MINUTES

TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

February 11, 2008


The meeting was called to order at 7:31. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, on the town web site www.townofvermont.com, and on the front door of the town hall. It was also published in the News Sickle-Arrow and the Mt. Horeb Mail.


Present: Chairman, Mark Sherven; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan, Bill Hanson and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.


APPROVAL OF AGENDA


Mark Sherven moved to switch agenda items 17 and 6. With that change, a motion to approve the agenda was made by Mark Sherven, seconded by Steve Cowan and approved.


CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE


The chairman, along with two citizens of the Town, attended a hearing in January concerning prioritizing the revision of the Dane County Zoning Ordinances.


A copy of the new Dane County Comprehensive Plan has arrived and will be available for review in the Town Hall.


CITIZEN INPUT


Earl Brandt indicated that he would no longer be involved in the publication of the Vermont’s Voice newsletter.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES


Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the January 14th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.


COMMITTEE REPORTS

Pictures were made available of progress on the new District One EMS building. Dave Haugen reported for the road committee that nine quad-axle truck loads of quarry fines have been brought in to be mixed with two of our truck loads of salt purchased from the Town of Blue Mounds. Two dead-end roads have recently posed problems for turning the Town truck around when plowing.



CLERK’S REPORT


We have a presidential election primary coming up a week from tomorrow. It should be noted that the check for Vermont’s Voice printing is for the last 2007 issue but the bill wasn’t received until 2008. A check was written to Northwest Dane Senior Services for 2008. Two checks for diesel fuel have gone out already in order to get a discount. All other checks for the month are routine.


A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.


PAYMENT OF BILLS


Approval is sought for payment of bills for January, 2008 and paid by checks numbered 11751 through 11780. January checks 11740 through 11750 were approved at the January meeting. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to approve payment of bills for January and the motion was approved.


PRESENTATION BY DEPUTY FOR DANE COUNTY SHERIFF JOSAYLN LONGLEY


Deputy Longley supplied an incident report covering from the first of the year until the present, which included primarily vehicle slide-off’s. She also reported a forced entry into a Town residence on the day of the Board meeting.

CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING REZONE OF RESIZED LOTS FOR MARIAN SWOBODA ON BELL ROAD


This rezone petition has two objectives. The first to remove, through a small swap of land between RH and A-1EX, an encroachment on her driveway which had been created by an error in a previous rezone. The second is to remove from an RH-3 parcel being offered for sale approximately 12 acres and return it to the A-1EX status of her remaining land. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezone.


Mark Sherven moved that the rezone be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the rezone was approved unanimously.


CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING REZONE PETITION FOR LOTS 1, 2 AND 3, HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY PERMIT FROM KINZIE/HOLBERT/ALLEN AT 4558 STATE HIGHWAY 78


This petition is a modification of a zoning petition approved by the Board in late 2007 but subsequently denied by the Dane County Board. In the current petition, Lots 1 and 2 remain unchanged from the prior petition. The driveway and homesite locations remain unchanged from the previously approved petition.



The rezone of Lot 2, approximately 5 acres from A-1EX to RH-2, was approved by the Planning Commission. Don McKay moved that the rezone for Lot 2 be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the rezone was approved with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.



The rezone of Lot 1, approximately 11 acres from A-1EX to RH-3, was approved by the Planning Commission with a delayed effective date contingent on the recording with Dane County of a driveway easement and shared driveway maintenance agreement. It was noted that a PDR is associated with this lot. Don McKay moved that the rezone for Lot 2 be approved, Bill Hanson seconded and the rezone was approved with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.


The rezone of Lot 3, approximately 9 acres from A-1EX to RH-3, with driveway and homesite, was approved by the Planning Commission with a delayed effective date on the rezone contingent on the recording with Dane County of a driveway easement and shared driveway maintenance agreement, a deed restriction limiting the property to one residence, and a deed restriction on the remaining 44 acres prohibiting any residential development. The existing home is on this parcel, and the construction of a new home will require that the existing home not be used for residential purposes. Don McKay moved that the rezone, driveway and homesite for Lot 3 be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER REGARDING RECENT DANE COUNTY BOARD REZONING PETITION DENIALS


Bill and Jane Hanson had previously begun work on a draft letter regarding Town concerns with respect to the Dane County rezoning approval process. Barbara Grenlie presented a revised draft letter at this meeting. It was decided that the clerk would continue work on the letter prior to the next board meeting.


CONSIDERATION OF DANE COUNTY CHAPTER 10 ZONING AMENDMENT REGARDING TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS


Approval of this amendment was recommended by the Dane County Towns Association. Mark Sherven moved that the amendment be approved, and Steve Cowan seconded. The ordinance would allow a town to move development rights between sending and receiving areas, but not require either towns or individuals to participate. Concern was expressed that the Town might not have sufficient control over the location of receiving areas or the manner in which PDR’s are moved among areas. Mark Sherven withdrew his motion that the amendment be approved.


After further discussion, Steve Cowan moved that the amendment be approved and Bill Hanson seconded the motion. The motion was approved with four Supervisors voting yes and Don McKay opposed.



CONSIDERATION OF DISTRICT ONE EMS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS


This subject was considered during committee reports.


DISCUSSION OF DEDUCTION OF MEDICAL CARE TRANSPORTATION SUPPLEMENT PAYMENTS TO DISTRICT ONE EMS FROM VILLAGE OF MAZOMANIE STATE REVENUE SHARING PAYMENTS


Treasurer Sarah Danz expressed the opinion that if District One EMS can demonstrate that the payments from the state were used to reduce the levy to all municipalities participating in District One, reimbursement to the Village of Mazomanie would be justified. At present we do not have sufficient information from the EMS district to determine how the funds were treated in the EMS budget. Sarah Danz will draft a letter requesting that documentation for consideration at the March board meeting. Bill Hanson moved that the reimbursement not be made until sufficient documentation is available to support it, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved.


UPDATE ON PATROLMAN POSITION


A revised list of patrolman requirements was presented to board members for their review, with additions or changes to be suggested at soon as possible.


TREASURER’S REPORT


Deposits for the month of January were $740,776.22. The largest share was $719,452.49, which was 2008 tax collections paid in January of 2008. $19,330.17 was received from the State for Transportation Aid, $564.00 was for dog licenses and $1,429.56 was interest. A motion was made by Bill Hanson and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.


DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH MEETING


It is expected that there will be continuing discussion and possible approval of a letter regarding recent Dane County Board rezoning petition denials; discussion of District One EMS building construction progress; consideration of a letter drafted by Treasurer Sarah Danz seeking clarification of issues surrounding possible Town reimbursement to the Village of Mazomanie for deduction of medical care transportation supplement payments to District One EMS from Village of Mazomanie revenue sharing payments; and further discussion of the Town Patrolman position.


ADJOURNMENT


A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Don McKay that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:34.


Marc Robertson, Town Clerk