Masks are required by those attending in-person / if unable to do so; please use the Zoom Link-provided

Zoom Meeting   https://zoom.us/joinameeting    Meeting ID: 972 2791 1757   Passcode: 352680

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  

Angela Sanborn, Shelly Huber, and Katy Johnson- Aplin, Ann Golob (Zoom), and Mike Fitzpatrick (phone; joined during Administrative Assistant’s report).

OTHERS PRESENT:  

(In-person) Maya Richmond, Meg Gonzalez, Jacob Deutsch, George Friend, Brian Bashaw – B.C.T.V., and Wannetta Powling

(Zoom) Jay Wilson, Jane Douglas, Cina Friend, Christine Howe, Becca Schaefer, Johann Blanchard, Linda Melody, Bobbe Raqouzeos, Vickie Sterling,  Steven Ovenden, Gloria Cristelli, Steven Meyer, Amber Thibodeau, and Kayla Jager.

CALL TO ORDER:

The meeting was called to order at 6:04 pm by Selectboard Chair Angela Sanborn.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA:   

None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

• December 6, 2021, Regular Meeting.

Shelly Huber made a motion to approve the Minutes of December 6, a regular meeting.

 Ann Golob seconded the motion.  – Motion passed 4/0.

•  December 7, 2021, Special Town Meeting. (No action needed)
• December 13, 2021, Budget Meeting.

Katy Johnson- Aplin made a motion to approve the Minutes of December 13, a regular meeting. Shelly Huber seconded the motion.  

Motion passed 3/0. Ann Golob abstained

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. The Arch Bridge detour signs have been installed, and I have a meeting Wednesday with the V.T.R.A.N.S. biologist to find locations for bat houses near the bridge.
2. Wannetta and I have a phone meeting with Bob Fisher tomorrow about the beaver problems on Wiswall Hill.
3. The radar sign on R.T. 30 north of the village has been installed and is working.
4. Do you want to put the bid out for the cleaning and greasing of Monroe Bridge? I’m afraid if we wait until spring, the contractors will all be booked for the season.

Shelly Huber made a motion to have Jay send out the bid for cleaning the bridges.  Katy Johnson-Aplin seconded.  Motion Passed 4/0

Katy Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the Road Foreman’s Report. Shelly Huber seconded.

Motion Passed 4/0

Mike Fitzpatrick joins the meeting via phone at 6:17 pm.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: 

• I want to extend our appreciation and thank Walter Hagadorn and W.W. Building supply for the donation and replacement of the picnic table here at the Town Office.
•  The V.L.C.T. Advocacy News; has an overview of the Legislative Preview and the schedule for the new legislative session starting January 4. We will not know until early to mid-January if we can hold an in-person Town Meeting.

• I have received the timeline for this year’s Town Report. I will be working very hard to get this first Draft to the printers on time. Would you please send your reports ASAP, but no later than January 10?
•  With the Selectboard’s permission, I would like to use vacation days on a Thursday and Friday for the Christmas Holiday.

 Selectboard Chair requested that another reminder of the timeline to submit reports for the Town Report be sent to all Committees and Commissions.

 Shelly Huber made a motion to approve the Administrative Assistant’s Report. Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded.  Roll called -motion passed 5/0.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:   

The following organizations gave an in-person (or Zoom) presentation regarding their appropriation request.  They also provided an Informational Statement as part of the 2021 Town Report.

1. Moover –Christine Howe
2. Windham County Humane Society –Maya Richmond
3. Valley Cares – Johann Blanchard and Becca Schaefer
4. Vermont Center for Independent Living – Linda Melody
5. Moore Free Library – Bobbe Raqouzeos
6. Women’s Freedom Center – Vickie Sterling
7. Green Mountain RSVP – Steven Ovenden
8. Senior Solutions – Gloria Cristelli
9. Leland & Gray Ed. Foundation – Steven Meyer
10. Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center -Amber Thibodeau

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: 

None.

OLD BUSINESS: Purchase and Sales Agreement-

Discussion ensued

Shelly Huber made a motion to send the suggested corrections to Bob Fisher and ask for a Draft of the Purchase and Sales Agreement for the Selectboard to sign at the December 27 Budget meeting.  Ann Golob seconded.  Roll called – Motion passed 5/0

NEW BUSINESS: 

Cannabis Act 164-Meg Gonzalez and Jacob Deutsch from West River Valley Thrives presented information available to date. They are an education and resources program focused on safety and support to help area towns identify public risk in the (old W.S.E.S.U.) Windham South East Supervisor Union including Jamaica, Windham, Townshend, Wardsboro, Newfane, and Brookline towns.

1. Act 164 gives town residents the power to decide if they want their town to opt-in to retail Cannabis.
2. Retail Licenses are scheduled to start being issued in October 2022.
3. Towns do not have the ability to direct collect local license fees or levy separate taxes on cannabis sales.
4. Municipalities can create a local C.C.C. (Cannabis Control Commission) before opting in to ensure local regulations and wishes are followed.
5. Cannabis retailers must receive local approval before receiving a state license.

 

The original House version of the Cannabis bill required a town to decide whether or not their town would allow retail sales by May 2022. The final Senate version overrode that provision and now there is no deadline to decide.

Cannabis Control Board (C.C.B.) in Montpelier will still control the majority of the policy. A local C.C.C. would give the authority surrounding zoning issues, nuisance, and permitting. This would allow a town to handle essential questions such as how close to schools will a retailer be allowed?

Some recommendations for those who could serve on local C.C.C. would be a cross-section of community members including school personnel, youth substance use prevention specialists, parents, medical professionals, members of local government, and people who have been in recovery.

The legalization of Cannabis in our Communities tends to increase overall rates of cannabis use. One in six of those youths who start using marijuana in their teens will develop a substance-use disorder.  Smoking high–potency marijuana every day can increase the development disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.

Discussion of proposed mask mandate to cover the town office and any town meetings that may be held during the time period that the mandate covers (45 days from the time it is authorized).

There was much discussion for and against a proposed mandate. A decision was made to hold off voting until the next meeting. In the interim, the Chair asked the Administrative Assistant to poll the town office staff about their preferences.

CORRESPONDENCE:  On file at the town office.

PAY ORDERS:

1. Payroll Warrant No #11545                        Amount $    6,900.39
2.  Payroll Warrant No #11546                       Amount $    5,515.73
3.  Account Payable No # 2212                       Amount $    49,860.64

 Katy Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve pay orders. Shelly Huber seconded the motion.

Motion Passed.3/0 (Mike Fitzpatrick & Ann Golob had withdrawn from the meeting)

ADJOURN:

Katy Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Administrative Assistant

Wannetta Powling