Board of Selectmen Meeting 12-26-12
No comments :
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments polite and on-topic. No profanity