BENNINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY
130 RIVER STREET
BENNINGTON, VERMONT 05201

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lodie Colvin-Chair; John Zink-Vice-Chair; Sharyn Brush; James Gulley; Matt Maroney; Chris Oldham and Jason Morrissey.

ALSO PRESENT: Stuart Hurd-Town Manager; Scott Murphy-Director of Economic and Community Development; Steve Perkins; John Shanahan; Chris Denio; Dawn Ziel; Neal Goswami-Bennington Banner and Nancy Lively-Recording Secretary.

At 7:00 P.M., Lodie Colvin called the meeting to order.

1. MINUTES - DECEMBER 10, 2007
	James Gulley moved and Sharyn Brush seconded to approve the Minutes of December 10, 2007 as submitted.  The motion carried with Matt Maroney abstaining.

2. WARRANTS
	The warrants were circulated for signatures after Mr. Hurd answered the Board question on the Applegate Crossing fee.      

3. CITIZENS
	None.

4. INTRODUCTION - NEW B.B.C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOHN SHANAHAN
	Steve Perkins introduced the new Better Bennington Corporation Executive Director, John Shanahan, to the Board.

6. 2008 LIQUOR LICENSES
	The following 2008 Liquor License Applications were circulated for signatures:
    2008 First/Second Class Liquor License Application - 
		1. East Road Variety Store
   2008 Liquor License Renewal Applications -
1. American Legion Post #13
2. Bennington Lanes
3. Beverage Den and Smoke Shop, The
4. Four Chimneys Inn
5. Mincer's Mini Mart
6. Walter Smith, Incorporated

7. MANAGER'S REPORT
	Mr. Hurd circulated a Verizon pole permit for changes on Oak Street and Burgess Road for signatures.
	Mr. Hurd reported that some of the agencies that had received budget cuts would like to appear before the Board at their budget meeting on Saturday, January 19, 2008, and Ms. Colvin responded that that would be appropriate if they make an appointment through the Town Office for 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning of the meeting.

8. OTHER BUSINESS
	Ms. Colvin asked if the Paran Recreation request would be dealt with at budget time, and Mr. Hurd answered yes because we are still waiting for a response from their President.
	Ms. Colvin reiterated the request for an advanced green for northbound traffic at the intersection of Kocher Drive and East Road.  Mr. Hurd stated that this had not been done yet but made a note of the request.
	Mr. Maroney would like a running total of the budget cuts made so far for this coming Saturday's budget meeting, and Mr. Hurd will have that done.    
	Mr. Zink noted that the Weekly Legislative Report stated that the Governor had approved the shifting of responsibility for correction services onto the communities instead of being totally a state responsibility.  It is Mr. Zink's opinion that this would be "disastrous" to Bennington and every other small community in the State - both financially and physically.
	Mr. Gulley pointed out that the light on River Street and North Street is not flashing yellow.
	Mr. Gulley asked how much of the building permit amounts get added to the Grand List, and Mr. Hurd answered that it depends on how much has been completed as of April 1st .  Mr. Gulley also asked if a total dollar amount of the certificates of occupancy could be provided, and Mr. Hurd thought that that was possible.

5. PUBLIC HEARING - VDCP PLANNING GRANT - EAST MOUNTAIN MOBILE HOME PARK
	Mr. Murphy stated that Chris Denio and Dawn Ziel have purchased the Chapel Road Trailer Park and wish to correct the septic problems that have plagued the park for so long.  Mr. Denio owns the "upslope" land adjacent to the park and wishes to build a pump station that will pump the effluent to higher ground and through a series of filtering systems for dispersal.
	The current proposal includes the following:
- a gravity sewer system that traps, separates, and treats septic effluent from up to 25 units in the trailer park,
- the installation of large capacity septic tanks and outlet filters (within the park),
- a pump station that would pump effluent to leaching fields uphill onto Denio's adjoining property.  There seems to be enough room and percolation in the soils to accept this dispersion.
The Vermont Community Development Board (VCDP) is willing to consider a $25,000 planning grant to see if the plan is viable.  The Town will provide $3,000 of in-kind services and Mr. Denio will provide the remaining in-kind service requirement.  There will be no actual cash cost to the Town.
Mr. Maroney asked if this had ever been done for a private business before and Mr. Hurd answered yes - the housing safety and sanitation component is what makes it eligible.
James Gulley moved and John Zink seconded to approve the Resolution for the proposed application to the Vermont Community Development Board for a $25,000.00 Planning Grant for the Chapel Road Trailer Park as presented.

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. REAL ESTATE (2)
B. LEGAL MATTER
At 7:20 P.M., John Zink moved and Matt Maroney seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss Real Estate and a Legal Matter.  The motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy H. Lively, Secretary