DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING BEFORE THE SELECT BOARD?
EMAIL US HERE
MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, August 14, 2023
Present: James Bulger, Bradford Calhoun, 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)
Visitors: Les Frost, John Hood, Tim Jarvis, Megan Jarvis, Becky Christian, Bill Johnson, Maureen Hurley, Jim Clark and Sheila Herman and via Microsoft Teams Pat Plaisted and Amber Downing.
Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve minutes from meeting of July 24, 2023. Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Maureen Hurley – talked about the Municipal Energy Resilience Program, which provides grants to upgrade municipal buildings to be energy efficient. Jim Bulger will contact Harry Falconer to proceed with the application for the Town Office/Town Hall building.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment.
Pike Hill Bridge – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on the progress. To get FEMA funding, projects must be put out to bid. The Board invited multiple companies to submit bids. One bid has been received.
Austin Construction Inc. – Lump Sum Bid $284,485.00
Temporary Pedestrian Bridge – Additional $28,000.00
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve the lump sum bid. Passed unanimously.
Garage Site – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on the progress of the project. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to put out to bid the grading of the garage site with bids due back by September 11, advertised as usual. Passed unanimously.
Roadside Mowing Bids – One bid has been received.
Limlaw Chipping and Land Clearing – $6,900.00
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to accept the bid. Passed unanimously.
Vermont Standard Grant Agreement – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson for the Chair to sign. Passed unanimously.
Overweight Permit – Motion made by Brad Calhoun and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve the permit. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Topsham Plating site water test – Annie Dolan will be taking care of this.
Update on Insurance Inspection – The Board discussed which items have been resolved and which are still open.
Financial Management Questionnaire – Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson for the Chair to sign. Passed unanimously.
Reappraisal Order 2023 – The Board reviewed and discussed with John Hood.
CORRESPONDENCE
Green Mountain Power – Resiliency Planning – The Board reviewed.
Grants for Bylaw Modernization 2024 – The Board reviewed.
Verizon – Notice of Complete Petition – The Board reviewed.
Municipal Planning Grants 2024 – Deadline November 1 – Jim Bulger will call for more information.
Inclusion Initiative – Motion by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt not to extend an invitation to the group. Passed unanimously.
FINANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2315 in the amount of $77,046.82 for accounts payable and $9,147.17 for payroll.
The Board authorized the Treasurer to pay $7,197.50 to Limlaw Chipping and Land Clearing for flood work.
OTHER
Community Hall – Jake has been in conversation with another attorney, working on getting ownership transferred to the Town.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to go into Executive Session to discuss attorney-client privileged information. Cindy Flannigan was invited to attend the session. Passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned to Executive Session from 8:15 pm to 9:14 pm. No action taken.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amber Downing