Selectboard Minutes - March 1, 2010



Vershire Selectboard minutes for March 1st, 2010 (approved)

In attendance: Vernal Stone (Chair), Marc McKee, Rita French, Gene Craft, Alan Lyford, Debra Kingsbury. Guest: Neal Hochstedler

Vernal Stone called the meeting to order at 7:04.

Hochstedler came to update the Board on the recent Town Center Building work on the boiler room that was completed by Dave Mascoveta. Hochstedler reported that the work looked fine and that now the Fire Inspector would need to review. Stone stated that the State Fire Inspection Division works well with towns when they are making efforts to comply with recent codes in existing public buildings. The Board felt that it would be important for Hochstedler and another member of the Town Center Committee to both meet with the State Fire Inspector.

Hochstedler will coordinate a time for the inspection and invited French to join him at the meeting. Hochstedler reported that the circulator pump on the boiler that had been leaking, seems to have minimized. The Selectboard thanked Hochstedler for his dedication to the project.

Highway Foreman, Lyford, reported that the generator at the highway barn would not start last Friday, the 26th. They needed it to open the large overhead doors after the power had been cut off due to the high winds. After some service, they were able to get it running. Lyford asked if a specialized generator contractor, such as Brook Field Service out of Northfield, was the company that services generators at VF&R and at The Mountain School. Lyford stated that the generator had 247 hours on it. Stone asked if the generator comes on once a week to charge. Lyford felt it had not run in some time. Stone stated that there should be a timing unit for the generator and that it should be reprogrammed. Lyford had received a quote of $229.00 from Brook Field Service to annually service the generator.

The Board and Lyford discussed checking with the contractor to see if the provider would give a reduced rate, if annual services were coordinated with other customers in the area. Lyford will research. Lyford asked if the generator should be rewired to allow the well pump to run. The Board felt that it wasnt necessary at this time. Lyford has been unable to locate the information manual for the generator. French suggested that Lyford might obtain the information on the computer.

Lyford reported that the plow swapped over to the new truck from the truck that was traded was not heavy duty enough for the new truck. The 2010 highway budget has a $5,000 item for the replacement; however, the estimate to upgrade the plow came in at $6,150. Stone as Road Commissioner, agreed that 10 foot plow versus the 9 ft plow was better suited for the trucks application. Craft, as Treasurer, pointed out that there was $1,900 remaining in that line item from last year and $28,500 in the Capital Equipment Fund. Lyford asked if the difference for the plow could come out of the Capital Equipment Account. Lyford was hoping to get through this winter season, but felt that the stress on the truck, should they have to plow heavy snow, could be detrimental. McKee asked Lyford if he thought it was the best price he could get. Lyford stated that the estimate was from the original company that set-up the truck, but would inquire about renegotiating.

Lyford asked the Chair to review a Highway Personnel item. Stone moved to go in to Executive Session at 7:22. The Board returned at 7:35 with no decision at this time.

Striping of the paved roads was discussed and Lyford will contact the company when time warrants.



Lyford asked about the highway radios and the FCC licensing procedure. Craft has contacted Pikcom and they quoted $250 for their assistance with the license application. Craft will forward the paperwork to the Selectboard for review. Craft & Lyford expressed some concern about the new narrow band required system and if it may reduce transmission capabilities. The FCC application requires GPS coordinate information. Stone stated that Pat Barnes has given seminars on GPS use and perhaps he could assist. Lyford verified that the radio quotes were good through July 2010 and the FCC license would run $700-$1000.

Posting of roads was discussed. The highway crew will install the signs that next week. Roads are usually posted from March 1st through May 15th, depending on conditions. Stone stated that overweight truck owners have been respectful about asking permission for traversing roads while still frozen.

French asked about the yield sign at the Chamberlain Hill and Vershire Center Road intersection. Lyford stated that the Worksafe Company has a catalog and can contact them for pricing. Stone will check with the Thetford Highway Dept. about some specialty sign paint. It was verified that the highway crew will move the recycle bin closer to the revamped ramp prior to Saturday March 6th.

Compensation about town employee time off for Town Meeting Day was discussed.

It was determined that State employees may qualify with 7 days notice, but not town employees.

McKee contacted TRORC with questions about the Flood Plain Ordinance. It was explained that pre-existing conditions, such as equipment already located in a flood plain wouldnt necessarily be targeted. The owners of these objects could be privately liable for any problems they might create. The town neednt worry about mapping verification as the ordinance allows insurance to be acquired privately town wide. TRORC stated that often areas flood that are not in designated flood zones and the town would then qualify for FEMA
funds. Without the ordinance in place, grant money to upsize culverts could
be at risk. McKee moved to accept the Flood Plain Ordinance. French seconded. All were in favor. It was noted that the ordinance could be amended at a later time, if the Board felt it was warranted.

McKee continued to research paving quotes for the Town Center parking area. BlakTop Co had not returned McKees call as yet. Stone and McKee have become aware of several other independent paving contractors and will contact them for quotes as well. The Board agreed that the strip in the parking lot where the electric line was replaced and the incline up to the ramp should be done even if nothing else is paved.

The Board reviewed and approved the minutes from February 16th as amended.

Orders were reviewed and signed.

At 8:35pm Stone moved the meeting be adjourned to a date specific time of March 9th, 2010 at 7pm. McKee seconded. All were in favor.

Minutes from March 9th, 2010

Meeting resumed at 7:00 after Vernal Stone was sworn in as Selectman by Gene Craft, as Town Clerk.


First order of business after the March 2nd, 2010 Australian Ballot, resulting in Vernal Stones election to serve for a three year term on the Selectboard, was to discuss who would serve as Chairperson for the next term year. McKee nominated Stone, French seconded. Stone accepted.


McKee passed along that TRORC is offering to hold a seminar for town officials to understand and incorporate the Flood Plain Ordinance in to their respective town plans, and has asked Vershire to host the event. The Board moved to set up a date for the seminar after the Planning Commission meets on the 10th, as the item is on their agenda, too, along with educational grant money for town planning. All were in favor to host the TRORC seminar in Vershire. The Board, the Planning Commission and TRORC will coordinate a date to be determined for the seminar.


Gene Craft had three items in the orders to be reviewed this week as they were time sensitive: a $460 fee to be paid to the Chelsea Health Center to cover the Animal Officer series of inoculations, funds for needed water testing kits per the Health Officers request, and $220 for the Listers to attend an upcoming seminar explaining multiple Grand List and Current Use Changes.

Craft stated that he had not heard back from Pikcom about the FCC applications, but had located the forms and would review them in the next week.

Stone reviewed the CD mapping that the Census Bureau requested the Board to review for verification and found there to be discrepancies in the map borders with adjoining towns. Craft will contact the other towns and see if they had similar issues and research why the maps differ. Craft will report back to the Board so they can complete the census request.

Stone informed the Board that when the recycling containers are next swapped out, they, along with the ramp, will need to be relocated in the VF&R lot to allow placement of office trailers for the State of VT.

The Board moved to go into executive session at 7:20. The Board came out of executive session at 7:45 with no decision and moved to adjourn to a date specific time of 6:45pm on March 16th, 2010. All were in Favor.