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Author: Town Admin

ARPA Advisory Committee Agenda, 09.07.2022

ARPA Advisory Committee of the Guilford Selectboard
Wednesday, 7 September 2022, 6:30 p.m.
236 School Road, Guilford, VT, and online (Zoom info below)

AGENDA

I. Call to Order
II. Recognition of Public
III. Approval of 8.24.22 Minutes
IV. Changes to Agenda Order
V. New Business

a. Comments from Patty
b. Report from Julie on Fair
c. Review Draft Survey
d. Next Steps for Distribution
VI. Adjournment

***

Join us in person or via the Zoom app or zoom.us.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82591150577?pwd=QUNrSjZqSTVjZlljSzZLVHhPY3ZVUT09
Meeting ID: 853 0665 4947
Passcode: 741250
Or phone in and enter the meeting ID and passcode when prompted: (929) 205-6099

Planning Commission Agenda, 09.06.2022

Guilford Planning Commission Meeting 
Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 6:30 pm, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT 
Attend either in person or via Zoom. Link below

Agenda 

I. Call to Order 
II. Recognition of Public 
III. Rules of Procedure 
IV. Changes to Agenda Order 
V. Approval of Minutes: August 17, 2022 
VI. New Business
a. Schedule public hearing for amended Town Plan
VII. Discussion/Updates 
a. Update on RFP for Strategic Planning Consultant
b. Update on Village Center Renewal application 
VIII. Adjournment 

***
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https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81892190696?pwd=bXlWUFhWd242and2QmtPL3hJOTBMZz09
Meeting ID: 818 9219 0696
Passcode: 401908
Phone: 1.929.205.6099

Job Posting: Highway Crew Member

IMMEDIATE OPENING

The Town of Guilford, VT seeks qualified candidates for two full-time positions in its Highway Department: Assistant Road Foreman and Road Crew member. A minimum CDL-B license is required.

For a detailed job description, please visit the Town’s website (www.Guilfordvt.gov) or call the Town Administrator’s office at 802.254.6857 x 105.

Pay is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance.

To apply, please contact Dan Zumbruski, Road Foreman at 802.380.2233, for an employment application, which must be completed and signed.

The position will remain open until filled but applications received by September 21, 2022 will receive first consideration.

The Town of Guilford is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

***

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Each Highway Crew Member for the Town of Guilford is primarily responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Town Highway system and associated equipment, and secondarily responsible for other tasks as described below. Under the direction of the Road Foreman, the crew members operate the equipment and provide the labor to maintain and repair the Town facilities including, but not limited to: highway grading, trucking, snow plowing, salting and sanding highways, brush clearing, road repair, light building and facility maintenance and other associated tasks as required.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Safely operate Town highway maintenance equipment, including but not limited to: pickup trucks, dump trucks, bucket loader, road grader, backhoe, tractors with and without various attachments including mowers and wood-chippers, and other equipment required for the maintenance of Town highways.
  • Safely operate various hand machinery such as chain saws, weed or brush trimmers, culvert thawers, mowers and welders. Also uses shovels, picks, rakes and other hand-operated equipment necessary for highway maintenance.
  • During the winter months the duties chiefly require snow plowing, snow removal, road sanding, salting, patching, and culvert thawing. These duties generally occur at irregular times and hours
  • During Spring, Summer and Fall duties include repair of gravel as well as asphalt roads, culvert installation, hauling of materials and supplies, hauling or moving equipment, cleaning ditches and culverts, installing new guard posts, rails and road and traffic signs, cutting brush, mowing, and other tasks associated with the maintenance and repair of the Town highways. The duties include major repair, rebuilding, construction, grading and regrading of gravel roads, repair and patching of asphalt roads.
  • Highway Crew Members are responsible for the general maintenance of the Town Highway Department equipment. Both preventative and corrective maintenance tasks and adjustments are a routine responsibility throughout the year.
  • The Highway Crew Members will keep daily records of hours, locations of work, equipment and materials used, gas, diesel fuel and oil. This information will be entered daily on written time sheets and/or computer time sheets and logs.
  • Highway crew members need to have basic knowledge of computers and basic software and programs. This includes but is not limited to: web browser, word processor (ex. Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (ex. Microsoft Excel), email, printer/scanner.
  • In addition to the above duties, Highway Crew Members are also responsible for routine maintenance of town buildings, facilities and lands, including but not limited to: trash collection, minor building repairs, mowing, tree trimming and/or removal, removal of snow from roofs, walkways, sidewalks, etc., assistance to other Town employees and contractors when appropriate, and other duties as assigned.

Reports To: the Road Foreman/ Assistant Road Foreman
Receives specific instructions from the Road Foreman (or Assistant Road Foreman), who is responsible for carrying out established policies and procedures. The employee is responsible for receiving these instructions, and accomplishing tasks assigned in a safe, timely, and cost-efficient manner.

Skill requirements:

  • Knowledge of and ability to operate the Town Highway equipment.
  • Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques associated with the maintenance and repair of gravel and surfaced highways.
  • Skill in handling controls for starting, stopping, driving, and reversing the Town vehicles; skill in judging overhead and side clearances, turning radii, braking distances, and backing clearance.
  • Knowledge and application of the techniques and practices for safe heavy equipment operation including: safe lifting heights, loading and load securing techniques, and dumping safety.
  • Knowledge and application of safety rules and regulations for the movement of heavy equipment are of paramount importance to this position. Application of these rules are required at all times, on the public ways, and also in remote situations.
  • The initiative and mechanical ability to accomplish minor repairs, adjustments, and other maintenance tasks on Town vehicles and equipment.
  • Skill in communication and interpersonal relations to: understand and follow oral and written instructions, keep records, operate computers using applications such as spreadsheets, word processing and email, and cooperate effectively with fellow workers and supervisors, other
  • Town employees, government officials and outside contractors. Exemplary conduct when interfacing with the general public is an absolute necessity in this position.
  • Ability and dexterity to reach, bend, turn, move hands, move arms, move feet, and move legs to operate the hand and foot controls of standard and maintenance vehicles. Normal, or correctable to normal, vision and hearing is required for the safe operation of equipment. The strength and endurance to repeatedly lift heavy objects, pull and tug objects, dig, chop and use other hand tools, and perform other strenuous activities is required. The strength and endurance to perform effectively over long hours and in adverse weather conditions is required.

Education:
High School Diploma, GED, or similar equivalent education required.

Conditions of Employment:
The following are the special conditions of employment for the Highway Crew Member:

  • The position is for regular, full-time employment. By virtue of its nature, the position is considered always on call. The position may require working hours long beyond what is considered an average workday/ week especially during adverse weather conditions, as necessary to keep the Town highways serviceable.
  • Secondary employment must not compromise the availability to perform the characteristic Duties & Responsibilities of the job or prevent an employee from being on-call for work duties.
  • Days off must be scheduled and approved by the Road Foreman so as to not interfere with the Duties & Responsibilities of the job.
  • Applicants must be 18 years of age.
  • Successfully passing a pre-employment drug testing is required before a job offer is made; random drug screening is conducted throughout the year.
  • Verification of a minimum of three (3) years of employment history is required before a job offer is made.
  • A successful motor vehicle records check for all 50 states is required prior to a job offer being made.
  • Maintaining a current and valid Vermont Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is required, as is a medical card.
  • Satisfactory completion of a three-month probationary period is a condition of permanent employment. The probation period may be extended to a total of six (6) months at the discretion of the Road Foreman.
  • The Highway Crew Member is subject to the current Town of Guilford Personnel Policies and as may be revised from time to time in the future.
  • The Highway Crew Member must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Experience:
This position description includes three levels of experience and responsibility. Except as modified below, all requirements of the above description apply to all levels of assignment.

Level 1: Level 1 is the entry level to this position. The physical ability requirements apply. The incumbent may, however, not have all the experience or knowledge in highway maintenance or heavy equipment operation required. The incumbent must have the ability and interest to learn through classroom and/or on-the-job experience to acquire the knowledge of techniques and practice required. At this level the incumbent is more dependent upon supervision and assistance from others in the accomplishment of the assignments. The incumbent will be asked to perform computer-related tasks.

Level 2: Level 2 includes all of the skills and responsibilities of Level 1, and additionally the employee is fully knowledgeable of the techniques and practices of heavy equipment use, operation and maintenance. The incumbent is also knowledgeable in road construction, maintenance and repair techniques. The employee is capable of operating all Town vehicles and equipment. The employee can receive general instruction from the Road Foreman and, with a minimum of supervision, independently determine the requirements and accomplish the task. Upon occasion, in the absence of and/or at the request of the Road Foreman or Assistant Road Foreman, the Level 2 employee may supervise fellow workers or others engaged in road maintenance and construction work. A Level 2 worker may also be asked to perform additional computer-related tasks.

Level 3: Assistant Road Foreman: This position requires all the skills and responsibilities of Level 2 as well as assisting the Road Foreman in a variety of administrative activities. These include but are not limited to: supervising fellow workers or others engaged in road maintenance and construction work; helping in the preparation of the annual budget and report to the Selectboard assessing the condition of Town Highways; assisting in preparation of plans for road care for the upcoming year(s); acting as the safety agent for the Town Highway Crew Members by collecting, reviewing, filing and posting safety-related materials; providing information on new safety procedures to others on the Highway Crew Members; tracking and reporting road project costs including Highway Crew Members’ Hours, Equipment Hours and all outside expenses (such as contractors, materials or equipment rental); assisting the Road Foreman in preparation of the annual Town Highway Budget; performing computer data entry and reporting instructing others in basic equipment operation; and acting on behalf of the Road Foreman as required.

Evaluation:
There will be a three-month probationary period which will commence the first day on the job and end three months from that date; there will be an evaluation at the end of this period. A Highway Crew Member’s performance will be evaluated at least annually from their date of hire by the Road Foreman. Performance in accordance with the Town of Guilford’s Personnel Policy and Procedures is required and along with this Job Description will be the standard against which performance will be evaluated.

Compensation:
Based on education, experience, and as determined by the Guilford Selectboard.

Dated:
16 August 2022

Guilford Selectboard Minutes, 08.22.2022

GUILFORD SELECTBOARD – MEETING
Monday, 22 August 2022, 6:30 pm, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

MINUTES

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Zon Eastes, Chair, Michael Becker (by Zoom) , Rusty Marine, Verandah Porche, Richard Wizansky
OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT:  Sheila Morse (Asst. Town Administrator), Dan Zumbruski (Road Commissioner)
PRESENT in person: Kyle Parker, Steve Lembke, Jeannette Tokarz (Planning Commission), Dolores Clark
PRESENT via Zoom: Anna Klein, Don McLean, Lesley Malouin, Emily Lewis (DuBois and King), Jason Herron, Rick Zamore, Whitney Lynde, Tammy Sargent

Call to Order at 6:30 pm

Recognition of Public 

Rules of Procedure and How to Communicate with the Selectboard

Welcoming of Public – Community Comment Period

Lesley Malouin: Guilford Christ Church (Cemetery) wants to hear stories about the cemetery’s history from local residents. Summer Soirée Sunday, 8/28 from 2 – 4 pm. Musicians and poets will participate. Donations welcome!  Connect via christchurchcemetery.org  

Changes to Agenda Order NONE

Approval of Minutes                                                                           (5 minutes)

Regular Meeting – ACTION Richard moved to approve the minutes as written. Rusty seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

Discussions

Highway Report

Dan noted that the crew has been mowing. Wednesday, 8/24, Butternut Hill will be closed from 8:30 to noon to put 2 culverts in place. With the rain, the crew will be grading soon. 

ACTION Richard moved that we depart from Guilford’s regular vendor selection process to appoint Allstate Asphalt as the sole source vendor for paving the portion of Guilford Center Road from Route 5 to Tater Lane while they are already in place to repave the southern portion of Guilford Center Road, pending receipt of formal pricing not to exceed $90,000 to the Town. Verandah seconded.  All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

Planning Commission

Zon noted that the Town Plan has been accepted by Windham Regional Commission and thanked everyone in Guilford who participated in bringing the Town Plan to create this plan. 

Jeannette noted that we now have 8 years of work ahead of us to articulate priorities and create a road map to help with decision-making and authorizing use of funds. She is pursuing a municipal planning grant to hire a strategic planning consultant to get us there. In the past, funding has come from the ACCD, we may find other sources of funding. WRC, per Steve Lembke, suggests that the consultant can draw information from a wide range of sources with the assistance of a consultant.

Guilford Center Village Designation Application: since the Town Plan is finished we can apply for renewal of the Guilford Center Village Designation. Richard moved and Rusty seconded that the application for renewal be submitted to the State. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

Old Business

Extension of DuBois & King contract to 10.31.22                              2 minutes
Zon moved and Richard seconded that we extend the DuBois and King contract to 10.31.222. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

Guilford Center Bike and Pedestrian Study Report                            25 minutes
Presentation by Emily Lewis from DuBois and King of their draft final report. The final report will be posted on www.guilfordvt.gov and in the Town Office. The draft report has been sent to VTrans to review, and to Town officials. Emily will take any comments from reviewers and make revisions as needed before submitting the final report to the Town. Alternatives proposed meet ADA requirements. With regard to ongoing maintenance, Emily will research and send to Guilford this week. She welcomes questions or comments from the Planning Commission and the Selectboard.

Dan noted that, with the September paving project, the Guilford Center Road portion will include shoulders widened to the extent possible, at no extra cost.

Zon thanked DuBois and King for their work and noted that the SB will need to study this report and the recommendations. Richard noted that it was a well-done study.

Adopt Local Hazard Mitigation Plan                                                   5 minutes
Zon noted that this is a huge accomplishment. Town is now qualified to apply for ERAF money (additional funds from FEMA). ACTION Richard moved and Rusty seconded that we adopt the plan. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. (Michael noted that perhaps the number of farms listed on page 3 of the plan may be inaccurate. If that’s true, the plan will be corrected. Verandah noted that the clause refers to working dairy farms.)

New Business – NONE

Finance

Warrants                                                                                 (5 minutes)

Payroll – WE 08/14/22$7,366.86
Payroll – WE 08/21/22$6,762.85
Expense Warrant #2204$17,970.96
TOTAL$32,100.67

ACTION Verandah moved to pay the finance warrants as read. Richard seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

Other Business – NONE

Communications Richard read recent communications. 

Executive Session to discuss personnel issue 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(3) to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.

ACTION Zon moved to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel issue 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(3) to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee, and to invite Dan Zumbruski and Sheila Morse to participate. Verandah seconded.  All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

The Selectboard entered into Executive Session at 7:35

ACTION Zon moved to exit Executive Session at 8:05. Richard seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

ACTION Zon moved to post a job description for an assistant road foreman and road crew member. Richard seconded.  All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. IT was noted that we will recruit for two levels of road crew on social media town website and papers; VLCT and perhaps other relevant sites.

ACTION Zon moved and Richard seconded to form a task force to include Verandah and Michael to interview candidates. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

Action Summary from Previous Meeting – NONE

Actions Taken  – approved Village Center designation application, adopted local hazard mitigation plan, approved warrants and posting job description for road crew positions 

Actions to be Taken – review draft Bike and Pedestrian Scoping study and submit comments to Sheila to pass along to Emily. Post position opening.

Adjournment

ACTION Verandah moved to adjourn. Richard  seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:09 pm

Meeting video – https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-82222

Next Selectboard Meeting: September 12, 2022, at 6:30 pm  

Zon Eastes, Chair         _____________________________________

Michael Becker           _____________________________________

Rusty Marine              _____________________________________

Verandah Porche        _____________________________________



Richard Wizansky        ____________________________________

ARPA Advisory Committee Agenda, 08.24.2022

ARPA Advisory Committee of the Guilford Selectboard

MEETING

Wednesday, 24 August 2022, 6:30 p.m.
236 School Road, Guilford, VT, and online

Join us in person or via the Zoom app or zoom.us.
Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82591150577?pwd=QUNrSjZqSTVjZlljSzZLVHhPY3ZVUT09
Meeting ID:
825 9115 0577
Passcode:
731020
Or phone in and enter the meeting ID and passcode when prompted: (929) 205-6099

Agenda

I. Call to Order
II. Recognition of Public
III. Approval of 8.3.22 Minutes
IV. Changes to Agenda Order
V. New Business
a. Advise on Financial Management Funding
i. Strategic planning consultant (PC)
ii. Grant writer
b. Categorizing Ideas
c. Should all ideas be shared with public?
d. Next Steps / Survey
VI. Adjournment

Planning Commission Minutes, 08.17.2022

Planning Commission DRAFT Minutes
Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
236 School Rd, Guilford VT

Planning Commission members attending: Julie Holland, Charles Light, Michael Szostak, Jeannette Tokarz, Zon Eastes (Selectboard liaison)

Public: No Public

Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m.

Recognition of the Public: No Public

Rules and Procedures: No changes. Follow Roberts Rules and basic respect and civility

Changes to Agenda. None

Approval of Minutes: Michael Szostak moved to approve the minutes from the July 20, 2022 meeting and Charles Light seconded. The motion was carried unanimously.

Proposed Town Plan Revisions Members discussed additions and changes to the Town Plan sections re:

  • Abijah and Lucy Prince narrative in the historical section
  • Definition of abatement
  • Sewer/Wastewater
  • Revised 8 maps to replace outdated maps.

Mike moved to accept all of the changes and additions, Jethro seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. It was also decided that the Planning Commission would try to create hyperlinks from map references in the Town Plan to the individual map mentioned.

Followup Discussion re Joint ARPA/PC/FAC meeting of August 3, 2022 The PC members thought the August 3 rd meeting was very productive and served to clarify that the ARPA Committee would be focused on surveying the town re: the general needs and desires of the citizens re spending the ARPA funds while the Planning Commission would focus on strategic planning, both using general funds as well as seeking to leverage ARPA funds for long term planning needs. Ultimately, the disposition of ARPA funds is at the discretion of the Select Board.

Review Request for Proposal for Strategic Planning Consultant The PC members discussed the RFP and made specific changes and additions to the document. We discussed the benefits of a professional consultant vs the PC trying to do it as a DIY project–consulting with various specific experts on individual pieces, ie a wastewater engineer on sewer questions, but the consensus was that we needed a strategic planning consultant to tie together, prioritize, and most importantly, help the PC define a vision and a plan for Guilford, 5, 10, 20 years in the future. Mike motioned to accept the RFP, as modified, and Jethro seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Because of scheduling conflicts, members changed the next meeting to Wednesday, September 7 at 6:30.

Mike motioned to adjourn the meeting, Julie seconded and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:53PM.

Next Meeting: Planning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 6:30PM.

Conservation Commission Minutes, 08.18.2022

Conservation Commission Meeting
August 18, 2022

Attending: Linda Hecker, Linda Lembke, Anne Montgomery, Susan Bonthron, Marli Rabinowitz, Bill Jewell, Steve Soszynski, Bevan Quinn, Karen Murphy
Public: Patti Smith

Meeting called to order at 5:30 via Zoom.

Agenda adjusted to have Patti Smith speak first about progress on the NRI (Natural Resources Inventory).

Patti shared several draft pages and maps with us. They gave us a good idea of what the final report will look like. It will be a web-based report that can be adjusted with new findings.

The July 28 minutes accepted unanimously.

The Weeks Forest trail is in good shape but will need continued invasive plant removal. We also need to tackle the spreading poison ivy.

There was a discussion about strategic planning in the next few years and also a review of the town plan and the GCC’s stated responsibilities. More discussions will be had in future meetings.

With the help of Dan Zumbruskie and his equipment the dead elm planted last year in the field next to the town office was removed and a new replacement St. Croix elm was planted and watered.

Collaborations:
Some members of the GCC and the Guilford Historical Society are working on planning for the 250 th anniversary of the Benjamin Carpenter House (aka Pink House). The celebration for Guilford residents will be on October 1.

The Green River Watershed Alliance sent out a brochure to residents in the Green River Watershed. It is full of information and a map of the watershed. Along with the brochure is a list of events that Patti Smith will be hosting in different parts of the watershed.

The next meeting is September 15 at 5:30.

Meeting adjourned at 7.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Murphy
Clerk Guilford Conservation Commission