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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008

MINUTES

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

ALSO PRESENT: Stuart Hurd-Town Manager; Scott Murphy-Director of Economic and Community Development; Neal Goswami-Bennington Banner and Nancy Lively-Recording Secretary.

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

1. MINUTES - FEBRUARY 11, 2008
    	Sharyn Brush moved and John Zink seconded to approve the Minutes of February 11, 2008 as submitted.  The motion carried with James Gulley abstaining.  

2. WARRANTS
	The warrants were circulated for signatures after Mr. Hurd answered the Board questions on the Gomez & Sullivan grant funding, MSK Engineering on ancient roads, Bassett property clean up, the Fire House sink sprinkler, and animal boarding.           

3. CITIZENS
	None. 

4. DOWNTOWN TRANSPORTATION FUND GRAND APPLICATION
A. BRICK REPAIR AT FOUR CORNERS
Mr. Murphy is seeking the Select Board's support to apply for the Downtown Transportation Improvement Fund Grant to assist with funding for the Four Corners Brick Repaving Project.  The grant will pay 50% of eligible project costs estimated at $32,000 with the Town's share at around $16,000 to come from the highway fund.  The project involves the repairing and replacing (where necessary) of the pedestrian bricks in the sidewalks on two of our busiest intersections at the Four Corners.  These were installed about ten years ago and have sunk below level or are uneven in many places creating a walking hazard.
John Zink moved and Sharyn Brush seconded to accept the Resolution to apply for a grant under the Downtown Transportation and Related Capital Improvement Fund as presented on February 25, 2008.  The motion carried unanimously.

5. BETTER BENNINGTON CORPORATION REQUESTS - MAIN STREET CLOSINGS
	The Better Bennington Corporation is requesting Main Street closures for Mayfest, Midnight Madness and The Great Pumpkin Challenge.  The times are reduced for The Great Pumpkin Challenge from those that were requested last year and these are the only closures that the BBC will be requesting this year.  The Bennington Chamber of Commerce, however, will probably be requesting some closures related to the Car Show, another Motorcycle Event, as well as, another Moosefest in 2009.
	James Gulley moved and John Zink seconded to close Main Street for the following events:
		Mayfest on May 24, 2008 from the Four Corners to Valentine Street and the block of School Street at the intersection of Main Street from 7:00am - 6:00pm.  
		Midnight Madness on July 17, 2008 from the Four Corners to Valentine Street from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight.
		The Great Pumpkin Challenge on October 25, 2008 to stop parking from the Four Corners to Valentine Street at 1:00pm and then close to through traffic from the Four Corners to Valentine Street and the block of School Street at the intersection of Main Street from 3:00pm to 10:00pm.
The motion carried unanimously.

6. 2008 LIQUOR LICENSES
	The following 2008 Liquor License Renewal Applications were circulated for signatures:
1. AUM, Inc.
2. Bennington Club
3. Elks, B.P.O. Bennington Lodge #567
4. Pangaea
5. Powers Market
6. Sodexho, Vermont, Inc.

7.MANAGER'S REPORT
	Mr. Hurd reported that the National Guard will be bringing in large trailers for training exercises to be on site the evening of March 12, 2008 through March 16, 2008.  They will need to close off the rear and southern portions of the Armory parking lot during this time.  This will not impact any other areas of the parking lot.  A letter will be sent to the neighboring businesses that will be potentially affected by this closure.
	Mr. Hurd noted that the Town of Bennington has received a $328,000 earmark for a multi-modal transit center.  We will more fully understand the restrictions under FTA guidelines once they return our contract.  The monies will not be available until October 2008 so there will be many ideas discussed as to its use from now until then.

8.OTHER BUSINESS
	Mr. Morrissey expressed a citizen's concern about the graffiti on the pump station.  Mr. Hurd stated that we have made multiple attempts to clean this very old, porous brick with limited success and may have to resort to painting over it.  The Town is continuing to look for other cleaning solutions that would be more effective.
	Mr. Zink commended the Town Staff for making the public aware of the reduced salt usage and warned the public to drive within the road condition limitations.
	Mr. Gulley asked about the additional bond monies, and Mr. Hurd explained that we had reduced the scope of the original Water Department upgrade project.  We have now completed the majority of the project and the State is allowing us to borrow up to the original $7M which will allow us to finish the head works so we can reduce the leaf and silt debris that travels through the line.
	Ms. Colvin reminded everyone of the March meeting schedule with the Town Meeting on March 3rd, a short meeting at the Town Office on March 10th and a regular meeting at the Fire House on March 24th.
9.EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. CONTRACT
At 7:20 P.M., James Gulley moved and John Zink seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss Contracts.  The motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy H. Lively, Secretary