MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, October 23, 2023
Present: Jim Bulger (Chair) Bradford Calhoun, Carl Hildebrandt, Thomas Otterman (Select Board), Cynthia Flannigan (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Absent: Jake Thompson
Visitors: Les Frost, Jim and Nancy Clark, Fred Smith, and via Microsoft Teams Amber Downing Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve minutes from meeting of October 9, 2023 with the following change under General – TRORC – Town Plan Approval: “Jim Clark reported that the Planning Commission has started looking into the village designation for the three villages.” Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Friends of Topsham will be having a holiday flea market November 18 at the Grange Hall.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment.
Garage Site – Fred Smith reported he has hit ledge, which may affect costs. Will be discussed later in Executive Session.
VTrans – Bridge on Route 25 in West Topsham. Update on project, no changes from when it was initially presented.
VTrans – Municipal Grant Applications for 2024. Deadline December 8 by email. Grants are to be used for storm water mitigation.
Sale of Property – Motion made by Brad Calhoun and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to use Laurie Kirkpatrick for the sale of the Ben Dexter Road Property. Passed by a vote of 3. Jim Bulger, Brad Calhoun and Carl Hildebrandt voted yes, Tom Otterman voted no.
GENERAL
Animal Control Ordinance – Needs Signatures. The Board signed.
Employee Policy – Will be discussed at next meeting.
MERP- Details of inspection – Needs signature. Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for the chair to sign. Passed unanimously.
Community Hall – Phase One environmental assessment is being completed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Outdoor Recreational Planning – Will keep on file.
Flood Recovery on Private Forest Land – The Board reviewed.
Roger Vance – Gates at Transfer Station – Carl Hildebrandt will handle.
GMP – Zero Outage Initiative – The Board reviewed.
Beech Tree Leaf Disease found in VT – Will be on file.
EC Fiber Annual Report and Proposed District Budget – will be posted.
VLCT – Adding underinsured and uninsured to policy. Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for the chair to sign electronically. Passed unanimously.
Clean Water Budget – VT seeks input – The board reviewed.
Request for Funds
CTERT – Will be included in 2024 Budget
Tri-Village Fire – Will be included in 2024 Budget
TRORC 2024 Dues – Will be included in 2024 Budget
VNA & Hospice of VT and NH – Will be included in the warning for Town Meeting Orange County Restorative Justice Center – Will be included in the warning for Town Meeting Little Rivers Health Care – Will be included in the warning for Town Meeting
Tax Sale – Will be held January 24.
FINANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2320 in the amount of $1,313,822.08 for accounts payable and $8,327.13 for payroll.
OTHER
Budget Committee – Select Board, Donna Otterman, Yvette Tomlinson, Sue Pratt, Janice Emerson. The first meeting will be immediately before the select board meeting on November 13.
Planning Commission – Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for the planning commission to work on the village designation for West Topsham, Waits River, and East Topsham. Passed unanimously.
Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to go to executive session for contractual discussions and to discuss personnel. Passed unanimously. Fred Smith and Cindy Flannigan were invited to attend. Meeting adjourned to executive session from 7:59pm to 8:24pm. No action taken.
Meeting adjourned at 8:26pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Amber Downing