Town of Panton Selectboard Meeting - Continuation
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Panton Town Offices
Minutes
UNAPPROVED
Board
|
Administration
|
Guests/Visitors
|
J. Moulton
|
P. Bodington
|
W. Adams-Neagley/Chase
| M. Billings
|
| A. Sullivan
|
S. Torrey
|
T. Chase-Neagley/Chase
| S. Davis
|
|
|
E. Hanson
| S. Hofmann
|
Call to Order: Acting Chair A.
Sullivan called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the of
the meeting of May 9, 2005 and the continuation meeting of May 16, 2005 were not
approved as A. Sullivan was not present at the May 16, 2005 meeting and with
only one other member present there was not a quorum.
Public Communication: S. Hofmann
advised that he spoke with A. Cohen, Director of the Maritime Museum, regarding a sign for the school
that was given to them from Panton. He would like to know where the Selectboard
would like the sign located. The Selectboard will consider a location and
respond by September. S. Hofmann asked the Selectboard for permission to have
town counsel at the Hartenstein hearing (date to be determined). Motion
by J. Moulton, seconded by A. Sullivan for town counsel to attend the hearing.
So voted and motion carried.
Road Foreman Report: P. Bodington
advised that he was contacted by the State Police regarding defacing of Panton
stop signs. They requested that the signs be replaced and P. Bodington asked S.
Torrey to order three as soon as possible. Working on Basin Harbor road in preparation for paving;
will be hauling stone for at least a month and then will need to start hauling
winter sand. Mentioned that he had spoken to R. Atkins regarding contracting
someone to do the roadside mowing. After some discussion it was decided to mow
only the intersections and if time permits the remaining roadsides will be
mowed. S. Torrey reminded P. Bodington that the majority of the new budget is
funded by property tax which won’t be collected until November 1. He replied
that R. Atkins gave him permission to spend the $75,000.00 for paving. S. Torrey
replied that the town can’t spend what they don’t have. J. Moulton asked about
paving Lake
Road and P. Bodington replied that it will be done if
there is money left after Basin Harbor road and the repairs. Presented the
Selectboard with an estimate (approx. $20k) for repairing Panton Road which
was damaged from the heavy manure haulers. Motion by A. Sullivan,
seconded by J. Moulton to send a letter Mr. Whitney (the hauler) accompanied by
the bill for the road damage and also a reminder that the equipment exceeds the
posted Town weight limit. So voted. P. Bodington expressed concern about his
overtime and the Selectboard asked him to do the best he can in the allotted
forty hour work week. Discussion on the trash in the carriage barn. S. Torrey
said that a letter was sent to Claudia Allen as this is an accumulation from her
tenants. A. Sullivan said that it would be nice maybe in another year, to clean
the barn out and use for town storage.
New Business: Dog Warden M. Billings
presented the Selectboard with a listing of unregistered dogs and explained that
he had contacted them in May. There was a discussion on what steps should be
taken when a dog is not registered and it was decided that the Selectboard would
send a letter to the owners with a waiver of all late fees if the dog(s) are
registered within thirty days. <>
If no response
is received after thirty days, the owners will be fined as described in the
Panton Dog Ordinance. M. Billings asked to meet with the Board within the next
two months regarding animal control and animal cruelty. S. Torrey will put him
on the agenda for July 11, 2005.
The open items remaining on the highway garage (doors,
concrete pier A1 and condensation) were discussed by Architect S. Davis and Walt
Adams and Tom Chase of Neagley & Chase. They expressed their disappointment
that Chair Atkins was not in attendance as they were told he would be. After
some discussion by all, it was decided to postpone continued talk until the
July11, 2005 meeting.
Old Business: Zoning Administrator E.
Hanson reviewed the Laura Lee Bushey and Vorsteveld violations with the Board.
He advised that he had not received any response from Ms. Bushey’s attorney
Peter Langrock and that Ms. Bushey did not pick up the certified letter sent to
her. It was discussed that the Vorstevelds have continually ignored permitting
requirements and resulting violations and that this cannot continue.
Motion by J. Moulton to forward the violations of Laura Lee Bushey and
the Vorsteveld Farm to Attorney James Carroll for preparation of a formal notice
of violation. A. Sullivan seconded the motion. So voted. Z. A. Hanson will
forward the information to Attorney Carroll.
Whispering Pines Campground on Panton Road was
discussed particularly the fact that although a campground there are residents
living there year round. Possible septic issues were also mentioned. Z.A. Hanson
will investigate further to determine the basis for the permitting and report
back to the Board.
Z. A. Hanson advised the Board that the Hartenstein’s
are appealing the decision regarding the Bogan permitting process. Mr. Hanson’s
letter of response was reviewed by the Board (letter attached) which outlines
the requirement for a formal He reviewed his response to their request with the
Board indicating to the Hartenstein’s that a request for a formal hearing is
required to the Zoning Board of Adjustment with a fee of $100.00. Once this
request is received by the town, the necessary arrangements will be made. Z. A.
Hanson added that he will provide backup to the Zoning Board but will not be
able to participate in the hearing.
<>
S. Torrey informed that Board that according to a
conversation between R. Atkins and contractor Jeremiah Parker, the schedule for
the hall and office renovations has been delayed until mid July. A. Sullivan
expressed concern for the town employees being in a humid environment. S. Torrey
said that she is taking vacation days every now and then but so far the humidity
hasn’t bothered her nor has she had any complaints. J. Moulton advised that R.
Moulton is willing to help move the office upstairs. A. Sullivan suggested road
foreman P. Bodington and R. Atkins assist in this move. The land records will be
moved to the Waltham Town Clerk’s office during the time the vault is being
repaired. S. Torrey to contact local attorney’s and put a public notice in the
local paper advising that the vault will be closed for two weeks during
construction. S. Torrey advised that the phone lines are scheduled to be
installed in the hall on Friday. There was discussion on holding a special town
meeting to ask if the town can use the balance of the garage fund to offset the
expense of the renovations. Grants may be available but no one comes forward to
volunteer to write one and usually the requests must be submitted by fall so
it’s too late for this year. It was mentioned that if the town budgets
$35,000.00 per year that over five years the necessary repairs could be achieved
without a financial burden. S. Torrey mentioned that there is money left in the
garage building fund money market account which is left over from the $75,000.00
voted on at the special town meeting last year. Some of the money was used to
pay the Architect as her fees were not included in the original figure of
$225,000.00 borrowed for the garage construction.
Old Business: (Cont’d) Holding a
special town meeting in August was discussed. A. Sullivan said that she will try
to work on a grant this summer.
The Board will ask the Planning Commission for
recommendations for delegates to ACRPC.
The resignation of J. Douglas Dows as Panton Town Health
Officer was recognized and accepted. A new appointment will be discussed at the
July 11, 2005 meeting.
<>
Action Items: The tax anticipation
note of $110,000.00 was signed by the Board. S. Torrey mentioned that funds are
getting low. Correspondence was reviewed and check warrants were signed/approved
in the amount of $20,338.07.
Motion by J. Moulton to adjourn
meeting at 10:45 p.m. Seconded by A. Sullivan. So voted.
Susan F.
Torrey
Town Clerk
Town of Panton Special Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Panton Town Offices
Minutes
UNAPPROVED
Board
|
Administration
|
Guests/Visitors
|
R. Atkins
|
S. Torrey
|
|
|
|
J. Moulton |
|
|
|
| A. Sullivan
|
|
|
|
Call to Order: Chair R. Atkins called
the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
Public Communication:
None
Neagley & Chase: Chair Atkins
advised that he spoke with Architect Davis who thought the offer from Neagley
& Chase regarding the town garage (letter attached) was sufficient and she
was very pleased. The remaining balance owed to N/C was discussed and S. Torrey
advised the Board that the invoices pertaining to Knight Engineering and
Engineering Ventures were faxed to N/C. It was discussed that if the work is
completed by the July 11, 2005 Selectboard meeting the balance due to N/C will
be discussed and finalized. If not, it will not be discussed until the work is
complete.
Road Damage: The letter to John
Whitney was reviewed and signed regarding the damage to Panton Road. The
need for new road signs was discussed and it was noted that there is money in
the budget for signs.
The carriage barn behinds the town hall was discussed
and it is thought that it would make good storage for snow fence, etc. There
still is the problem with Claudia Allen’s tenants storing their belongings in
the barn. S. Torrey said that she wrote a letter asking for the barn to be
cleared but to date has not received a response.
S. Torrey advised that only three dogs have been
registered since sending the letter waiving late registration fees if dogs are
registered by July 15, 2005. J. Moulton advised the Board that Bob McNamara’s
dog bit one of the water district personnel when he was reading meters. Mr.
McNamara was notified and S. Torrey added that Dog Warden Mickey Billings should
also be notified. It was noted that the dog was not
leashed.
J. Moulton said that Laurel Jackson called and would
like to have the sign, Children Slow, moved from East Road to
Jackson
Road as people are
speeding.
There was discussion of having two meetings each
month.
A. Sullivan mentioned that she saw Representative Greg
Clark and he informed her that there isn’t any highway money for Panton. There
was discussion on where exactly the power ball money is going because it doesn’t
appear that it is going to education based on our
taxes.
Funding for the town hall renovations was discussed.
Motion by A. Sullivan to hold a Special Town Meeting, Monday, August 1, 2005 at
7:00 p.m. for funding vote. J. Moulton seconded the motion. So
voted.
The next Selectboard meeting will be held Tuesday,
August 2, 2005 to discuss and set the town tax
rate.
Motion to adjourn by J. Moulton,
seconded by A. Sullivan. So voted. Adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Susan F.
Torrey
Town
Clerk