Town of Danville

Selectboard Minutes

August 6th, 2009

Marvin Withers called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Selectboard present were, Marvin Withers, Michael K Walsh, Doug Pastula, Steve Larrabee, and Denise Briggs. Also present were Kevin Gadapee and Merton Leonard, and Planning Commission Members, Derrick Fenby, Jeff Frampton, Kim Prior, Nancy Lewis, Jim Ashley, and visitors Gail Devereaux, Robert Barany, Gerard Lamothe, Bob Briggs, and Dave Hare. Michael K Walsh moved to accept the minutes of the July 16th meeting as written; Denise Briggs seconded the motion which was approved.

The Planning Commission was present to review the overall changes that were made to the Town Zoning Bylaws, with the Selectboard. They assured the Board that the Zoning changes followed the recommendations made and approved in the town plan, notes from the Zoning Administrator and the DRB, and from best practices from surrounding towns. The majority of the current changes were made in the Danville Village area. The existing buildings were measured for setbacks and other features and zoning changes were also made to allow any new buildings to blend in with similar features as well as similar lot sizes. The Planning Commission requested the Board to review the changes to the Bylaws, identify any questions they may have, and decide how they wish to proceed.

Gail Devereaux of the Wheelock Road was present with Robert Barany to question the Board about the new ATV trail that goes down the town road and by their respective properties. The Board explained that the original ordinance has been in effect that allowed ATV's on unpaved roads since the 1980's. Only recently they connected sections of three paved roads to allow the ATV's to travel all the way through the town. Their concern was before the roads were all connected, the traffic was only a few local riders. Now there are more frequent and much larger groups that travel by, making a noticeable increase in noise, and with apparently no enforced curfew. The Board will write a letter to the ATV club expressing the local residents concerns and request some enforcement.

Gerard Lamothe, the former Vice President of the North Danville Community Club, was present to discuss the North Danville School Building and the current situation there. The ND Community Club oversees the building, and problems are centered around unlocked doors, unauthorized users, and unsecured building. The Selectboard had been in touch with Mr Lamothe previously, and confirmed their desire that the building be secure, locked, and supervised. Mr Lamothe expects new officers will be elected next month, and hopes it will include a representative from the Selectboard, to replace Marion Sevigny. The Board will send a letter to the Community Club restating their concern and oversight of the building.

Kevin reported that the summer work continues. As well as mowing they are working on a section of the Peacham Road, that was determined to need safety improvements by the VTrans High Risk Roads Program. Their safety recommendations resulted in a $10,013 grant from the Department, for new signs, new road markings and new guard rails. They have also been assisting the Lyndon State College GPS department, to inventory the towns culvert locations and condition. FEMA construction work is planned for next week on the Woodard Road, and starting on the Wightman Road the week after. They will also host the Vermont Better Back Roads annual chainsaw training next Tuesday at the garage. Kevin requested an executive session to discuss personnel, which the Board entered into at 7:40pm. The Board returned at 8:06 with no action taken.

Merton reported of a situation at the Farmers Market of a winery furnishing tasting and selling bottles of Vermont made wine. When requested, the vendor produced a newly furnished State liquor license that allows local wineries to sell their produce at Farmers Markets. This is a new license that was recently approved by the legislature and is different from all other Vermont liquor licenses. The applications go directly to the state Liquor Control Board for their approval, it does not have to be approved by the Town. However, Danville has an ordinance banning open bottles of liquor in public areas of town. Merton so informed the vendor, and requested them to obtain a waiver from the Selectboard to allow open bottles for the Farmers Markets, prior to continuing. Merton had checked with insurance agent John Blackmore about additional liability to the town, and he recommended requiring these vendors to have the Town named as a coinsured on their liability insurance. Denise Briggs moved to lift the ban on the open bottle ordinance for the Farmers Markets this summer for wine producers with a Farmers Market State license to allow tasting of their wine for the purpose of selling it, with the stipulation that they add the town as coinsured on their liability insurance, and furnish the town a copy of the Insurance and their state issued liquor license. Michael K Walsh seconded the motion which was approved.

Merton also presented a quote from Stantec to engineer extending the sewer line to the top of Hill St. The proposed extension would be for approximately 900 feet and allow provisions for 12 additional connections. They quoted $1954 for this work and would propose to do it as an add-on to the water line replacement. As this project would require state approval, the state requires the work to be done by registered engineers, we can't just dig it up and extend it. After some discussion, Michael K Walsh moved to approve the contract hiring Stantec to engineer the sewer extension up Hill St for $1954 provided Sewer Plant operator Stub Parker agrees. Denise Briggs seconded the motion which was approved. Merton noted that Ken Robie, Stewart Menard, and Gary Santee visited the Farmers Market along with Ken Linsley, Michael K Walsh, and Merton, and will visit the fair on Friday as well. After viewing the use under actual conditions, they had some suggestions for minor changes to the Green access that will improve access to the Farmers Market and Fair.

The Board reviewed the expenditures, and approved the orders for payment. The listers had made a technical correction in the tax rate figures voted on at last meeting by the Board. Michael K Walsh made the motion to reset the previous tax rate approved at the July 2nd meeting and July 16th meeting, and replace it with a municipal tax rate of 0.1512, the highway tax rate at 0.2945, the residential school tax rate at $1.2281 for a residential total tax of $1.6738, the non-residential school tax rate at $1.4239 for a total non-residential rate of $1.8696 per the listers corrected recommendations; Steve Larrabee seconded the motion that was approved.

There were three applications for curbcuts for new driveway access. The first was for David Matt on parcel ID TH014-027 Walden Hill Road, the second for June Morse on parcel IDSA003-040 Peacham Road, and the third for Marry Currier on parcel ID#TH052-011 Currier Road. Michael K Walsh moved to approve the three curbcuts, Denise Briggs seconded the motion and the motion was approved. There was a request from a camp owner to reduce Route #2 speed limit to 35MPH along Joes Pond, after some discussion it was not approved, on a motion by Michael K Walsh that was seconded by Denise Briggs. A similar request to waive the ban on open bottles for the Autumn on the Green to allow wine tasting from a winery was discussed. Michael K Walsh moved to lift the ban on open bottle ordinance for the Autumn on the Green this fall to wine producers with a Special Event State license, to allow tasting of their wine for the purpose of selling it, with the stipulation that they add the town as coinsured on their liability license. Steve Larrabee seconded the motion which was approved. The listers use the Marshall and Swift cost tables to calculate building cost in figuring property values. This is a state licensed program that has to be paid every year. Denise Briggs moved to pay the license fee and sign the copy write agreement for the Marshall and Swift cost tables. Doug Pastula seconded the motion that was approved.

With no other official business, the Board adjourned the meeting at 9:13 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Merton Leonard

Clerk of the Selectboard

Town of Danville

Send mail to Mert.Leonard@DanvilleVt.com with questions or comments about this web site.