MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, January 22, 2024
Present: James Bulger, Thomas Otterman, Carl Hildebrandt and Jake Thompson (Select Board), Cynthia Flannigan (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Absent: Bradford Calhoun
Visitors: Jim and Nancy Clark, Bill Johnson, Becky Christian and via Microsoft Teams Hank Buermeyer
Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.
Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Tom Otterman to approve minutes from meeting of January 8, 2024. Passed unanimously.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment.
Garage Site – Tom Otterman suggested that Brad Calhoun work with an architect to get a plan completed. Tom will discuss with Brad.
Overweight Permit – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve permits for Carroll Concrete and G. Stone Commercial. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Geena Baber (TRORC) – The Board reviewed the Report on Funding Options/Programs.
Town Website – The Board reviewed the information from Megan Clark regarding the website and the increase in fees.
LEMP
Emergency Plan Discussion – Carl Hildebrandt updated the Board on suggested changes to the Emergency Plan.
Contact Person – Carl Hildebrandt will be the contact person for the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Development grant.
2024 Boundary and Annexation Survey – Tom Otterman handled.
CORRESPONDENCE
VT Department of Taxes 2023 Equalization Results - The Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) is 76.7% and the Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) is 22.15%.
Otterman and Allen (Macdonald Family Funds) - The Board reviewed the Annual Account. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for Jim Bulger, Chair, to sign the Consent to Allowance of Account for the Town of Topsham and East Topsham Cemetery. Passed unanimously
Otterman & Allen – The Town and the East Topsham Cemetery each received a distribution of $10,293.00 from the Macdonald Family Funds. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to put the Town’s distribution in the Highway Equipment Fund. Passed unanimously.
Use of Town Hall – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve use of the Hall by Amanda Densmoore on February 24 or 25 for a baby shower. Passed unanimously.
Request for Funds
Blake Memorial Library petition requesting an increase from $2.00 per capita to $3.00 per capita – Will be included as a separate Article in the Warning for Town Meeting
FINANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2402 in the amount of $316,552.21 for accounts payable and $7,883.05 for payroll.
2023 Highway Over Budget – Highway is over budget by $93,728.25 for 2023. This is mainly due to money spent on the July flood damage and money spent on the new garage site. We anticipate receiving some FEMA funds in 2024 for the 2023 flood damage. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to transfer $23,235.54 from the Highway Building Fund to pay for the 2023 new garage site expenses and to transfer the balance of $70,492.71 from the Highway Fund to reduce the over budget amount to zero. Passed unanimously.
Cemetery Surplus - Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to put the surplus of $411.25 in the Cemetery Fence Fund. Passed unanimously.
OTHER
Warning for Town Meeting – The Board discussed items to include on the Warning for Town Meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Emerson
Administrative Assistant