The meeting was called to order at 7:30. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth branch of the Cross Plains State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Harris 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, Don McKay, Barbara Grenlie and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Larry Ziemer, seconded by Don McKay and approved with the change that Item (17), committee reports, be moved to follow Item (4).
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
A resignation letter from Supervisor Steven Cowan was received and the Town Hall today, and Chairman Mark Sherven has accepted his resignation. Also received was a letter from Jan Cowan resigning as co-organizer of the picnic committee, which was also accepted.
CITIZEN INPUT
An inquiry was made as to whether an appointment would be made to fill out the term of Supervisor Seat 3, previously held by Steven Cowan, and Chairman Mark Sherven confirmed that an appointment would be made at the January meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Road Committee reported that, though an electronic controller on the small truck required replacement just prior to the most recent snow storm, all equipment operated through the most recent snow storm without problems. The new tractor, a John Deere 6430, has been ordered.
The Mt. Horeb Fire Department has recently taken possession of a used ambulance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the November 8th meeting, Larry Ziemer seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of November were $11,119.78. $10,905.16 was our final Shared Revenue payment for the year, 100.81 was an MFL yield payment, $60 was a fee refund for a highway course not attended and the remainder was $53.81 in interest.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Three checks went out early, check 2239 to the Dane County Register of Deeds for paperwork related to the road discontinuances, check 2240 for the Town share of the new Black Earth squad chassis, and check 2241 for Dane County’s 20 percent share of money received during the prior year for MFL withdrawals and yield payments.
Check 2249 is for our winter road salt, 2250 for 2011 workers compensation insurance and check 2274 is for repair and maintenance parts to get the large Town truck and plow ready for winter.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for November, 2010, paid by checks numbered 2237 through 2277 and ACH transfers 21 and 22 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Checks 2237 and 2238 for printing and postage for Vermont’s Voice were discussed at the last meeting. Checks other than those discussed in the clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular monthly bills
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to approve payment of bills for November, 2010. The motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF DISCONTINUANCE OF BELL ROAD(1), ALSO KNOWN AS PAULSON ROAD
Barbara Grenlie moved that the discontinuance of Bell Road(1), also known as Paulson Road, be approved. Don Mckay seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF DISCONTINUANCE OF HERFEL ROAD
Barbara Grenlie moved that the discontinuance of Herfel Road be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and the motion was approved. Don McKay moved that the discontinuance be delayed until the end of 2010 in order to allow more time for private plowing arrangements to be made, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved with Barbara Grenlie voting no.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MDW INVESTMENTS LLC AND VERIZON WIRELESS FOR A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT 4268 STATE HIGHWAY 78
Approval by the Planning Commission was contingent upon receipt of an Engineering Statement from Evans Associates. That report has not yet been received by the Town, so action on this CUP was postponed until the January meeting.
DISCUSSION OF DECEMBER MEETING WITH DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING BICYCLE EVENTS
The idea of a Regional Ambassador to coordinate bicycle events was proposed at the meeting. One responsibility would be to develop a code of conduct which event participants would be required to sign. An enforcement mechanism would be to have anonymous event monitors with the authority to disqualify participants. There is $1,000,000 available from Dane County for the facilitation of bicycle events, but there will be a need to see that expenditures are directed in a manner that is most useful to the rural areas in which the events are taking place. It is expected that the Town will be contacted upon the appointment of one or more Regional Ambassadors. Another meeting is expected in March.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2011 FEE SCHEDULE TO BE ATTACHED TO SHORT TERM AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION ORDINANCE
It was noted that it is difficult to specify a single application and permit fee for all applicants, since the workload demanded of the Town by each event will vary. However there are also difficulties with either a variable fee or having a separate deposit requirement. Larry Ziemer moved that an application fee of $25 be approved, with a further $75 due upon approval of the permit. Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PROCEDURE FOR BLANKET REZONING OF SUBSTANDARD PARCELS
Further contact has been made with Dane County Zoning regarding this process. An objective is to correct the zoning of substandard parcels without the land owner incurring a recently imposed conversion fee on those acres rezoned. At present neither the criteria for selecting those parcels to be rezoned nor a process for involving the landowners have been determined. Prospective costs to the Town and whether the conversion fee would in fact be waived have also not been determined. The subject will be considered further at the January meeting.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2010 BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS REQUIRED
No amendments were required.
REVIEW AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THE ‘AMENDED AND RESTATED MOUNT HOREB AREA JOINT FIRE PROTECTION AND RESCUE SERVICE AGREEMENT ‘
The addition of the remainder of the Town of Springdale to the Mt. Horeb Area Joint Fire District as of January 1, 2011 created a requirement that the Agreement governing the Fire District be revised. Barbara Grenlie moved that the Agreement as presented to the Board be approved, Don McKay seconded and the Agreement was approved.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JANUARY MEETING
Early on the agenda will be appointment of an individual to fill Supervisor Seat 3 through the 2011 Annual Meeting.
Details of the new tractor recently purchased by the Town will be discussed, including the possible purchase of a grapple for the loader and possible purchase of an extended warrantee versus participation in an annual trade-in program.
Consideration and possible approval of a CUP for the communications tower at 4268 State Highway 68 will be on the agenda, as will spring weight limits and the potential blanket rezoning of substandard parcels.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk