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Minutes of the Barton Selectboard Meeting Monday, December 18, 2017 __________________________________________________ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Present Robert Croteau, Selectboard Chair Jody Frey, Selectboard member Paul Sicard, Selectboard member Trisha Ingalls, Gilman Housing David Snedeker, Planning Board Chair Andrée Reno Sanborn, Selectboard Clerk

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Mr. Sicard called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Call to Order

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Approval of Minutes

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Ms. Frey moved that the minutes of December 4, 2017, be accepted as written. Mr. Sicard seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

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Approval of Bills and Warrants

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All bills and warrants were signed. No motions were made.

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Road Foreman Report

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Mr. Croteau reported that things are going well with the road crew. The only personnel issue (as noted in the agenda) that he knows of is the pay raise. No other Selectboard member knew of any other issues, either. The new hire issue cannot be resolved at this time.

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At 7:41 PM, Mr. Sicard moved that the Selectboard enter executive session to discuss pay raises. Ms. Frey seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried and the Selectboard entered executive session. At 7:57 PM, Mr. Sicard moved that the Selectboard leave executive session. Ms. Frey seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried. As a result of the executive session, Ms. Frey moved that all of the road crew receive a pay raise of $0.50 per hour, except for Richard Knaggs, who will receive $0.75 per hour. The raises will be effective today, December 18, 2017. Mr. Croteau seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

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Minutes of the Barton Selectboard Meeting Monday, December 18, 2017 __________________________________________________ 27 28 29

Privilege of the Floor No one appeared. No motions were made.

Scheduled Time

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Trisha Ingalls, Gilman Housing re: Pierce Block UDAG Loan

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Mrs. Ingalls appeared before the Selectboard to discuss the Gilman Housing loan from the Town of Barton for $150,000.00 that went into default in November, 2017. The property was acquired before her tenure as CEO of Gilman and she is trying to move forward. Over the past few years, the building has not been redeveloped and Mrs. Ingalls does not know why. Gilman Housing/Rural Edge, as owners, has a responsibility to redevelop it. She is talking to local supporters and regular funders about the project. She has applied, and received, $5,000.00 loans each from the Vermont Community Foundation, NVDA, and the Village of Barton. This money will be used to fund a feasibility study, reappraisal, and a structural engineering report. This will cost approximately $38,000.00. A capital needs assessment also needs to be done, and an expert consultant needs to be hired to review the feasibility study work. All of this will give Gilman Housing a good estimate on what the work on the Pierce Building will cost and how long it will take. After that, funding will be found for the work, and it will probably be around $8 million.

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Mr. Snedeker provided information on the support of the Village of Barton for the project.

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Most likely, Mrs. Ingalls said, the redevelopment will include apartments, preservation (the building is a state historic building), and perhaps a laundromat and café. They intend to have Kinney Drugs remain as a tenant.

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Mrs. Ingalls said that Gilman Housing found that the loan from the town for the Pierce Block became due in November of 2017, and is now in default. She asks the Selectboard to accept full payment of the deferred interest in February and also asked for a two-year extension on the $150,000.00 loan.

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Chairman Croteau said that Gilman Housing failed to address this defaulted loan until after the eleventh hour. Gilman, he added, is fortunate that Kinney Drugs has chosen to remain in the building. Mr. Sicard said that the Selectboard will need to discuss this and that Gilman will need to wait for a decision; the Selectboard cannot decide tonight.

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Old Business

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There was no old business. No motions were made.

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Minutes of the Barton Selectboard Meeting Monday, December 18, 2017 __________________________________________________

New Business

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Highway Pay Increases

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Please see Road Foreman section above.

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2018 Budgeting

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Mr. Croteau reported, and pointed out in the reports prepared by the Town Treasurer, that there is money left in the highway fund. He is hoping to do Roaring Brook Road next summer (grinding, dig it out, filter fabric, gravel, pavement, and guard rails). The Selectboard discussed the upcoming work.

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Ms. Frey moved that the Selectboard open two bank savings accounts: one for Bridges, in which $13,781.32 is to be deposited; and one for Paving, in which $108,505.25 is to be deposited. Mr. Sicard seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

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Town Plan Vote Warning

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Ms. Frey moved that the vote on the updated town plan be set for January 23, 2018. Mr. Sicard seconded. Mrs. Sanborn, in the discussion, was asked to inform Mr. Snedeker (who had left by this time) of the date. The motion carried.

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Liquor Licenses

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At 8:57 PM, the Selectboard entered Liquor Board.

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Ms. Frey moved that the Selectboard approve the permits for the C&C Supermarket, Barton, and for Olney’s General Store, Orleans. Mr. Sicard seconded. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

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The Selectboard left the Liquor Board at 8:59 PM.

Business of the Board

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Local Emergency Operation Plan

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Ms. Frey moved that the Selectboard sign the Planned Certificate of Adoption of the Local Emergency Operation Plan. Mr. Sicard seconded. The motion carried and the document was signed.

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Minutes of the Barton Selectboard Meeting Monday, December 18, 2017 __________________________________________________ 79

Cemeteries

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Mr. Sicard reported that the donated wreath at North Cemetery was stolen. Also, the cemetery budget has an end-of-year balance of $1,400.00.

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Ms. Frey moved that the Selectboard accept the contract from Heritage Memorials for work to be done at South Cemetery for $6,400.00. Mr. Sicard seconded. The motion carried.

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Ms. Frey moved to authorize a new warrant be cut for payment of a $1,400.00 down payment to Heritage Memorials. Mr. Sicard seconded. In the discussion, after the warrant is made, and the check is cut, the Selectboard Chair is authorized to come in and sign the warrant. This is so that this payment can be in the 2017 budget. The motion carried.

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Selectboard meeting January schedule

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The Selectboard re-scheduled the January, 2018, meetings to January 8, 2018, and January 22, 2018. Mrs. Sanborn will update the Town Clerk.

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Adjourn

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Mr. Croteau adjourned the meeting at 9:45 PM.

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The date of the next regular Selectboard meeting is Monday, January 8, 2018, at 7 PM in the Conference Room of the Municipal Office at 34 Main Street, Barton.

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Respectfully submitted by Andrée Reno Sanborn on Wednesday, December 19, 2017.