Town of Waitsfield, Vermont - 2008 Town Report: Condensed 2008 Town Meeting Minutes

Moderator Peter Joslin called the Annual Meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Those present (approximately 120 people) joined Mr. Joslin in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Joslin explained general information about the conduct of the meeting and use of Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure.

ARTICLE 1: To elect a Moderator for the Town. Peter Joslin was elected by unanimous vote.

ARTICLE 2: To hear and act upon the reports of the Town Officers. Various reports were discussed and accepted.

ARTICLE 3: Will the Town authorize the Selectboard to acquire by gift or purchase, land for a municipal forest to procure wood products, maintain wildlife habitat, protect water species, provide forest recreation, and for conservation education purposes? Article 3 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 4: Will the Town vote to collect taxes on real estate by two (2) equal payments made to the Treasurer as follows: Half (50%) of taxes to be paid without discount not later than Monday, September 2, 2008, with the remaining half (50%) to be paid without discount not later than Thursday, November 17, 2008? Article 4 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 5: Will the Town authorize the Selectboard to set the salaries of the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer pursuant to Title 24 V.S.A. Sections 932 and 933? Article 5 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 6: Will the Town authorize the Selectboard to borrow money in anticipation of Taxes and State Aid Money? Article 7 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 7: Will the Town raise and appropriate a sum of $92,000 to be added to the Town's Reserve Funds as follows:

Fund	Amount
Equipment - Road Dept. Truck Reserve	$30,000
Equipment - Road Dept. Heavy Equipment Reserve	15,000
Equipment - Fire Dept. Truck Reserve	15,000
Route 100 Transportation Path Reserve	15,000
Joslin Memorial Library Repair Reserve	2,500
Restroom, Recreation & Conservation Reserve	2,500
Street Trees Reserve Fund	5,000
Fire Department Roof Repair Reserve Fund	7,000
Total	$92,000

Following discussion of the Transportation Path project and its reserve fund allocation and the adequacy of the Fire Department's Truck Reserve fund allocation, Article 7 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 8: Will the Town vote to create a reserve fund for repairs and improvements for the Historic Waitsfield Village Covered Bridge and to appropriate a sum of $30,000 to start the fund in 2008? Following discussion about safety concerns, the appearance of the Covered Bridge, and the proposed repairs, Article 8 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 9: Will the Town Voters authorize expenditures for the non-profit organization Central Vermont Adult Basic Education in the amount of $600? Article 9 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 10: WWill the Town Voters authorize expenditures for the non-profit organization Family Center of Washington County in the amount of $500? Following discussion of the sources of funding for the Family Center, Article 10 was approved by a majority voice vote.

ARTICLE 11: Will the Town Voters authorize expenditures for the non-profit organization Good Beginnings of Central Vermont in the amount of $300? Lacking a representative of Good Beginnings of Central Vermont to respond to questions, Article 11 was defeated by a majority voice vote.

ARTICLE 12: Will the Town approve the amendments to the Town of Waitsfield Subdivision Regulations as approved by the Selectboard on January 21, 2008, the complete text of which is on file in the Town Clerk's Office and on-line at www.waitsfieldvt.us? The proposed amendments, which apply to all lands within the town of Waitsfield, would:

1. more effectively reflect the desired land use pattern specific to each zoning district within a more readable format;
2. incorporate feedback from the public particularly in regard to connectivity and prime agricultural land;
3. include mandated flood hazard language; and
4. make minor editorial changes.

(This Article to be voted by Australian Ballot.)

ARTICLE 13: Will the Town pass a non-binding resolution to support the implementation of full bike lanes on Route 100 from Bragg Hill Road in Waitsfield to Warren Village when it is repaved, currently scheduled for 2010. Safety, health and wellness, recreation and tourism are all benefits of the state fulfilling the requirements of Vermont Statutes Chapter 19 Section 2310 (a) and (b) that state "it is the policy of the state to provide paved shoulders on major state highways with the intent to develop an integrated bicycle route system." Article 13 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 14: Will the Town pass a non-binding resolution to reduce the aggregate energy usage and carbon emissions of the residences, businesses, and institutions within the Town of Waitsfield by 10% by the year 2010? Following discussion about how the program will affect individuals' and businesses' privacy and how much it will cost, Article 14 was approved by a majority voice vote.

ARTICLE 15: Will the Town vote a budget to meet the expenses and liabilities of the Town and authorize the Selectboard to set a tax rate sufficient to provide for the voted Town and School District budgets? Following discussion about the adequacy of the amount budgeted for sand and the purchase of the emergency generator without an automatic transfer switch, a motion to amend the final budget figure to $1,570,385 was approved by a unanimous voice vote. Following discussion of legal expenses and allocation of the budget surplus, Article 15 was approved by a unanimous voice vote.

ARTICLE 16: To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting. There was discussion about the dedication of the Town Report to Steve & Leslie Flemer; Elwin Neill, Jr. was recognized for over 25 years of service to the Town; Mr. Neill thanked the voters and acknowledged those he has served with over the years; and the suggestion was made to put the phone numbers of both Evergreen Place and the Mad River Valley Seniors in the Town Report.

Mr. Joslin recessed the meeting for lunch at 11:45 a.m. to be reconvened at 1:00 p.m. for the school board annual meeting.