Brookfield Selectboard Meeting of December 8, 2014
Town Clerk’s Office on Ralph Road
Selectboard: John Benson (Chair), Cory Haggett, Jeff Kimmel
Public Attendees: Teresa Godfrey (Recorder), Tim Hill, Dan Bohnyak
1. Call to Order:
Mr. Benson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p. m.
2. Public Presentation:
Mr. Hill, an Old Stage Road resident, is concerned with the lack of maintenance on Old Stage Road. One of the land owners has a fence along the road and it narrows the road for plowing. Across from the fence is ledge rock. The fence is in the Town right of way.
The Board will send a letter to the land owner requesting the fence be removed for the winter months.
Mr. Hill stated the road was plowed for Thanksgiving but when it snowed again on the Friday after Thanksgiving, it was not plowed again. The Board agreed it should have been and there is a new driver who is learning his route and they will be sure he plows it.
Mr. Hill would like the grader to grade the road in the fall. It was done in May for the summer but never graded for the fall. The Board will let Ray Peck, Highway Foreman, know about these issues.
Mr. Bohnyak, a Lamson Pond Road resident, would like the Board to consider upgrading the section of his road that is Class 4 to a Class 3 so it will be plowed through. Right now there is about a half mile in the middle that isn’t maintained. He would like some direction on how to accomplish this.
Mr. Benson stated that if property owners would like the road reclassified, they are responsible for upgrading to an acceptable AOT standard (A-76) for a Class 3 dirt road. The upgrade would need to have a truck turn around area included. There are statutory requirements on changing a road classification. The Board would inspect the road, notify owners, have a public hearing, make the decision for reclassification, and on approval, have the change recorded in the land records. The Town adopted the AOT standards so the Town will continue to receive State and FEMA support for the road repairs and maintenance. Mr. Benson suggested that Mr. Bohnyak start by speaking with Mr. Peck for information on the requirements and recommendations.
3. Other Business:
On motion by Mr. Benson, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to approve the minutes of November 24, 2014 Selectboard meeting as amended. Vote 3-0-0
4. Accounts Payable:
On motion by Mr. Kimmel, seconded by Mr. Haggett, the Board voted to pay the warrants in the amount of $11,792.31. This includes a payment to WRVA for $6,457.52, Jason’s Handiworks for $1,380.00 and NEMRC for $1,253.75. Vote 3-0-0
5. Old Business:
Mr. Kimmel will review and make a recommendation for the payroll procedure revision for the next meeting.
Mrs. Godfrey wanted the Board to consider what is put in the Town Report concerning vital records and the delinquent tax payer list. Several towns only list numbers for vital records and amounts for delinquencies. The Board would like to continue to list names as allowable because most people enjoy reading that information annually.
6. Highway Report:
Mr. Peck was not able to attend the meeting. Mr. Haggett, Road Commissioner, spoke to Mr. Peck and the crew is working on chain repair in preparation for the upcoming storm. The bridge on Parker Drive is repaired. Mr. Peck will bring his budget for 2015-2016 to the next meeting along with an estimate for replacing one of the International trucks. Mr. Peck needs to order fuel this week.
7. New Business:
Mr. Benson started working on the Selectboard report, the budget report and has most of the warning written for the Town Report.
8. Adjournment:
On motion by Mr. Haggett, seconded by Mr. Kimmel, the Board voted to adjourn at 8:35 p. m. until the next meeting on December 22, 2014 at 7:00 p. m. Vote 3-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Godfrey, Recorder