Minutes

Braintree Selectboard Meeting

March 16, 2021 at 6:00 pm

“In accordance with the recent amendments to Vermont’s open meeting law, and in light of the ongoing public health crisis, this meeting will be held via conference call. You can access the meeting at the scheduled time by calling 802-210-4472.”

Present via Remote Conference Calling:

Daniel Burson, Selectboard Vice-Chair                                   Keegan Haupt, Selectboard Member Janice Russell, Administrative Assistant            Tim Caulfield, Emergency Management Director

Paul Shriver, Conservation Commission Chairperson                 Paulette Staats, Braintree Citizen

Paul Kendall, Tri-Valley Transit Representative    Adam Lane, President, Lost Nation ATV Club

Present at the Town Office:

Megan O’Toole, Selectboard Chairperson                                    Loren Bent, Selectboard Member

Charlie McMeekin, Selectboard Member

Ms. O’Toole called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.  A roll call was done to confirm what members and citizens were in attendance via teleconferencing.

The Board reviewed the agenda with the following changes being made: add Under Old Business – Fill the Planning Commission Member Slot and add under New Business – License for Bent Hill Brewery related to their restaurant and add Delegation of Authority for Deputy Emergency Management Director.

On motion of Mr. McMeekin, seconded by Ms. O’Toole, the Board approved the minutes from the Special Selectboard Meeting on February 27, 2021 and the minutes from the Regular Selectboard Meeting on March 3, 2021.

Citizen’s comments limited to 3 minutes per person with a 15 minute maximum – Paulette Staats expressed concern that the Selectboard was planning to open more roads to ATV travel.  Ms. Staats is alarmed by terrain damage she has witnessed in upper New Hampshire caused by excessive ATV use and is worried that the same thing could happen in Braintree. Mr. Kendall concurred with Ms. Staats assessment of the damage in upper New Hampshire and is also nervous about the possibility of it occurring in Braintree.

Reports

• Highway Report – Ms. O’Toole reviewed the submitted report and highlighted the point that the Town has received the new 2021 Mack Truck. A brief discussion ensued about an additional culvert issue on Peth Road that Mr. Pratt may add to the Peth Road work scheduled to begin later this Spring.  Burson informed the Selectboard that Mr. Pratt is concentrating on locating potential work sites for a Class II Road Grant.
• Tri-Valley Transit (Stagecoach) Representative – Mr. Kendall spoke about how Tri-Valley responded to the COVID-19 crisis by initiating and maintaining safety protocols that kept both the drivers and riders safe. Tri-Valley also changed their services to accommodate the needs of their riders by adding more buses to some routes and eliminating trips on other routes.  They are encouraging all their employees to get vaccinated and offering up to two days to recover from any side effects without the need for the employee to use their own Sick Leave or Personal Leave.   McMeekin stated he is impressed by the adaptation and sensitivity to passengers and drivers needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Conservation Commission Report – The Chairperson, Mr. Shriver, reported that the Commission has been meeting remotely via Zoom since March 2020 and still has all five members. The committee’s goals for 2021 are to hold discussions and events with other Vermont Towns conservation commissions.  Possible Topics to discuss include Green Burial, Bird Conservation and the protection of amphibians.   The commission is still working on the reclamation of Thayer Brook by trying to eliminate the Wild Chervil and Japanese Knotweed down the bank to the brook and to protect the trees that the White River Valley Partnership planted after Irene.

• Old business

• • RAMAN update from Tim Caulfield – The number of new COVID cases, as well as COVID related deaths, has continued to drop in Orange County. Braintree had no new cases reported last week. RAMAN plans a Yard Sign Campaign as a way of reminding people to continue to mask, social distance and stay safe.
  • RASTA BMF Trailhead Parking and Signage Followup – The trailhead has been re-opened and additional signs have been placed as planned.
  • New Braintree Website update – Topic was tabled until the April 6, 2021 meeting.
  • Planning Commission Appointment – after a brief discussion

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously approved the appointing of Nathan Cleveland to the last position on the Planning Commission.

• New business
• Re-Adoption of Braintree ATV Ordinance – Ms. O’Toole reiterated that the Selectboard and Lost Nation ATV Club had no plans to add additional roads to the ordinance. Lane reassured the callers that the clubs goals are not to open up more roads or to allow the wild rides as seen in other states.  The club has placed signs on all trails to be respectful of the trails roads and other ATV riders.  The Lost Nation Club is very active and self-polices its members and takes care of any issues.  The club also maintains the trails with their own equipment to prevent erosion and other terrain damage.  Several years ago, when Mr. Lane was President of the Vermont ATV Organization, he convinced that Board to not allow any Tourism ATV rental organizations/businesses in the State of Vermont to help prevent erosion and damage to the Vermont ATV Trail System.  Messrs. Haupt and McMeekin thanked Mr. Lane for being so proactive in the care of the ATV Trails, alleviating the concerns of Braintree citizens and getting the ATV Ordinance passed.

On Motion of Mr. Haupt, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously approved the 2021 ATV Ordinance as currently drafted.

• Bent Hill Brewery Restaurant License – The State requires an additional license for the planned restaurant at the Bent Hill Brewery. Further discussion and approval of this license was tabled until the April 6^th Selectboard Meeting.
• Delegation of Authority to the Deputy Emergency Management Director –

On Motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously approved the Delegation of Authority to the Deputy Emergency Management Director with Ms. O’Toole abstaining.

Payment orders – Ms. O’Toole and Mr. McMeekin reviewed the Payment Orders.

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

Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to 1 V.S.A. Section 313 (a)(3).

On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Ms. O’Toole, the Board unanimously voted to enter into an Executive Session at 6:47 P.M. for a discussion on a personnel matter pursuant to 1 V.S.A. Section 313 (a)(3). 

At 6:54 pm the board came out of the Executive Session with the decision that with the first pay period after Daniel Small’s successful completion of the CDL License test and his probation he will receive an increase in pay of $1.00.

Adjournment

On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,

Janice R. Russell

Administrative Assistant

Braintree Residents Comments needed on ATV Ordinance

The Selectboard is requesting comments from citizens on the current ATV Ordinance that is up for discussion at the 6p.m. Selectboard Meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. To participate in this discussion please attend the meeting via conference call at 802-210-4472 (No access code required) or send a written statement via e-mail to braintreeadm@gmail.com or mail to Selectboard, 932 VT RT 12A, Braintree, VT 05060. A copy of said ordinance can be located in the Town Clerk’s Office or by requesting a copy by emailing braintreeadm@gmail.com or calling 802-728-9787, Ext. 6.

Minutes

Special Meeting Braintree Selectboard

Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

“In accordance with the recent amendments to Vermont’s open meeting law, and in light of the ongoing public health crisis, this meeting will be held via conference call. You can access the meeting at the scheduled time by calling 802-210-4472.”

Present at the Braintree Town Office:

Megan O’Toole, Selectboard chairperson

Loren Bent, Selectboard member

Charlie McMeekin, Selectboard member

Present via Remote Conference Calling:

Daniel Burson, Selctboard vice chair

Keegan Haupt, Selectboard member

Jessica Brassard, Town clerk and treasurer

Jackson Evans, Lister

Ms. O’Toole called the meeting to order at 10:00.  Ms. O’Toole welcomed members of the public participating via telephone and webinar and explained the purpose of the meeting, which is to review the Town Meeting warning and have any general discussions about town business.

Ms. O’Toole proceeded to review the Articles on the Town Meeting warning, pausing for any questions from the public after each Article. 

After review of the warning, Ms. O’Toole invited members of the public to ask any questions or make any announcements.  A question about the town-wide reappraisal and the tax rate was asked by Sandy Cooch, with Jackson Evans, Lister, answering the question.

General announcements were made regarding praise for town employees and members of the selectboard.

Adjournment

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Bent, the Board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 10:33 a.m.  

Respectfully submitted,

Megan O’Toole

Selectboard Chairperson

Minutes

Braintree Selectboard Meeting

February 16, 2021 at 6:00pm

“In accordance with the recent amendments to Vermont’s open meeting law, and in light of the ongoing public health crisis, this meeting will be held via conference call. You can access the meeting at the scheduled time by calling 802-210-4472.”

Present via Remote Conference Calling:

Daniel Burson, Selectboard Vice Chair

Keegan Haupt, Selectboard Member

Janice & Carl Thresher, Town of Braintree Citizens

Kenneth Manning, Owner-Abel Mountain Campground

Adam Lane, President, Lost Nation ATV Club

Present at the Town Office:

Megan O’Toole, Selectboard Chairperson                                    Loren Bent, Selectboard Member

Charlie McMeekin, Selectboard Member                       Janice Russell, Administrative Assistant

Ms. O’Toole called the meeting to order at 6:03pm.  A roll call was done to confirm what members and citizens were in attendance via teleconferencing.

The Board reviewed the agenda with no changes being made.

On motion of Mr. McMeekin, seconded by Mr. Haupt, the Board approved the minutes from the Regular Selectboard Meeting on February 2, 2021.

Citizen’s comments limited to 3 minutes per person with a 15 minute maximum –

• Manning stated he had not received written or verbal communication regarding his letter of January 22, 2021 to the Selectboard regarding the snowbank blocking access to the Abel Mountain Campground. Messrs. Burson and Haupt will telephone Mr. Manning on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, to provide the Selectboard’s response.

Reports

• Highway Report – There was no Highway Report provided by Mr. Pratt but Mr. Bent informed the Selectboard that the 2021 MACK Truck is built but is awaiting the painting process which may not occur for several weeks due to a backlog on the paint.

• Creation of new Welcome To Town Committee Follow-up – Mr. McMeekin stated that no formal meeting, beyond the initial brief discussion, has occurred or been scheduled at this time.

Old Business

• RAMAN update from Tim Caulfield – No RAMAN report was provided by Mr. Caulfield. O’Toole stated she had listened to the Governor’s COVID Press Conference and the trends in Vermont are going down.  Orange County is holding steady with anywhere from 0-5 cases per day.   By Noon today over half of the 70 and over Vermont Residents registered for the COVID Vaccine.
• Review bids for Peth Road project –A quick review of the revised bids from Hilltop Construction LLC and J.L. Smith Excavating occurred.

On motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Ms. O’Toole, the Board approved awarding the Peth Road Project to Hilltop Construction for the bid of $9,945.00 with Mr. Haupt abstaining.  

New business

• Lost Nation ATV Club – Mr. Lane spoke with the Selectboard regarding starting the process for the ATV Ordinance earlier than in past years. The Minutes will reflect that the Selectboard is looking for comments from citizens on the ATV Ordinance.  The Selectboard will take this discussion up again on the Selectboard’s March 16, 2021 Meeting.
• State of VT Transportation Board Letter Re: Permitting Helipads and Airstrips – This topic was tabled as the Selectboard sees no need for action.
• RASTA BMF trailhead parking and signage – RASTA is planning to place signage that makes it clear that if the parking lot is full then the area and trails are full; that the trails are first come first serve and parking anywhere but in the designated parking lot is illegal and vehicles will be towed at owners expense. Stockwell Towing has been designated as the company performing the towing and their telephone number will be provided on the signs.

Payment orders – Mr. Bent and Mr. McMeekin reviewed the Payment Orders.

On motion of Mr. McMeekin, seconded by Mr. Bent, the Board unanimously approved the payment orders.

Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to 1 V.S.A. Section 313 (a)(3).

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. McMeekin, the Board unanimously voted to enter into an Executive Session at 6:29 P.M. for a discussion on a personnel matter pursuant to 1 V.S.A. Section 313 (a)(3). 

At 6:55 pm the board came out of the Executive Session with no decision being made.

 Adjournment

On motion of Ms. O’Toole, seconded by Mr. Bent, the Board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,

Janice R. Russell

Administrative Assistant