Minutes 10142024

MinutesTownofVermontBoardMeetingOctober14,2024VermontTownHall4017CountyRdJJ,BlackEarthWI535157:00P.M.ToJointhemeetingbyphone: +1347-896-0991PIN:481262925#Inattendance ,KirkLynch, ,DougMeier,Karen Carlock Alex McKenzie Nick Balster1. Approval ofagendaKarencalledthemeetingtoorderat7:00. Katiecertifiedthatthemeetingwaspostedaccordingtostatuteonthedooroftownhall,onthewebsiteandemailedtosubscribers.Dougmadeamotiontoapprovetheagenda. Motioncarried5-02. Approval ofSeptemberminutesKirkmadeamotiontoapprovetheSeptembermeetingminutes.Motioncarried5-03. Citizens’ Input(PublicCommentislimitedto5minutesperperson)BarbaraBornsonUnionValleystoppedbytosharethelatestnewsletterfromtheBlackEarthCreekWatershedandtoinvitethepublictothepicnicnextSaturday.Shementionedtheissuewiththeinvasivemudsnails,butthereishopethatthepopulationhasgottensolargethatithascrashed.Karenaskedaboutthecreekmonitoring.4. Treasurer’sreportKarenmadeamotiontopostponethetreasurer'sreportuntil afteritem14. Motioncarried5-0Thetowncurrentlyhasbalancesof$429,336combinedbetweenall accounts.WehaveonemoretransportationaiddepositandsharedrevenuefromAct12,inNovember.5. Clerk’sreportWepaidthismonthforthesaltandsandandyouwill seeabudgetamendmentforthatlaterinthemeeting. Priceshaveincreased,howeveritwasanoversightinlastyear'sbudgettonotbringthatamountbackinlinewithhistoriclevelsafterhavingareducedbudgetduetoexcessinventoryafewyearsago.TheclerkattendedtheWTAconferenceearlythismonthandpickedupsomeinterestingtips.Theboardshouldconsidernotmakingmotionstoapprovetheclerkandtreasurerreportsandthiscouldbetaken,legally,toimplythattheboardhasverifiedtheinformationpresentedascorrectandaccurate. Thetrainingtheclerkattendedonalcohol licensingwouldleadhertosuggestthattheboardshouldincreasethecostforoperatorslicensestomatchthestatecost,andthatalsotheboardshouldberunningbackgroundchecksonthoseoperatorsbeforeissuingthelicenses. Theclerksuggestedtheboardcontinueissuingthemannuallyandcharge$100each.Inregardstoboardcompensation,thatcanbeapprovedatanytownmeeting,suchasthebudgetmeeting,howeveritmustbeapprovedbeforenominationpapersarefiled(inDecember)andcannottakeeffectmid-term,soiftheboardwantedtoincreaseboardmeetingperdiem tomatchplanningcommissionperdiemitwouldapplyinApril onlytothenewlyelectedorreelectedboardmembers.Also,appointedclerksandtreasurerscanonlybeappointedfortermsof3yearsatatime. KatieZellehasbeenheresinceApril 2019,soneedstobereappointed.Wehadtwopermitsfornewsinglefamilyhomesthismonth,for4358BlueMoundsTrailand4786OldIndianTrail.Wehavesentout130absenteeballotssofar.6. PaymentofbillsDougmadeamotiontopaythebills.Motionpassed5-07. PatrolmanReport,Mt.HorebFireDepartment,BlackEarthFireDistrictandDistrict1EMSReportsThesaltisintheshedandthemowingisalmostall done. JackhasbeenhelpingBlueMoundswithpotholes.TakingthebroomofftomorrowandtakingthattoMazoforstorageandwill startputtingtheplowstuffon.JackmentionedtheblacktopattheendoftheMoyerdrivewayonStanfieldRoadwill beanissuewiththeplowing.ThebudgetforMHFDdidpassbutfinal budgetnumbersarenotactuallyavailable.BlackEarthFirehaspassedtheirbudgetaswell.8. MountHorebSchool DistrictreferendumpresentationSteveSalerno,superintendentofMountHorebschoolspresentedonthereferendumrequestforfacilityneeds.9. Discussionregardingpotential turn-aroundareaforKelliherRoadMarcBrodycametotalkabouthisthoughtsontheturnaroundareaattheendofKelliherRoad.OnefactoristhatMarcwouldliketohavetheturnaroundfartherfromhishouseforincreasedsafetyandprivacy. Karenacknowledgedtheconcernsandstatedthatherprimaryconcernisthatthetowngoesthroughaprocessthatisconsistentwithwhatcouldbedoneforanylandowner.Several boardmembersagreedthatthecostsharingneededtomeasetamountandnotapercentage.Nickpointedoutthattheareathatwouldneedtobedugoutcouldwell berock.Marcwill continueworkingonhisplanning.10.Considerationandpossibleapproval toamendTownGovernmentOrdinancetoeliminatetextlistingtopicsformeetingagendasduetolackofspecificityinthelistThetownattorneysuggestedstrikingthelistofagendaitemsfromtheordinance,alongwithafewotherminorchanges. Kirkmadeamotiontoapprovetheamendmentstotheordinanceasdrafted. Motioncarried5-0.Katiewill dotheordinancesummaryandfootnote,thenupdatethewebsite.11. ConsiderationandpossibleactionregardinglandpurchaseadjacenttoTownHallKirkconfirmedwiththelandownerabouttheneedforaCSMandthereareadditionalcostsassociatedwiththat. Ittakesthetotal expensetomorelike20ktoacquirethe land.Theboardisconcernedwiththeadditional expense.Theboardwill bringthisbacktothetownatthebudgetmeetingandseewhattheywouldliketodo.12.Considerationandpossibleapproval ofnextstepsforinterviewingandhiringback-uppatrolmanKirkspokewithAndyFardyandJackhasworkedwithhiminthepast.Heiscomfortablewiththeplowschedule.KarenmadeamotiontoofferAndyFardytheposition. Katiewill connectwithhimtohavehimfill inpaperworkforemployment.Motioncarried5-0.13.Considerationandpossibleapproval ofexpenseupto$2KforlifttotrimtreesKirkmadeamotiontoapprovetheexpenseofuptotwothousanddollarstorentthelifttotrimtrees. Motioncarried5-0.14.Considerationandpossibleactionregardingturn-aroundsondead-endsincludinglettertoall propertyownersondead-endroads,decisionregardingsurveybudgetingandtotalcaponcost-sharingandidentificationofinitial 4turn-aroundstoaddressin2024aswellassurveyforWoodchuckCrossingDiscussioncontinuesaboutwhatall needstobeincludedintheletter.NickandKarenwill ridewithJacktolookatThumper,Kremerl,Broderickandafewotherroads.OntheWoodchuckcrossingissue,thetownwill dothesurveytodeterminewheretheroadrightofwaylies. Thelandownerwill payforthesurveyiftheyarewrong. 15. 2024BudgetAmendmentsforadditional culvertsandsand/saltpurchaseDougmadeamotiontoapprovethebudgetamendment. Motioncarried5-0. 16.2025draftbudgetandReservediscussionaswell assettingdateforPublicBudgetHearingTheboardneedsadditional timetogetpublicsafetyandrevenuenumbersandwill workagaininNovember. Budgethearingwill beNovember18 17.AgendaitemsforNovemberReappointmentsbudget 18.AdjournmentNickmadeamotiontoadjourn. Motioncarried5-0.Meetingadjournedat10:21 TheTownBoard’sagendaincludesaperiodfor publiccomments. That period, whichisnotmandatedbystatelaw, isofferedtopermit orderlyandcivil discussionof Townpublicbusinessandmatters. Duringtheremainder of theTownBoardmeeting, personsother thanBoardmembersandTownofficersarepermittedtospeakonlyif recognizedbytheChair. Publiccomment mayaddressanymatter pertainingtoTown, but must not berepetitive, involvepersonal attacks, profanity, or disruptivecomments. TheChair mayruleanypersonout of orderandterminatetheir comment period. Byadheringtotheseprinciples, weaimtoensureproductiveandfair discussionswhilerespectingtherightsof all tobeheard. Weappreciate activeengagement andencourageparticipationinthegovernanceof our wonderful TownofVermont.