The meeting was called to order at 7:30. 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 and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz. Supervisor Bill Hanson was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Don McKay and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
A letter was received from the Village of Black Earth concerning the issue of medical care reimbursement to the Village of Mazomanie from other municipalities served by the District One EMS for the years 2003 through 2006. For those years, it appears that State aid paid to the EMS District was deducted from the Village of Mazomanie’s shared revenue payment rather than the deduction being apportioned among all participating municipalities. After communication with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the Village of Black Earth has voted not to reimburse the Village of Mazomanie. Reimbursement was included as a 2008 budget item for the Town of Vermont, but final resolution of this issue remains and is suggested as a topic for the February Board meeting.
A letter was received from Town Patrolman Dave Haugen, dated January 12, 2008, announcing his retirement as of July 16, 2008. Chairman Sherven accepted the letter of retirement and expressed the thanks of the Board and the citizens of the Town for Dave Haugen’s dedicated service.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Steve Cowan moved approval of the minutes of the December 10th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURERS REPORT
Deposits for the month of December were $506,794.37. The largest share was $505,237.85, which was 2008 tax collections paid in 2007. $1,165 was from building permits and $391.52 was interest. Treasurer and clerk reconciliation showed that accounts were in balance, with the sum of all Town accounts showing $567,071.70.
A second investment fund account has been established in order to segregate money set aside in reserve funds, our contingency fund and our minimum operating balance.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Board members were given correspondence from the Dane County Clerk regarding a Dane County Zoning Ordinance Amendment related to transfer of development rights, as well as a letter from Northwest Dane Senior Services indicating the availability of their 2006 Annual Report.
A check was written and sent out early in the month for diesel fuel, as well as the check for our required membership in the CDL drug testing program.
We purchased a new large format printer and printing supplies for comprehensive planning. The Ford truck required its usual exceptional number of repairs, and we reimbursed Jack Schulenberg for the use of his truck while ours was out of service. All other December, 2007 bills were routine.
For 2008, a check was written to Steve Cowan Construction for installing the walk-in garage door, for our tax payments to the state, county and school districts, for a recent diesel fuel delivery and for early year fire and EMS district payments. A check was written to the Black Earth State Bank for the EMS building loan taken out in 2007, as well as another payment toward the new EMS building for January, 2008.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk's report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for December, 2007 paid by checks numbered 11693 through 11739. Additionally, approval is sought for payment of bills for January, 2008 paid by checks 11740 through 11750. Steve Cowan recused himself from his position on the Board to explain the billing detail concerning the replacement of the walk-in garage door by Steve Cowan Construction.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for December and early January and the motion was approved by the 3 Board members voting, with Steve Cowan abstaining.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING REZONE PETITION, HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY PERMIT APPROVAL FROM GREG AND MARY REES FOR THE DON AND ROSE WENGER PROPERTY AT 5550 COUNTY ROAD J
The Planning
Commission voted to recommend approval of rezone of 22.48 acres from
Ag-EX and RH-1 to RH-3 (Lot 1 and Lot 2), with a delayed effective
date effective when a shared driveway and maintenance agreement is
recorded; and a driveway construction permit and homesite for Lot 2.
The recommendation was also contingent on an updated preliminary
certified survey being provided to the Town Board, which was done.
The purpose of the rezoning of Lot 1 from RH-1 to RH-3 is to provide
the correct zoning for its size and use. Lot 2 is a newly created
residential lot, and is to be rezoned from A1-EX to RH-3. Don McKay
moved that the Planning Commission recommendations be approved.
Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved with Barbara Grenlie
abstaining.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DRIVEWAY PERMIT APPLICATION FROM GENERIK BRODERICK
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the Broderick driveway improvement project. Don McKay moved that the recommendation be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the driveway permit was approved unanimously.
CONSIDERATION OF DANE COUNTY MODIFICATION TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED REZONING PETITION No. 9685 FROM CHRISTOPHER ALLEN AT 4558 STATE HIGHWAY 78
The chairman recommended postponing consideration of the question and referring the matter to the Planning Commission, since there was insufficient documentation regarding the changes which had been negotiated between the applicants and Dane County. While Board members were reluctant to inconvenience the applicants, it was felt that it would set a bad precedent to allow County amendments without further Town Planning Commission review. Don McKay moved that the Dane County amendment to the rezoning application be disapproved. Mark Sherven seconded, and the motion to disapprove the County amendment to the rezoning application was passed with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER REGARDING RECENT DANE COUNTY BOARD REZONING PETITION DENIAL
Bill Hanson has begun work on a draft letter regarding Town concerns with respect to the Dane County rezoning approval process. Because he was absent from this Board meeting, it was felt that further consideration of a letter should be deferred until the February meeting, with Barbara Grenlie continuing work on the letter. There was discussion that the details of the letter should be tied to the specific County Board members to be addressed.
DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL REVISIONS TO TOWN PATROLMAN POSTION, DESCRIPTION AND CONTRACT
Town resident Barbara Bird has drafted an advertisement for a new Town Patrolman to be inserted in the local newspapers. She was present at the request of the chairman because of her experience in the area of employment policies.
It was agreed that the individual chosen should start approximately June 15th to allow a month of overlap for training. Steve Cowan moved that the advertisement be approved with that approximate start date and run for three weeks in each of the local newspapers. Mark Sherven seconded, and the motion was approved.
Mark Sherven recommended the appointment of a citizen search and screen committee to review applicants for the patrolman position and make recommendations to the Board. Members would be himself as Chairman, John Bird and Don Magnuson. Don McKay moved approval of the citizen committee, Steve Cowan seconded and the membership of the committee was approved unanimously.
Barbara Bird suggested that the Board begin with a description of the specific duties to be assigned to the new patrolman, and that these duties would lead to a list of qualifications, by importance, by which to rank applicants.
There was further discussion of the specific position requirements, including: grader operation, snow plowing, asphalt road repair and maintenance, a minimum valid Class B CDL with drug testing approval, and grounds and building maintenance. It was also noted that knowledge of Town roads will be helpful.
Specific requirements regarding an applicant’s driving record were discussed, with the details of a background check to be determined. Consultation with Dane County concerning their requirements was suggested.
Further aspects of the position mentioned were: availability at all hours, including weekends, holidays and Board meeting nights; acceptance of the Town contract; good interpersonal skills; willingness to take Board and Road Committee directions; and able to do physical activity such as lifting and shoveling as necessary to accomplish required tasks.
CONSIDERATION OF DISTRICT ONE EMS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
The wall panels for the new building are being constructed at the Wick plant, with assembly on the site to start in the latter part of January.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement was signed with the Mt. Horeb Fire District, a similar agreement may be received from the Black Earth Joint Fire District.
For the Road Committee, it was noted that repairs have been made to one of the overhead garage doors, but the opener will require replacement in the near future. The Ford truck is requiring its usual share of repairs. Salt and sand supplies are getting low.
A conversation with the Village of Mt. Horeb administrator indicated that their extraterritorial zoning authority is not likely to impact the Town of Vermont for the foreseeable future, perhaps out as far as 20 years.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY MEETING
It is expected that there will be consideration of the Plan Commission recommendation regarding revised rezone petition 9685, homesite and driveway permit from Kinzie/Holbert/Allen at 4558 State Highway 78; discussion and possible approval of a letter regarding recent Dane County Board rezoning petition denials; consideration of General Zoning Ordinance Amendment 26, 05-06 - amending Chapter 10, regarding TDR Zoning Districts; discussion of District One EMS building construction progress; discussion of deduction of medical care transportation supplement payments to District One EMS from Village of Mazomanie State revenue sharing payments; and further discussion of the Town Patrolman position.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Steve Cowan that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:51.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk