OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
Town of Halifax, Vermont
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES-DRAFT
April 21, 2014

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 8:01 am. Board members in attendance were Edee Edwards and Lewis Sumner. Earl Holtz was absent. Others present were Robbin Gabriel, Brad Rafus, and Charlene Martynowski.

New Business

Road Commissioner’s Orders
The Road Commissioner’s orders were reviewed and signed.

Charlene Martynowski
Martynowski voiced her concerns regarding the growing accumulation of campers, boats, cars, and snowmobile trailers, on a property on Hanson Road. She said this was just one of a number of properties in town with such collections. Edwards found and reviewed for the meeting the Town ordinance, from 2001, addressing that subject. The ordinance includes specific definitions of the terms “junk” and “junk motor vehicle.” She said she’d like to take time to review the ordinance more thoroughly, and suggested considering ways to encourage compliance, perhaps through a town beautification project. Sumner said he would put the issue on the agenda for the next regular meeting.

State Grant for Highways
The Board reviewed and signed the structures grant application to the state for improvements to Bridge #13 on Green River Road, and the Class #2 roadway grant for paving the section of Jacksonville State Road (Town Highway #2) from the Branch Road intersection to the top of the hill. Sumner said that the Town has three construction seasons in which to use the grant once it is approved. The completed applications will be submitted to the State Agency of Transportation.

Better Back Roads Grant
Rafus will supply the Board with detailed information for their review and Board will address at the next regular meeting on May 6th.

Highway and Bridge Standards
Edwards made a motion to adopt the new (2014-16) Highway and Bridge Standards to comply with grant incentives. Sumner seconded, and the motion passed 2-0. Edwards noted that although there were no changes to the wording of the new standards, the town was required to adopt them to be eligible for available grants.

 

Other Business

Quarry Project
Edwards has learned from VLTC that joint consideration between the Planning Commission and the Selectboard is encouraged during the Act 250 application permitting process. She will talk to Planning Commission board members to find a suitable date for a joint meeting.

School Roof Installation
Edwards proposed the Town open bids for the project on June 3rd at 6:30 pm. She will discuss a pre-bid site visit with the school board. This pre-bid meeting is a requirement, and Edwards hopes an arrangement can be made for a single meeting rather than a series of meetings with bidders. She noted the importance of having the work done within a time frame agreeable to the school, the Selectboard, and the contractor. Edwards and Sumner agreed that if the project could not be completed before the end of the fiscal year the Town Clerk could hold the funds in reserve.

Road Debris
Rafus said that the Highway crew was encountering difficulties due to residents raking lawn and yard debris, especially leaves, into the Stowe Mountain and Jacksonville Stage road beds. The foreign matter mixes with the gravel and holds water. Edwards suggested posting a request on the Town web site asking residents to refrain from raking spring clean-up materials into the roads. A notice was added to the main page of the web site.

Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 am.

Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary