BENNINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY 130 RIVER STREET BENNINGTON, VERMONT 05201 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009 MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lodie Colvin-Chair; Sharyn Brush-Vice-Chair; John Zink; Jason Morrissey; Joseph Krawczyk; Chris Oldham and Matt Maroney. ALSO PRESENT: Stuart Hurd-Town Manager; Scott Murphy-Director of Economic and Community Development; Kiah Morris; Bruce Lee Clark; Molly Thompson; James Marshall; Robert Pini and Nancy Lively-Recording Secretary. At 7:00 P.M., Lodie Colvin called the meeting to order. 1.MINUTES - NOVEMBER 9, 2009 Sharyn Brush moved and Chris Oldham seconded to approve the Minutes of November 9, 2009 as presented. The motion carried with Joseph Krawczyk abstaining. 2. WARRANTS The warrants were circulated for signatures after Mr. Hurd answered Board questions on the hazmat building cleanup, the Bennington School District check, One Communications, Verizon, the sweeper/vacuum and the Mount Anthony Union High School District check. 3. CITIZENS Ms. Morris, Community Coordinator for the Tobacco Free Community Partners, gave the Town twenty all weather "Thank You for Making This a Smoke Free Zone" signs for distribution within our community. Because of the Town's efforts, as well as, the CDC Pre-Law Classes efforts, these signs are now available throughout the State. 5. BERKSHIRE/BENNINGTON BIKE RACES EVENT Mr. Pini stated that this would be a fundraiser for United Counseling Service. Mr. Marshall explained that the Bennington Cycle Club would like to host two bike races on Sunday, May 1, 2010, to coincide with a large bike race being held the day before in the Berkshires at Jiminy Peak. The two races to be held in Bennington are a Time Trial and a Criterium. The Time Trial, a 13-mile course allowing for controlled through traffic, will loop out from Beech Street, around Barber's Pond, and return via Morgan Street. The Criterium will be a closed course race through our Downtown requiring several street closures. Competitors will come from all over the Northeast and Canada, and safety is the top priority. Mr. Marshall answered the following Board questions: * How are residents along the Time Trial Course able to enter the road? The road will be open to traffic and local residents along the racecourse are notified multiple times that the race will be taking place. 'Race In Process" signs are all along the route and volunteers to slow traffic are at every intersection. * The downtown street closures will lock in businesses, residents, bus station, etc. How is this handled? Streets are open on the outside perimeter of the course. Since the bikers are racing mostly in a pack, when the course, itself, needs to be crossed, volunteers would allow traffic to pass during the six or seven minutes when there are no bikers going through that area, as well as, the fifteen minute gaps between races. This is the method that was used in downtown Burlington when there were eight blocks closed off during a race. * Who will pay for police presence and/or other expenses that may be incurred? United Counseling Service. * Will the parking on Main Street be relocated? Yes. The street closures are the same as what we do for Battle Day. * Is the Better Bennington Corporation involved? No, not at this time. The merchants and residents that will be impacted will be contacted directly. * How do the need for emergency vehicles affect the race? This is a sanctioned USA Cycling race where safety is always the priority. The race is stopped if there is a need for an emergency vehicle to pass through. There is direct contact with all EMT's. * Fire, local police and state police must also be monitored. There are efforts in process to dovetail all emergency contacts * Will there be many spectators on the Time Trial Course? Not usually. The concentration of spectators would be along the Criterium Course. There were around 1,000 people watching in Burlington. * How much does UCS expect to raise from the event? Probably around $10,000 this year because it is piggybacking on the Jiminy Peak event, as well as, in conjunction with a separate charity fund drive. The popularity of these events generally grows year after year. * Will there be outside vendors coming in? No, the local businesses would be the ones to benefit. * Will it make a difference to the event planners if we postpone a decision until the next meeting so we can get feedback from the business owners and residents that will be affected? Yes, it would, because the USA Cycling Association still needs to approve it and the time of year will inhibit our momentum for the event. There are several key townspeople that are involved on a steering committee. Interaction with the local businesses would take place after this evening's potential approval. Joseph Krawczyk moved and Sharyn Brush seconded that after the event, if it is approved, to have the Select Board receive a briefing from the Better Bennington Corporation and Chamber of Commerce as to whether or not the event was beneficial to the local businesses, from the Town Manager as to any costs that the Town incurred associated with the event, from the USA Cycling Association as to whether or not the event was beneficial to them, and from United Counseling Service as to whether or not it was a beneficial fundraiser. The motion carried unanimously. Sharyn Brush moved and Chris Oldham seconded to approve the Bennington Bike Races on May 2, 2010 as presented. Ms. Colvin reminded the Board that this is a Sunday and should have minimal traffic impact to the area. Mr. Zink suggested that Scott Murphy and John Shanahan contact the local businesses affected by the event and advise the Board of their feedback. Mr. Maroney objected to the Town incurring any expense related to the fundraiser, and Mr. Pini added that all expenses are paid for by the event, however, because it is a fundraiser, "we are always looking for in-kind donations". The motion carried with Matt Maroney opposed. 4. BUSINESS AIR HANGER DISCUSSION Ms. Colvin stated that her decision to support the donation of the hanger to the State remains unchanged but would like the State to consider a sliding scale of compensation to make up for the Town's loss. Mr. Hurd noted that, if the hanger was donated to another agency of the State and then transferred to the Agency of Transportation, then the PILOT program would initially apply. Mr. Krawczyk added that specifying Buildings and Grounds, for example, could be part of the Board's approval of the transaction. Mr. Morrissey stated that he doesn't see how the Board's support or not of the transaction affects how the State assumes ownership of the hanger. Mr. Morrissey realizes that Air Now believes it is acting in the best interest of their business, but he cannot endorse the additional tax burden - however small it may be - to the other taxpayers of the Town. Jason Morrissey moved and Chris Oldham seconded to take no action on the Business Air/Air Now hangar transfer. Ms. Colvin supports the endorsement of the transaction and sees this as a business opportunity into the future. Ms. Brush also feels that we should send a letter of endorsement to the State with the suggestion that the transfer be made to Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Oldham noted that this is not a "life or death decision" for Air Now, nor does he feel that the Select Board's decision would have any impact at the State level. Mr. Zink stated that many businesses are struggling now, and cannot support placing any additional tax burden on the rest of the taxpayers. Ms. Colvin added that, although we've lost two businesses recently, we have gained several others. "We are narrowing our focus" if we decide to do nothing. "We should do something." Mr. Krawczyk noted that "they do not need legislative approval to do it" and, if this goes through, we should be proactive by having the Chair contact our legislative body to express the importance of continued business at the airport. The motion carried with Lodie Colvin and Sharyn Brush opposed. 6. MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Hurd reported that the first recreation field waiver request has come from the Southern Vermont Wiffle Ball League. Our new fee schedule would charge them $100 as a seasonal user or $50 for each tournament or weekend. Board discussion ensued stating that the League can easily defray the minimal charge from their participants and tournaments. Joseph Krawczyk moved and John Zink seconded to deny the Southern Vermont Wiffle Ball League recreation field fee waiver request. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Hurd reported that the base bid for the police facility stair renovation project was $125,399, and the final cost is expected to come in at around $115,000. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Krawczyk stated that kudos were given to the Town of Bennington for our efforts in fighting hunger within our community from the Vermont Foodbank. Mr. Zink noted that he had been contacted by people that are happy with how the Select Board and the Town are being run. Ms. Brush reminded everyone that the all night parking ban is in effect. Mr. Morrissey noted that we are way below budget on certain revenue items, such as licensing fees, building permits, recreation center charges, solid waste fees, grant funds, miscellaneous income, and interest. Mr. Hurd explained that most of these are time sensitive revenues that will level out as the year progresses. The lower than expected interest income and grant income amounts are offset by the lower than expected interest expense and unexpended grant dollars. Although there is general concern, there isn't a reason to panic at this time. Mr. Maroney asked what the 5.3% tax delinquency represented, and Mr. Hurd answered that it is 5.3% of total dollars billed that have not yet been collected giving us a total delinquency of around $1M. Mr. Oldham reminded everyone that anyone can call the United Way 211 information line to obtain any kind of human service that they may need. Ms. Colvin stated that the sign ordinance will be on the December 14, 2009 meeting agenda. Ms. Colvin extended kudos to North Bennington for the recognition they received as the "Best Place to Raise Kids". Ms. Colvin also congratulated Mr. Krawczyk on the Renewable Energy Award that he received. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION A.CONTRACT At 8:36 P.M., Chris Oldham moved and Sharyn Brush seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss a Contract. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Nancy H. Lively Secretary