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B&G Club Asks Contract Increase By Pamala Yerrington At the regular selectboard meeting Monday evening, Damon Lease updated the board on the Boys and Girls Club contract renewal talks. Lease is the selectboard's representative to the town Recreation Committee. The Club has been hit with cutback in federal funds and has made staffing changes to offset some of the reduction, Lease said. Discussion of fee changes for programs is also on the table to keep the budget balanced. The B&G Club will keep the service level to the Town unchanged. Its proposed contract calls for a 5% increase, and runs for four years. The Town would be allowed to terminate before the term expires. The suggestion of fee increases did raise some concern, and the need for greater oversight on the part of the Recreation Committee as noted by Andrea Easton. Town Manager Peter Butterfield voiced his belief that a cost comparison between Town administration and B&G Club administration show the latter to be the better deal, both in cost and product quality. Lease also expressed his personal satisfaction with the performance of the B&G Club. A final recommendation will be brought later. Skating The Friends of the Rink thanked the town for their support in upgrading and repair of the rink. However, representatives at the meeting requested additional funding to complete some paving, as bids came in higher than expected. It appears this funding will have to wait for the next budget round, but further discussion on this topic is slated for the next Selectboard meeting. Route 66 Water Steve Springer discussed the very poor condition of the water line that runs up Route 66 to Fish Hill. A recent engineering study presented to the Water and Sewer Committee has underlined the problems. New homeowners in the area are actually discouraged from linking into the line at this time, while current users are undergoing widely fluctuating pressure changes, sediment, and coloration changes. Hydrants don't function well, and the line suffers ongoing problems with breaks. Replacement and upgrade to state standards is estimated to cost just under $700,000, including a new booster station. Springer said the commission will continue to update the selectboard. Meanwhile, Joe Voci, former public works superintendent, was officially appointed to the Committee. Revolving Loan Fund Town Clerk Joyce Mazzucco, who acts as treasurer of Randolph's Revolving Loan Fund, and Julie Iffland of RACDC recommended moving the administration of this fund to the RACDC. The move would improve efficiency and enhance accessibility for business ventures, they said. RACDC will report annually to the selectboard on the activity in the fund. The selectboard agreed to the transfer of responsibilties. Energy Committee Frank Reed brought the recommendation that the Town purchase Energy Star qualified appliances as replacement units are needed, with the long view of reducing energy consumption. To insure this policy is followed where possible the Energy Committee suggested a modification of the Town's purchase order form. The Town Manager will check current town policy with regard to the requested form modification and report back to the Selectboard. Dog Ordinance Recent ads run by the Town have warned dog owners of the need to license their pets, and the ads have resulted in a modest response, the board was told. On Oct. 15 at 6 p.m., the selectboard will hold a public information meeting on the new dog ordinance. The Town requests that concerned citizens be actively involved in the process. Records Restoration Monies for preserving and protecting town records have been line items in the budget since 1996 but the Town had not officially created a named fund for earmarking these monies. This was remedied at the meeting. Randolph has been complemented on the management of its records. Town Clerk Joyce Mazzuco outlined ongoing computerization of town records and the planned digitization of maps. Some very large maps are noted to be in a troubled condition due to years of handling. Funding for these projects will be brought before the Budget Committee. Health Officer The town has a new health officer, Lorraine Pierce. While a relative newcomer to Randolph, Pierce has extensive background in both community and mental health services. She noted how fortunate Randolph is in many ways including its active village business district where a wide variety of people are out and about daily. Her appointment begins as of Oct. 1. The board welcomed her and thanked her for her commitment. A letter of appreciation will also be sent to Lorraine's predecessor, Gretchen Kidder, for her years of service. Budget Committee Larry Townsend presented Budget Committee meeting schedule. Brief discussion on special appropriations followed. All are similar to last year with the exception of increases requested by the White River Craft Center and the Council on Aging. The Garden Club would like to be added to the list, requesting funds for new pots to extend the Village flower baskets and to help with the maintenance costs of the baskets. This request may be moved to the general fund as it falls outside the special appropriations language. The Chamber of Commerce parade request also came under discussion for a move to the general fund. The Budget Committee will come back with a recommendation. Manager's Report Peter Butterfield noted the Village Police District is now fully staffed. The force also won First Place in VT Law Enforcement Challenge put on by the Governor's Highway Safety Commission. Main Street Bridge May Open By Thanksgiving: Rotter By Pamala Yerrington John Rotter, Randolph's superintendent of public works, updated the selectboard this week about the many current infrastructure projects: | |||||
