<p>Thetford Selectboard Meeting Minutes – FINAL Monday, August 22, 2011 </p><p>Present: Mike Pomeroy, Donn Downey, Tig Tillinghast, Dean Whitlock (acting recorder)</p><p>Absent: Casey Huling, John Bacon</p><p>Guests: Chief Lanctot, Tracy Borst, Diana Kimball-Anderson, Don Fifield, Herb Gray, Andrew Toler, Rachel Toler. For the Fairlee Selectboard: F. J. Barrett, Kenneth Gubrek, Tim Cramer. For the West Fairlee Selectboard: Beverly Jo Ash, Bonnie Cray. For the Lake Fairlee Association: David Matthews, Ridge Satterthwaite, Libby Chapin, Skip Brown. For the Aloha Foundation: Jim Zein. For the Journal-Opinion: Gay-C Gahagan.</p><p>Called to order at 7:01 PM</p><p>PUBLIC COMMENT</p><p>Herb Gray of E. Thetford reported that there is a full in-ground swimming pool behind the house next door to him that had a fence with no gate and was often unattended. He said the water came to within 8-10 inches of the rim and was very green. He expressed concern that this was a health issue and also a safety issue, should a small child fall in. The members discussed whether there were local ordinances or state statutes that applied to this situation. They could not think of any, other than the health officer checking the water quality. The state does not require a fence, but lack of one creates a very big liability issue for the owner. Mr. Gray said he had been told that the town health officer was not concerned about the water quality, and also that the owner had said it would cost $8,000 to fill in the pool and that they do swim in it. Tig said he would check with the VT League of Cities and Towns to see if there was some law or precedent that applied. Mr. Gray asked if it would be all right for him to speak to the owner directly, and he was encouraged to do so. Mr. Gray left the meeting at 7:10 PM.</p><p>MINUTES (7:12) The minutes of July 25 were accepted with proposed changes. The minutes of the August 8 meeting were accepted with proposed changes.</p><p>OLD BUSINESS (7:20)</p><p>Donn said that Laura Shepherd had presented bills related to the production of the 250th town anniversary pageant. The members confirmed that the town's contribution to the anniversary events had been transferred in a lump sum to the Historical Society to allocate. Donn will notify Ms. Shepherd to present the bills to the Historical Society.</p><p>Sawney Bean culvert. Tig suggested warning one more formal hearing in order to get as much input as possible on the issue before proceeding with the proposed changes. He thought this would be a reasonable step to assure the neighbors that no shortcuts were taken. After a brief discussion, Tig moved to warn the hearing; Donn seconded. The motion passed unanimously.</p><p>TOWN CLERK REPORT (7:28) Tracy Borst joined the meeting. She reported that it had been a slow summer in the clerk's office. She has prepared a list of dog owners who have not renewed their pet's license so they can be notified. Tig will provide a letter for her to merge with the list. Tracy asked about the Town Hall siding repair. Donn reported he has measured the area that needs repair and made a list of materials. The members will discuss posting the request for bids under Other Business. Tracy reported that Alarmco had changed the dialer method and there had been no reports of problems so far. Tracy left the meeting at 7:30 PM.</p><p>LAKE FAIRLEE DISCUSSION WITH NEIGHBORING BOARDS The guests who had come for this discussion introduced themselves. Tig listed the issues that the Thetford selectboard had come up with: invasives, the dam, and speed limits on the roads around the lake. Skip Brown of the Lake Fairlee Association (LFA) added boating issues: speeds on the water, night boating without lights, boating while drinking, and jet skis. He noted that state patrols had not been much help. He also added invasive land plants, and there was a suggestion that waterfront owners not mow a buffer strip along the shoreline. Finally, he added that picnickers at the boat landing, while not usually a problem, had been littering recently. Jay Barrett of Fairlee noted that all of the issues for them have come down to budget - what can be afforded. Also that, to many Fairlee residents, Lake Fairlee is a little bit "out of sight and out of mind." He said that the Fairlee selectboard felt that their townspeople would become more curious as time went on, so it was good to have this meeting to stay ahead of the curve. Jim Zien of the Aloha Foundation started a discussion of how to determine each town's "share" of the lake. He said it would be important to establish a basis for calculation. Methods suggested included how much acreage around the lake was owned in each town, how many waterfront lots were in each town, how much lakeside property tax revenue was raised in each town, the proportion of residential density (lakeside versus other) in each town, and how much lake surface was in each town. Jay Barrett started a discussion about the status of the dam at the outflow. Tig reported that Thetford fire chief Don Fifield had forced the state engineers into re- inspecting the dam. They indicated that the leak in the dam was not a big safety issue. The dam is classified as being not critical to safety. Tig said the Thetford members disagreed, given the number of houses downstream of the dam, and also the number of lakefront residents who would be exposed to a wide stretch of open mud flat if the dam were to give way. The dam is currently owned by members of an extended family, none of whom live in town and who seldom visit. It was noted that they have been very cooperative about allowing town officials and state inspectors cross the property to inspect the dam. However, none of the maintenance tasks listed in the state's report on its last inspection have been done. Ridge Satterthwaite of the LFA said that, during high water after heavy rains earlier this summer, the top of the dam above the large leak was also leaking in from line of small holes. Jim Zien reported that the Aloha Foundation had tried to get loss-of-business insurance in case the dam gave way but was refused by every insurance agency, including Lloyds of London. Jay Barrett started a discussion about how to fund repair of the dam. He noted that, since the dam was in Thetford, residents of other towns might balk at paying for repairs. Tig noted that it was a private dam bordered by private property, so it was not necessarily a municipal cost. It was also noted that the state has no interest in repairing the dam, which is just one of hundreds in the state. In the discussion that followed, the sense of the meeting was that the towns should look into forming a three-town organization that could deal with the dam and other issues concerning the shared lake, and that it was best to start planning ahead of time, rather than wait for an emergency. Jay Barrett pointed out that, should the dam let go and the water level drop, many lakefront residents might appeal their tax assessments. Skip Brown raised the issue of an immediate need to have a town act as fiscal agent for a $40,000 state grant to continue treating the milfoil in the lake. It did not seem that a three-town organization would be in place in time for the grant deadline of Jan. 1. There was a discussion of the accounting, insurance, and workload issues for any town that took on that role. The LFA and Thetford will discuss this further, with the town treasurer in attendance. The discussion returned to the dam. Jim Zien said the state recommended getting an engineering study for an in-depth review of the condition of the dam. He said the Aloha Foundation would contribute toward that, and that there might be grants available from the regional planning commission. Jay Barrett recommended getting an appraisal of the dam property to see if the towns could purchase it, and Donn Downey suggested that each town start funding a capital reserve fund. Ken Gulick of Fairlee wondered if the milfoil wasn't a bigger immediate concern than the dam. Skip Brown reported that the first eradication treatment had been very successful. The five-year program needed to run to completion, and there were other invasives to worry about, but he said that the dam was a bigger problem now. Jay Barrett said he would look into the cost and process of getting an engineering study and would report back at the next combined meeting. Jim Zien offered to host the meeting at Ohana Camp so there could be a site visit. The time, date, and location will be set after Jay has completed his research. The discussion moved on to speed limits around the lake, particularly on Route 244 and on the Cross Road (West Fairlee Road). There was a brief discussion of complaints over the use of jake brakes on large trucks: all three towns had received them. Options are to reduce the speed limits, post advisory signs, and pass a noise ordinance. Thetford will look into what Norwich has done. Tig reported that Thetford was requesting a state review of the speed limits on 244 and that they were better prepared to counter the state's measurements, which did not seem to take into account the sharp curves at the Post Mills end of the lake. It was pointed out by several attendees that a lot of speeding takes place on the straightaway between Passumpsic Point and the Treasure Island. Because of the summer camps, this could be designated as a pedestrian area, with cross walks and reduced speed limits. Thetford will research this option before the next combined meeting. There was a discussion of setting up a cooperation agreement so that the Thetford police could patrol into West Fairlee and Fairlee, reducing the need to rely on the state police. The discussion moved onto to speed on the water. Because the lake has some very narrow points, boats should slow down (high wake not allowed close to shore). They also should slow down when near non-motorized boats. However, enforcement has been an issue. The state owns the surface of the water, but getting timely response is difficult. There was also a brief discussion of riparian buffers, land invasives, and collaboration by the three town conservation commissions. The combined meeting ended and guests left at 8:39, and the members took a brief recess.</p><p>POLICE REPORT Jim Lanctot joined the meeting at 8:43 PM and introduced Stuart Rogers, the new full-time officer. Officer Rogers is from Hartford and previously worked for the Hartford Police Department and Norwich Police Department. The chief discussed on-going complications of scheduling the officers while Officer Tweedie was on disability leave. She will be returning soon but will probably remain on light duty for a while. The chief then discussed speed limit changes on some town roads. There will be a warned item in September to collect public comments. The chief also discussed speed limits around Lake Fairlee, responding to the earlier discussion. He said he believed that the towns could set seasonal speed limits without state approval, similar to the school-year limits in front of the elementary school; however, the chief recommended that the towns try to get a permanent reduction by the state. Chief Lanctot and Officer Rogers left the meeting at 8:54 PM.</p><p>RECYCLING REPORT Diana Kimball-Anderson joined the meeting at 8:54 PM. She presented bills from Northeast Waste for glass disposal costs plus various fees and discussed them with the members. The bills are confusing because some of the fees are for services at the Town Hall and Town Garage. The members had to identify them for her, because she had not been able to get answers from Northeast Waste. She presented a proposal to switch glass disposal services to another vendor. The members discussed potential cost savings and improvement in services, and also the logistics of making the switch. The members decided to follow Diana's recommendation. She will notify the new vendor, and Tig will notify Northeast Waste. Diana suggested that recycling permit stickers and a small amount of cash for change be brought to the recycling center each Saturday. She and her helpers would be able to sell the stickers to people who needed one right away. There was a brief discussion of the town clerk's requirements for proper tracking of sticker numbers and receipts. Tig will notify the treasurer to set up a system for tracking of numbers and for timely pick-up and return of the envelop each weekend. Diana left the meeting at 9:24 PM.</p><p>WARRANTS Tig presented a catering/spiritous liquor licenses for two weddings, which were signed. The warrants were approved: August 18: 28.1 $75,443.07 CC2011-17 $112.72 28.2 $3,398,63 27.3 $2,036.41</p><p>OLD BUSINESS</p><p>Town Hall Siding Repair: Donn reported that he had the materials ready to create a Request for Proposal to repair the siding. He will give them to the town clerk to distribute to the usual outlets. He will post a notice on the town listserv as well.</p><p>A road crew employee is returning to work after family leave. The members decided to require a letter of approval from his doctor stating that the employee was physically able to resume his usual tasks.</p><p>OTHER BUSINESS</p><p>Personnel Policy and insurance: There was a brief discussion of the wording of the town personnel policy regarding single, two-person, and family insurance. The members decided that it was clear enough as is.</p><p>Remediation of damage to property of Joanne Kirsten. There was a brief discussion of the legal advice from the VT League of Cities and Towns. Essentially, there is no clear definition of encroachment. The issue is complicated by the fact that there are no "before" photos to compare to the current road layout.</p><p>Tree Policy: There was a brief discussion of the definition of "tree" submitted by the new Tree Warden, Jay Whitecloud. His definition specifies a 4-inch diameter at chest height or 15 feet tall. The sense of the meeting was that this was a reasonable measure.</p><p>Mike moved to adjourn. Donn seconded. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.</p><p>Respectfully submitted by Dean Whitlock, acting recorder</p>