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

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Joseph Krawczyk-Chair; Jason Morrissey; Justin Corcoran; Jim Carroll and Greg Van Houten. 

ALSO PRESENT: Dan Monks-Planning Director; Sue Congdon; Patrick McCardle-Rutland Herald and Nancy Lively-Recording Secretary 

At 6:00 P.M., Joseph Krawczyk called the meeting to order.

1.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
	The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.

2.MINUTES - JULY 9, 2012
   	Jason Morrissey moved and Jim Carroll seconded to approve the Minutes of July 9, 2012 as submitted.  The motion carried unanimously.        
	
3.WARRANTS
	The warrants were circulated for signatures.           

4. CITIZENS
	None.  

5. SELECT BOARD REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNATION TO SERVE BENNINGTON FREE LIBRARY BOARD
	Mr. Carroll will serve as the Select Board Representative to the Bennington Free Library Board.

6.SET PROPERTY TAX RATES
	Mr. Monks noted that the overall tax rate will increase $0.395 which reflects a $0.0118 General Fund Increase, a $0.0317 Highway Fund increase (including the additional road work approved by the voters at $0.03), and a Fire Department $0.004 decrease.
	Justin Corcoran moved and Jason Morrissey seconded to approve the FY2013 Tax Rate as follows:
			General Fund			-	$0.5165
			Highway Fund		-	$0.3518
			Fire-Inside			-	$0.0824
			Local Agreement-School	-	$0.0024
The motion carried unanimously.

7. MANAGER'S REPORT
	Mr. Monks reported that Linda Lewis has been paying sewer fees since 2004 and is not connected for sewer service.  There was a software glitch when the Town changed computer systems in 2004 and neither the Town or resident realized the error until now.  As is policy, the year in progress payments have been refunded, and a Board action is required to refund payments previous to that.
	Jason Morrissey moved and Jim Carroll seconded to refund Linda Lewis sewer charges paid for 86 Harmon Road, #36-51-16.01 since 2004, a total of $1,519.24.  The motion carried unanimously.

	Mr. Monks reported that the service line to the new location of Old Castle Theatre on Main Street (former Knights of Columbus building) is inadequate for them to put in a sprinkler system.  Old Castle has approached the Town to help defray the cost of a new service line - at least to the sidewalk - at a cost of $2,000-$2,500.  
	Mr. Morrissey expressed his concern that this may set a precedent for the future when the use of many of the buildings may be changing, and could become costly to the Town.  Mr. Monks did not know how many buildings downtown may have this same request.
	Mr. Carroll asked if there have been any other buildings that have had this same request in the past, and Mr. Monks answered that the only one he could recall was when Mickey's Pizza burned down and Milt Surdam built a new building.  The Town did participate in that connection but Mr. Monks didn't know at what cost.  Mr. Krawczyk added that this has only happened one other time during his 11-year tenure on the Board.
	The Board asked that Mr. Monks advise them of the details on how the Surdam building line was handled before making a decision on the Old Castle request.
	
	Mr. Monks reported that the Corp of Engineers have verbally committed to repairing the flood wall upstream from the Brooklyn Bridge with an expected completion date sometime this fall.

	Mr. Monks reported that the Town, with support from the State and our Federal delegation, is "vigorously" moving forward with an appeal to the FEMA decision not to pay the Town for any work that took place because of Irene.  Their decision was based on that we should have received funding from another source, however, that other source could not help us.  There has been, and will continue to be, much contact with all of the key political players and we are confident that we will be successful, but it will take months.        	

	Mr. Van Houten noted that our water consumption is 25% higher than normal and has requested a voluntary conservation of water by every individual.  Mr. Monks added that this is an advisory and not a reason to panic.  And, Mr. Krawczyk noted that the Town is not issuing any burn permits due to the extended dry conditions and increased danger of fire.  

8.OTHER BUSINESS
	Greg Van Houten moved and Jason Morrissey seconded to approve the Resolution Honoring Robert "Bob" Howe as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.

9.EXECUTIVE SESSION
   A.CONTRACT
   B. LITIGATION
   C. PERSONNEL
	At 6:32 P.M., Justin Corcoran moved and Jim Carroll seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss a Contract, Litigation, and Personnel.  The motion carried unanimously.





Respectfully submitted,
Nancy H. Lively
Secretary