The meeting was called to order at 7:30. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth branch of the Cross Plains State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Harris 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, Don McKay, John Smith, Larry Ziemer and Barbara Grenlie; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by John Smith, seconded by Don McKay and approved with the changes that item 14, discussion and possible signing of intergovernmental agreement between Town of Vermont and Dane County regarding the proposed county-wide interoperable radio system known as "DaneCom", be moved to after item 9 and item 21, committee reports, be moved to after item 11.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Dane County Department of Planning & Development has recently released an informational brochure outlining the State imposed charges which accompany a change in land use from agricultural to non-agricultural use.
CITIZEN INPUT
A citizen had provided a written account of a perceived speeding problem, littering and a recent incident of vandalism near his property, which was summarized to the Board and the community deputy.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the November 14th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of November were $12,769.04. $10,905.16 was received from the State for Shared Revenue, $1,618.68 for building permits, $225 for assessment searches and the remainder was $20.20 in interest.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Check 2701 is for what should be the final Dane County Highway Department bill for the work on the Bergum Road box culvert. Checks 2713 through 2717 are for election training, which will be an ongoing expense throughout the year as the rules change on almost a daily basis. Check 2735 to Premier Coop is a December check for a bill that arrived today.
A question was raised concerning the absence of a clearly understood budget summary on the profit and loss statement presented to the Board each month, which will be addressed at an upcoming meeting.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for November, 2011, paid by checks numbered 2694 through 2734 and ACH transfers 21 and 22 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Checks other than those discussed in the clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular monthly bills.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by John Smith to approve payment of bills for November, 2011. The motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
Deputy Josalyn Longley was present at the December meeting. She indicated that speeding complaints will result in increased patrol activity on North Road, which was also the location of nails spread in the road. There will be greater efforts in the future to make sure that towns are notified of bicycle events occurring in their towns; the current process does not insure that notification, particularly if the event occurs only on county roads. Also under discussion are informal bicycle rides which, though they lack formal organization, are still large enough to create local traffic concerns. A report was presented concerning local burglaries and thefts, though it was noted that inconsistent coding of incidents of that type makes it difficult to determine the nature of some of the crimes. She noted that it is most useful to the Sheriff’s Department if citizens report incidents or suspicious activity immediately when they occur.
CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DISCONTINUANCE OF HAAG ROAD, LICKEL ROAD, RAINBOW FARM ROAD AND END PORTION OF KELLIHER ROAD
Marc Brody, who resides at the end of Kelliher Road, has proposed a revised turnaround at the end of that road and presented drawings of the proposed project and photographs of the area in question. A similar solution has been tried at the end of some roads in the Town of Springfield. In each case it was accompanied by a “hold harmless” agreement with the landowner on whose land the improved turnaround was placed limiting the legal liability of the town. Questions were raised about the practicality of the proposed turnaround proposed by the Brodys at the end of Kelliher Road because of slope issues in that location. Research is still underway regarding other roads being considered for discontinuance.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE SIGNING OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN OF VERMONT AND DANE COUNTY REGARDING THE PROPOSED COUNTY-WIDE INTEROPERABLE RADIO SYSTEM KNOWN AS “DANECOM”
The most recent version of the agreement has been presented to all Dane County towns for signature. Despite reservations concerning the agreement, the Dane County Towns Association has recommended approval. The new radio system will provide improved service in rural parts of Dane County, but the process by which the agreement was reached and the mechanism for funding the operating and maintenance costs has been criticized. Barbara Grenlie wished to be on the record disapproving of any increase in the sales tax for the purpose of funding the DaneCom system. John Smith moved that the agreement be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the agreement was approved with Don McKay and Barbara Grenlie voting no.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE BRODERICK ROAD TURNAROUND
No further progress has been made on improving the turnaround at the end of Broderick Road.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Many of the Town roads signs have been replaced with new higher reflectivity signs. A property accessibility checklist has been created by the Mt. Horeb Fire District to assist the Town Patrolman in identifying private drives that may need maintenance in order to avoid limiting emergency vehicle access. The Fire District will handle any required landowner contact.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING PROPOSED REVISIONS TO TOWN ORDINANCES CHAPTER 7 – LAND DIVISIONS WITH POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Don McKay moved that the draft ordinance revision be approved for public hearing, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the ordinance amendment was approved for a public hearing on February 6, 2012 at 7:00.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING PROPOSED FIRE SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE
The Planning Commission approved this ordinance for consideration by the Town Board for possible approval for a public hearing. Mark Sherven moved such approval, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved for a public hearing on February 6, following the hearing on the Chapter 7 revision, with Don McKay voting no.
DISCUSSION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DRAFT CHANGES TO DANE COUNTY ORDINANCE CHAPTER 10.121, A-B AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND POSSIBLE DRAFTING OF COMMENTS
Dane County requested comments on this proposed ordinance amendment. The Planning Commission passed the ordinance amendment on to the board with some comments. The possibility of future conflict with the Town of Vermont land use plan was brought up. There was some concern that activities that would now require a CUP would become permitted under A-B, thus potentially reducing town land use control in the future; while a CUP is valid for the current owner/applicant, a permitted use under an A-B rezone would be permanent.
DISCUSSION OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION SYSTEM
No further information is available concerning the Farmland Preservation Program.
APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION INSPECTORS FOR 2012 – 2013 AND CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION REGARDING NUMBER OF POLL WORKERS
Town of Vermont
2012 – 2013 Election Inspectors
The following list was submitted to the Board for approval:
Chief Inspectors
Shirley Brandt
Marguerite Parrell
Alternate Chief Inspectors
Jan Cowan
Patricia Rue
Kay Butcher
Election Inspectors
Kay Butcher
Marlene Ludolph
Bernice Mason
Char Meier
Doug Meier
Kathy Hunt
John Szalkowski
Sandie Stanfield
Kris Antonie
Susan Schaub
Don Parrell
John Smith moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that the above group of residents be appointed as election inspectors for 2012 – 2013 elections, and the motion was approved. In addition a resolution was presented for board consideration that reaffirmed a past resolution permitting fewer than 7 election inspectors on a given shift as well as allowing the clerk discretion in both the number of inspectors assigned to a given election and permitting flexibility in the assignment of responsibilities. Don McKay moved that this resolution be approved, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the resolution was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF SPRING WEIGHT LIMIT ORDINANCE
Larry Ziemer moved that the spring weight limit ordinance which had been the subject of a public hearing on December 5th be approved, Don McKay seconded and the ordinance was approved.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE MUNICIPAL COURT AGREEMENT
Of the courts in the vicinity of the Town of Vermont, the municipal court in the Village of Mt. Horeb is the only one which currently has enforcement agreements with other municipalities. The subject will be given further consideration at the January 2012 meeting.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2011 BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS REQUIRED
No budget amendments are required at this time.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JANUARY MEETING
There will be further discussion of alternative means of presenting a monthly budget summary, further discussion of a future municipal court agreement, the Planning Commission recommendation regarding discontinuance of Haag road, Lickel Road, Rainbow Farm Road and end portion of Kelliher Road, discussion of a possible Broderick Road turnaround and a suggestion from the Wisconsin DNR concerning a possible town resolution regarding State land acquisition policy. The state licensing of bicycles may also be on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk