Unapproved Minutes

Braintree Selectboard Meeting

April 16, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

Present:

Charlie McMeekin, Selectboard Member                                                     Paul Kendall, Resident

Megan O’Toole, Selectboard Chair            Mandy Garvin, Braintree’s Green up Day Coordinator

Keegan Haupt, Selectboard Member                                                       Jessie Brassard, Treasurer

Loren Bent, Selectboard Member                                                              Stuart Kinney, Resident

Holly Jarvis, Admin. Assistant

Jeff Masterson, Road Commissioner

Ms. O’Toole called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Review of agenda added Emergency Watershed Protection program, under new business.

Approve minutes

• On motion of Mr. McMeekin, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved the minutes of April 2, 2019.
• On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved the Town Meeting Minutes.

Citizens’ comments

• Kendall encouraged that better ditches be installed along Riford Brook Road, with the understanding that trees would need to be cut to do so, and encouraged replacing some driveway culverts that are too small. The Board will continue to support cutting trees where needed to create adequate ditches in accordance with the current standards.
• Kinney reported that the old Tannenburg Bridge stay in place, inferring that it doesn’t need replacing.
• Kris Haupt made some recommendations as where to put culverts to fix the drainage problems on Riford Brook Road.

Reports

• The Board reviewed the financials. Ms. Brassard reported that the delinquent taxes are the lowest they have been in years. Currently there are only $108,000 of delinquent taxes in total. One year $189,000 went delinquent.
  • Brassard asked if the Board had any questions about the audit report she emailed quite a while ago. No one did. The audit had gone well.
  • Green up Day planning: It was agreed to proceed with the same Green up Day plans as last year. Ms. Garvin will work with the school to encourage kids to participate. There will be a dumpster for the green bags, a place for scrap metal, and a place for tires, between the Braintree Town Garage and Office. Residents can pay the cost of disposal and drop off their used tires. The disposal prices have gone up.
• Highway report:
  • On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved the anti-idling policy for Braintree equipment and trucks.
• O’Toole reported that the Town of Randolph will be sending a counter proposal for fire service billing. She has not received it yet.

Old business

• A proposal for a policy regarding when to sell, or repurpose the old trucks is not yet ready. There was a lengthy discussion about the old trucks. It was tabled. Mr. Burson and Mr. Haupt will work with Mr. Masterson to create the proposal.

New business

• On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Ms. O’Toole, the Board selected Hilltop Construction’s bid of $170,000 for Tannenberg Bridge. Mr. Haupt abstained from the vote [Hilltop Construction is his brother’s company], the other three Board member present voted in favor of the motion.
• On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved purchasing two computers from Vermont Commuting.
• The Natural Resource Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program was introduced. If the flooding from April 15th is declared as a federal disaster Braintree might be asked to sponsor a project or two to protect residents’ property. They will consider how comfortable they are doing so at their next meeting.

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Haupt, unanimously approved the payment orders.

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 7:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Holly Jarvis