Unapproved Minutes
Braintree Selectboard Meeting
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Present:
Megan O’Toole, Selectboard Chair Walter Palmer, Resident
Charles McMeekin, Selectboard Member Brian Jones, Resident
Daniel Burson, Selectboard Member Janice R. Russell, Admin. Assistant
Keegan Haupt, Selectboard Member Jeff Masterson, Road Commissioner
Loren Bent, Selectboard Member
Ms. O’Toole called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.
Jessica Brassard, Town Clerk, swore in the newly re-elected Selectboard Member -Megan O’Toole.
The Board reviewed the agenda, nothing was added at this time.
Selectboard organization
- On motion of Mr. Burson, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board appointed Ms. O’Toole as the Selectboard Chair (Ms. O’Toole abstained, the other four members voted in favor of the motion).
- On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded Mr. McMeekin, the Board appointed Mr. Burson as vice chair (Mr. Burson abstained, the other four members voted in favor of the motion).
- On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved the normal meeting schedule as the first and third Tuesday of each month with the meetings starting at 6pm at the Town Office.
- On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Bent, the Board unanimously approved continuing to post notices at the Town Office, Town Hall, the old Snowsville Store, and on the Town’s website along with having the newspaper of record be The Herald.
- Selectboard Responsibilities – after a brief discussion it was decided that the responsibilities to help distribute the workload and to clarify who will take lead on different types of projects would remain the same as 2019, no motion or vote required:
Highway – Mr. Haupt, with Mr. Burson as the backup
Grant Evaluation – Mr. Burson, with Ms. O’Toole as the backup
Capital Plan & Budget – Ms. O’Toole, with Mr. Haupt as the backup
Town Office & Hall Improvements – Mr. McMeekin, with Mr. Haupt as the backup
Personnel Evaluation and Oversight – Ms. O’Toole, with Mr. Bent as the backup
On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board unanimously approved the minutes from February 18, 2020.
Citizen’s comments
- Walter Palmer – suggested that the Town of Braintree, if it does not already own one, purchase a Noise Meter for the Highway Crew while they are working inside the garage doing grinding and other work that causes extremely loud noise. Masterson stated that hearing protection is offered to and worn by the Highway Crew.
Reports
- Highway Report – Mr. Masterson reported that equipment/vehicle maintenance is ongoing and all equipment is operable at this time. The Road Crew completed the MSHA Refresher course but are still needing the Flaggers Course. Two Grants, the VTrans Class 2 Road and the VTrans Structures Grant, are being prepared and the Town is still awaiting approval notification on a Better Roads Grant. Ms. O’Toole asked how things are at the Riford Brook Road RASTA site. Masterson reported that RASTA did place new signage at the site and a reminder on their website.
Old business
- Bids For Purchase of New Truck – Mr. Burson handed out copies of the five bids for the new truck to review. He then explained the options provided in each truck and warranty offered through the bids. A discussion followed between the Selectboard Members, Ms. Brassard and Mr. Masterson about the optimum choice of truck for the town’s current and future requirements at the best price. Bent stated that the town should not waste time and should order the truck, Mr. Burson and Mr. Haupt concurred.
On motion made by Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously voted to except the bid from Sheldon Trucks, Inc., located in Williston, Vermont, for a 2020 MACK Truck at the $138,700.00 bid price with a trade-in offer for the 2013 of $72,000.00 for a cost to the town of $66,700.00.
New business
- Appointments – Ms. O’Toole explained that she had added Malcolm Fitzpatrick back onto the Planning Commission although he now resides in Randolph. Per a request by Joan Richmond-Hall, Ms. O’Toole had Mr. Burson check with the Town’s lawyer, who confirmed that the law states for the Planning Commission only that as long as a majority of commission members reside in Braintree that a member can reside in another town.
- On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Burson, the Board unanimously approved the following appointments:
Agent To Deed Land………………………………………………………….. Kris Haupt
Development Review Board
New Term Expires 2023…………………………………………………. Linda Doane
New Term Expires 2023………………………………………. Joan Richmond-Hall
Planning Commission
New Term Expires 2023……………………………………………… Jennifer Phipps
New Term Expires 2023………………………………………. Malcolm Fitzpatrick
Conservation Commission
New Term Expires 2023……………………………………………… Sandy Stephen
New Term Expires 2023…………………………………………………… Gina Logan
E-911 Coordinator………………………………………………………….. Janice Russell
ECFiber Representative………………………………………………….. Jackson Evans
Emergency Management Director………………………………. Timothy Caulfield
Fire Warden………………………………………………………………………. Loren Bent
Fire Advisory Committee Representative………………………………. Loren Bent
Mountain Alliance Representative………………………………. Timothy Caulfield
Health Officer………………………………………………………………. Lindsay Haupt
Road Commissioner………………………………………………………. Jeff Masterson
Stagecoach Transportation Services, Inc. Representative ……… Paul Kendall
Town Service Officer……………………………………………………. Jennifer Phipps
Tree Warden……………………………………………………………………. Larry Benoir
Transportation Advisory Committee…………………………………….. Bob Moyer
White River Valley Ambulance Representative…………………. Linda Lubold
On a motion made by Mr. Haupt, seconded by Mr. Bent, the Board unanimously voted to appoint Seth Bent as Cemetery Commissioner for a 5 year term.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan In-Kind Contribution Reporting – Mr. Haupt reported he spent two hours reading the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Mr. McMeekin stated that he was on the committee that created the plan. Both Mr. Haupt and Mr. McMeekin submitted their hours to Mr. Caulfield for presenting to Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commission for the Town’s In-Kind Match.
Vermont Emergency Management – Ms. O’Toole asked if all members received an e-mail from
The Vermont Emergency Management Department and upon receiving negatives from all other members, Ms. Brassard and Ms. Russell, Ms. O’Toole stated that she will submit all e-mail addresses to the appropriate person.
Mr. Haupt provided information regarding an offer to purchase the tractor and International. A discussion followed amongst the Selectboard Members and Jeff Masterson about the sales person and the offer presented. Mr. Haupt will pass further information to Mr. Masterson and the Board Members.
Ms. Russell presented a notice regarding the FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning Discovery Meeting for the White Watershed in Vermont. The previous Administrative Assistant did attend the last meeting and the Board approved Ms. Russell’s request to attend the current meeting.
Mr. Bent made a suggestion that the Town Highway Crew, later in the Spring, place Deaf Person Ahead Signs near the property of a citizen who is deaf but needs to cross the road to retrieve mail. As this is a highway safety concern, there was no official vote required by the board to request Mr. Masterson to order the signs in preparation of placing them at the appropriate time.
On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Burson, the Board unanimously approved the payment orders.
On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Ms. O’Toole, the Board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 6:37 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice R. Russell