Town of Warwick Selectboard April 20, 2010 Draft Minutes Members present: Rick Abbott, Nick Arguimbau, Patricia Lemon Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Finance Committee members Dick Whiting, Kevin Alden and Les Goodman, Miryam Williamson, Dawn Magi, Jon Calcari, Paula Robinson (Athol Daily News) Call to Order Chair Arguimbau called the meeting to order at 6:17 p.m. in the Town Hall. Presentations/Discussions Joint Meeting with Finance Committee - The purpose of the joint meeting was to review the Annual Town Meeting warrant articles and omnibus budget, and to get the Finance Committee's recommendation of the ATM budget and warrant. Whiting supported the level funding of compensation and that no one will receive a raise. In reference to Article 12 he said that he did not favor borrowing the entire $55,000.00 amount for the new Highway truck. Young said that the proposed plan is to borrow $40,000.00 and take $15,000.00 from capital stabilization. Young explained that when the road grader was newer, it was used to plow snow, which is now too costly to do. Use of the bucket loader for snow plowing has drawn complaints from residents, and is also not an efficient use of such heavy duty construction equipment. He said it makes sense to have four trucks, one for each member of the Highway crew. Goodman said that the Finance Committee has gone through everything and agree on the numbers. Arguimbau asked for a Finance Committee recommendation. Whiting MOVED that the Finance Committee support the budget and warrant articles as written. Goodman SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Lemon MOVED that the Selectboard go on record as supporting the budget and fiscal items on the warrant. Abbott SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Young asked the Selectboard Chair if it is appropriate to take action on the Prop 2 1/2 articles, which are two ballot questions for the Annual Town Election. The questions involve debt exclusion for the WCS fire suppression system and the one-ton Highway truck with dump body. Lemon MOVED two articles written after "Articles for Annual Town Election" being approved and posted for voting on the election ballot. Abbott SECONDED. Lemon amended the motion to remove the first "to" in the second article. Abbott seconded the amendment. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Abbott MOVED to close Annual Town Meeting warrant. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Whiting MOVED to adjourn joint meeting at 6:39 pm. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 6-0-0 (unanimous vote of Finance Committee and Selectboard members) Vegetation Cutting Practices (non-shade trees) - Arguimbau said that in order to create a policy the Board should wait for the Planning Board to submit guidelines. Young explained that the Selectboard has jurisdiction over scenic ways by way of its supervision of the Highway Department. The Tree Warden is responsible for shade trees, and the Highway department takes care of hazardous trees. Arguimbau said that he wanted to take Abbott and Conover's suggestions that each property owner receive a letter that outlines precisely what will be done. Arguimbau MOVED to accept plans of the Highway Department contingent upon the letter discussed by Tim Kilhart being modified to include precise description of work to be done and signed by the Highway Superintendent and property owners. Lemon SECONDED with the friendly amendment "as soon as the Selectboard has received satisfactory documents". After some further discussion, Lemon called the question. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Young offered to draft a policy for cutting on private property which he will bring to the next meeting. This draft policy will deal solely with that over which the Selectboard has jurisdiction. Conover requested that any information on that draft policy be made available for the Scenic Roads Committee meeting on April 28th. There was a consensus of the Board that Young will proceed with the draft policy. Selectboard Reports - Arguimbau presented his resolution on corporate speech, which is based on language from a Washington DC group People for the American Way. Lemon MOVED the Selectboard adopt the resolution as written, leaving out the second paragraph. Abbott SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Lemon spoke about a recent meeting she and Arguimbau attended in Brattleboro regarding the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. She detailed several dangerous compounds that are leaching out of the plant, and said that she is happy the Vermont legislature is keeping an eye on the situation. Arguimbau commented that while the claims made that the leaks are safe, the minimization of the severity of the problem is not safe. Abbott brought up the Transitional Towns movement, which sparked a discussion on renewable energy and local sustainability. Town Coordinator Report - Young went over his printed report, highlighting local aid, the upcoming changes in the meeting law , compliance with the online ethics tests, proposals for the WCS sprinkler system, the Town forest gate, and the liability and casualty insurance. It was noted that Albert Alden, who has given decades of service to the Town in many capacities, tendered his written resignation because of the ethics test requirement. Arguimbau said that he personally wanted to ask that Mr. Alden reconsider his resignation. Young extolled Alden's service to the Town. Young will write Mr. Alden a letter that expresses the Board's distress over his resignation, its understanding for the reasons behind the decision, and its thanks for his many years of service. 5. New and Other Business - Approval of the minutes had been superseded by the joint meeting with the Finance Committee. Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of the April 5 minutes as written. Abbott SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. IV. Public Comment None. V. Adjournment Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 pm. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari