MINUTES

TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

October 9, 2006

Call to order and certification of notice posting. The Town chairman certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth Village Office, John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, the Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, the Mt. Horeb Public Library, and on the front door of the Town Hall. An initial version was also published in the News Sickle-Arrow and the Mt. Horeb Mail and on the town web site www.townofvermont.com.

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

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion to approve the agenda was made by Don McKay, seconded by Mark Sherven and approved.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE

Since the primary subjects of the Chairman’s report would be covered under later agenda items, there was no separate Chairman’s report.

CITIZEN INPUT

Earl Brandt noted that a previously published history of the Town of Vermont, as well as other items of local historical interest, has been put on a CD by Town resident John Bird, and is available at John Bird Accounting as well as from Earl Brandt for $10. Net proceeds from sales will be going to the Town picnic.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mark Sherven moved approval of the minutes, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved, subject to correction of a repeated phrase that occurred due to a printing error.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Deposits for the month of August were $1,498.11, with the largest deposit categories being building permits and interest. Treasurer and clerk reconciliation showed that accounts were in balance, with the sum of all Town accounts showing $30,636.73. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Mark Sherven to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.

CLERK’S REPORT

The September balance sheet showed total liabilities & equity at the end of the month of $30,636.73. The only expenditure of note for the month was payment for crack filling on Bohn Road and a portion of Blue Mounds Trail. Since it was the end of the third quarter, a higher than average number of checks were written. A motion was made by Mark Sherven 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 September, 2006 paid by checks numbered 11123 through 11173. Note that the first of these, check 11123, was for staining of the salt shed and was approved at the last meeting.

Motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for September and the motion was approved.

PRESENTATION BY REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTHWEST DANE SENIOR SERVICES

A scheduling conflict prevented attendance by representatives from Northwest Dane Senior Services and it is expected that they will be present at the October meeting.

PRESENTATION BY TOWN INSURANCE AGENT AND CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The only significant change to insurance coverage will be the addition of the two voting machines.

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION TO EXCEED 2% LEVY LIMIT FOR 2007 BUDGET

A resolution was presented that the Town exceed the state imposed 2% levy limit for 2007. Mark Sherven moved that the resolution be approved, Don McKay seconded. The motion was approved, with Barbara Grenlie voting no.

SETTING OF THE PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING DATE

Mark Sherven moved that the public budget hearing meeting be held on November 8^th, 2006. Don McKay seconded the motion, and it was approved.

MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION

A motion was made by Steve Cowan that the Board continue in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) deliberating on negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conduction other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session regarding a discussion on the building of EMS facility on Lot 9 of the Wick Addition, Mazomanie. There was no second to the motion, the meeting continued in open session.

It has been proposed that a new building to house District One EMS be constructed on Lot 9 of the Wick Addition in Mazomanie. John Wick has offered to donate lot 9, possibly contingent on the construction being carried out by his firm.

A number of EMS volunteers were present, as well as Tom Schlick, president of the EMS Board. Several members of this group spoke to the need for improved facilities in order to attract and retain EMS volunteers. Specifically mentioned were adequate space for training, adequate housing for volunteers and secure storage for equipment and records. A concern is that the inconvenience and limitations of current facilities will limit the number of people willing to volunteer, requiring a shift to a higher cost paid staff.

Several solutions to the need for space have been proposed, with the majority of the EMS Board now considering Lot 9 to be the best solution. Jeff Wirth, President of the Village of Mazomanie, spoke against the Lot 9 solution, arguing that the process has been too rushed and with too little public discussion.

After further discussion it was decided that a decision on the subject be deferred until a special Board meeting prior to the Planning Commission meeting on October 30^th.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mark Sherven spoke for the Road Committee and indicated that crack sealing for the year had been finished. Also speaking for the Planning Commission, he noted that several means will be used to notify holders of driveway permits that the permits will now be valid for two years. The Planning Commission has also completed work on a new flow chart of Town planning and permitting processes, as well as updated forms.

DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER MEETING

No items were noted for the November meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55.

Marc Robertson, Town Clerk