The meeting notice has been posted at the Black Earth Branch of the State Bank of Cross Plains, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, the Harris Bank drive-in office 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: Supervisor Larry Ziemer as acting Chair; Supervisors Doug Meier and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith. Chair Barbara Grenlie participated via telephone for a portion of the meeting. Supervisor Todd Culliton was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Don McKay, seconded by Doug Meier and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There was no Chairman’s Report
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the September 8th meeting, Doug Meier seconded, and the minutes were approved with a change to the wording of the proposed TDR ordinance hearing timing.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of September were $2,684.28. $1,886.74 was for building permits, $322.98 was for Specials, $310 for recycled metals, $118 for Veteran’s grave care, $25 was for an assessment search, $10 for a dog license and the remainder was $11.56 in interest.
The treasurer noted that the City of Madison is going to a 4 installment tax payment system rather than the 2 installment system currently in used throughout Dane County. It is expected that some confusion among tax payers will result from having these 2 systems.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Check 4017 is for replacement of the hard drive on the computer in the clerk’s office. Checks 4022 and 4023 are the Town’s final 2014 payments to the Black Earth Fire District and District 1 EMS. Check 4025 is for chip sealing our portion of Bergum Road, which was not initially planned but which was done to coincide with work done on the Town of Blue Mounds end. Myself and the 2 chief inspectors for the November election attended training on voter ID just before the most recent court ruling. Check 4056 is for yet more work on the Ford truck.
A motion was made by Doug Meier and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PATROLMAN, LIAISON AND FIRE & EMS DISTRICT REPORTS
The Town Patrolman reported that mowing for the year is almost finished. Asphalt patching has continued, getting a head start on next year's work. Town garage overhead door openings have been painted.
Among the topics at a recent Dane County Towns Association meeting was the impact of increasingly large agricultural equipment on town roads which were not designed for those loads. It is expected that a State statute will be forthcoming and utilization of that State Statute may require a supplementary local ordinance. The Planning Commission is aware of this topic.
Both District 1 EMS and the Mt. Horeb Fire Department have had their annual meetings. The District 1 2015 budget was approved with an approximately 2 percent increase, which included a 10 percent raise for EMS Director Jim Wick. His performance has been consistently rated “superior”,and he has been working without a raise for a number of years. The EMS call charge was raised from $550 to $625 in order to partially compensate for a declining number of calls. The Mt. Horeb Fire District Budget went up 9.3 percent for 2015. Three percent of that increase is attributable to increased liability insurance premiums due to an increasing number of paid employees rather than volunteers. A portion of the increase was due to a 3 year program of building up a capital improvement fund. Study of a new building design incorporating combined facilities for the Fire Department and the Mt. Horeb Village Police Department continues. The Mt. Horeb Fire District Board voted to set aside consideration of a proposed ordinance restricting competition by private firms.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for September 2014, paid by checks numbered 4011 through 4056 and ACH transfers 21 and 22 for health insurance and retirement contributions. ACH 20 and check 4011 were discussed at the September meeting. Checks other than those discussed in the Clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular quarterly bills.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Doug Meier to approve payment of bills for September 2014 and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING APPLICATION FOR REZONE, HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY FROM STEVE FRAME FOR PARCEL AT RYAN AND MOYER ROADS
Consideration of this item was postponed.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL REZONE FOR ERIC GROVER PROPERTY ON BLUE MOUNDS TRAIL
No action was required on this item.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL REZONE FOR DEBRA BARSNESS FOR 5507 CTY J
Don McKay moved approval of the conditional rezone, Doug Meier seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING DISCONTINUANCE OF BRODERICK ROAD, RAINBOW FARM ROAD, SKOG KLEDD ROAD AND A PORTION OF EVANSON ROAD.
Barbara Grenlie moved and Doug Meier seconded that this item be tabled and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING SUSPENSION OF MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS TO DANECOM
There has been dissatisfaction among some municipalities regarding the quality of service offered by and cost of DaneCom. Doug Meier reported that DaneCom has negotiated reduced maintenance fees for participating municipalities and is planning for an expanded tower system and increased transmission power to improve coverage in rural areas of western Dane County. No action was taken on this item.
DISCUSSION OF NO PARKING ORDINANCE FOR TOWN RIGHT OF WAY
There are currently issues regarding obstructions being placed in the Town right of way that are not necessarily licensed vehicles, or even categorized as vehicles at all. Discussion revolved around whether a local ordinance would be required to expand upon the list of items now covered by State no parking Statutes. It was determined that the Town Chair would ask the Dane County Sheriff's Department to clarify its current authority to order the removal of such obstructions before proceeding further.
DISCUSSION OF JOB DESCRIPTION FOR TOWN CLERK
There has been limited interest by residents in the clerk position. Attorney opinion is that any clerk, temporarily appointed or elected to a full term, must be a Town resident. This does not address the question of what will be done if no Town resident wishes to serve. There was a consensus that an advertisement should be placed in both local newspapers in mid-November, with Kathy Smith noting that advertising at the November 4th election would be particularly effective in reaching residents. There also seemed to be a consensus that the position be established as half-time at $25,000 per year, which will become effective after the 2015 Annual Town Meeting. This number must be established by the Special Town Meeting held together with the public hearing on the 2015 budget. Doug Meier moved and Don McKay seconded that the a committee consisting of Chair Barbara Grenlie, Clerk Marc Robertson and Supervisor Doug Meier develop a draft position description for the next Board meeting.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE RENEWAL OF ASSESSMENT MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH EQUITY APPRAISAL
Don McKay moved and Doug Meier seconded that the contract with Equity Appraisal be renewed and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2014 BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS REQUIRED
No budget amendments were required.
DISCUSSION OF A CELL TOWER LOCATION ORDINANCE AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENT
Doug Meier moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that information provided by the Town attorney be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration and the motion was approved.
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF 2015 BUDGET AND SETTING OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING AND SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DATE
Doug Meier moved and Don McKay seconded that the Budget Hearing and Special Town Meeting should be held at 6:00 p.m. on November 10th and the motion was approved. Don McKay moved and Doug Meier moved that a public Hearing on the proposed Transfer of Development Rights ordinance be held on December 3rd at 7:00 p.m., taking the place of an earlier hearing that has proven to be impractical.
DISCUSSION OF CARDINAL-HICKORY CREEK POWER TRANSMISSION LINE
It was noted that the political power of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board will likely preclude use of one of the more direct routes for this proposed powerline, making it more likely that it will impact the residents of the Town of Vermont. Also under discussion is the possibility of co-locating with other transmission lines.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF INDEFINITE LINE OF CREDIT
The State Bank of Cross Plains requires annual renewal of this line of credit. Doug Meier moved and Don McKay seconded that an indefinite extension of our line of credit with the State Bank of Cross Plains be approved and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER MEETING
The Steve Frame rezone, homesite and driveway applications may be on the agenda, depending upon Planning Commission action. Road discontinuances, a position description for the town clerk, wording to be included on informational postcards in advance of a Transfer of Development Rights hearing and discussion of a cell tower location and permitting ordinance are items that are expected to be on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Doug Meier that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:03.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk