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, Steve Cowan, Larry Ziemer and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz . Supervisor Barbara Grenlie was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Steve Cowan, seconded by Don McKay and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
It was noted that Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics was unsuccessful.
The Town of Vermont’s comprehensive land use plan was passed by the Dane County ZLR, with approval by the full Dane County Board hopefully to follow.
A card for Marian Swoboda, retired Town clerk, will be available for signatures at the town hall for the next week.
CITIZEN INPUT
Earl Brandt has been investigating options for refurbishing the signs at Elver’s Corners and Peculiar Corners, which were installed in the 1970’s and are beginning to show their age. He has had no luck determining the identity of the original manufacturer or who might be a source for replacements. He suggested that Town government assist in that investigation or arrange for refurbishment of the existing signs.
David Stanfield discussed the fact that the committee currently updating town land use records is facing an ambiguity in the wording of the current ordinance governing potential development rights. It affects ownership parcels under 20 acres and may require a policy clarification by the Planning Commission and consideration of revised wording during ordinance revision. He also suggested that the numbering system being developed by the property records committee be transferred to a set of maps as a means of cross-checking their accuracy and making the records more accessible to the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the September 14th meeting, Larry Ziemer seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of September were $1,867.64. $1,727 was received for building permits, $100 for site visits and driveway permits and $40.64 in interest. The total available in all accounts is $146,277.81.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Comments from the September Board meeting have been incorporated into the most recent 2010 budget draft. We have now received final numbers from both fire/EMS districts.
You will note several checks written to the Dane County Treasurer for Erosion Control Permit fees. One of the $100 checks (1685) was returned to us, one $100 check (1699) was never sent, and the $477 (1704) check remains in their possession.
The election inspectors and myself attended training by the Dane County Clerk on September 28. Among the things that we learned was that in order to satisfy a County Executive mandate to cut $6,000 from the County Clerk’s budget, all ballots will now be printed on white paper rather than having different colors for different school districts.
A motion was made by Steve Cowan 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 September, 2009 and paid by checks numbered 1699 through 1749 and ACH transfer 2 for health insurance. Checks written for September are the usual large number of end of quarter checks. The Erosion Control Permit checks have already been addressed, the only other check sent out early was number 1700, to complete payment for the salt shed addition.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Steve Cowan to approve payment of bills for September and the motion was approved.
PRESENTATION BY TOWN INSURANCE AGENT AND CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The policy premium for 2010 will be slightly higher because of the salt shed addition, but rates are generally the same as for 2009. Larry Ziemer suggested investigating the impact that raising deductable on the property insurance would have on the premium. Our agent will investigate that question and provide information prior to the November Board meeting.
SETTING OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING DATE
The public hearing on the 2010 budget will be held at 6:30 on Monday, November 9, to be followed by a Special Town Meeting to consider approval of 2010 highway expenditures and the 2010 tax levy.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DANE COUNTY REQUEST FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COST OF PROPOSED INTEROPERABLE RADIO SYSTEM
Dane County has proposed a letter of agreement with each municipality which would allocate the 2012 and 2013 operations and maintenance coats of a new interoperable radio system to each municipality in accordance with a formula based on their per capita tax base. An alternative, supported by a number of local city, town and emergency services organizations, would be to have those costs paid by Dane County and billed to taxpayers in the same manner as any other County government expense. Chairman Mark Sherven moved that the letter of agreement not be signed, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved. It was emphasized in discussion that the Board is supportive of the interoperable radio system, it is only the allocation of operations and maintenance coats that is in question.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS
The Dane County Towns Association is making progress in the drafting of a model town road weight limits ordinance, and has indicated that it is near to being released. Further Board discussion of the subject awaits the availability of that model ordinance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mowing for the year has been completed.
The turn-around at the end of Broderick Road has been consistently obstructed by equipment owned by a Town resident living at the end of that road. Efforts to informally resolve the issue have been unsuccessful and may require the intervention of legal and law enforcement resources.
Fall efforts to control Japanese Hedge Parsley have been suspended with the hope that waiting until later in the fall will be more successful.
The Mt. Horeb Fire Department is continuing to lose volunteers. It is hoped that confidential exit interviews will help lead to the resolution of any underlying issues.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER MEETING
It is expected that the Town insurance agent will have provided information on the premium savings which would come from higher property insurance deductibles, and that a decision will be made at the November meeting. Spring weight limits will remain on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Don McKay that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:29.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk