 Chester Select Board Meeting, July 11th, 2022. We have posted the agenda in three places around town on our website and have emailed our list of interested persons, so we are all legal to have our meeting. We are going to institute the five minute rule with this meeting. When we get into a discussion, we can have five full minutes, which actually is quite a long time, to voice your opinion, and then we move on, and once other people spoke, you can get a whole nother five minutes. We have read the prior minutes for our June 27th, 2022 Select Board Meeting. I saw no errors. Neither. So I move that we accept these minutes. I seconded that motion. All in favor. All right. And they will be posted. First on our list was Zach Kamakis, who does not seem to be here, so we'll move that later in case he's running late. Our first guest of the meeting would be Pat Gendron, and I believe you are here to discuss a driveway permit. I am. And she thought on the 16th I applied and paid $50. And I checked the minutes, and I don't know how to put $50, but there was no DA or NA on the driveway permit. And then last year I came in on 9, 17 of 21, and somebody told me that I didn't need to actually spend the $50 again. So I didn't, and there was no action taking. So I'm here at night to see what I had to do to get some action. I'm holding a permit for driveway construction that I'm assuming you filled out that was dated July 9th, 2021. Oh, excuse me, maybe it was July. I don't actually have it. I do have it here, but right here. The first one was issued. I mean, I can actually show you a few. I've got one. Okay, yeah, that was on 7, 9, 21. Yes. All right, sorry. Okay, we're all on the same page. Oh, the original one was back on 16. I understand that. Perfect. So, Frank and Chyman on this, I think we have some positive news for you, so. Basically, the lot was pre-existing, and there's no way that the town didn't hold anything to block you out of there. So your permit's gonna be granted when the condition that it's only one house because of the slope and all that. And I think if you go to subdivide it, I believe the fire department would have say over how steep that is and whether or not you could do that. And that would all be through zoning. But I've talked to John about the driveway and he's good with it. Just based on one house. Right, yep. If you go through zoning and you subdivide it, as one lot, you can only build one house on it anyway through zoning, regardless of the size of the lot. You have to subdivide it all in order to put two houses or two houses on that. So, basically that's the way it is. And I've started that procedure already. Yeah, and so that's all through zoning. That's nothing to do with us. I'm sorry, go ahead. No, go ahead. Well, I just have a question because I do have the Vermont standards here for residential and commercial drives. And I have an engineer that's on the job over there that has been for the last year and a half, maybe two years. And I'm meeting those standards. Well, that's a zoning issue with that. I mean, we're granting you a driveway permit. And that's what we're doing. That's all we can do. We don't have any jurisdiction over the rest of it. Okay. So that later being, maybe I'll get on the agenda. Not through us, it's all through zoning. Yeah, and then you got to go through subdivision standards and all that. And they'll, the fire department will have to weigh in on whether they can service that as it's, as that. So, and that'll be all through zoning. There's nothing else that's like more needs to be involved with on that. And then so, and so far as issuing is that good tomorrow or? Oh yeah, we'll sign it today. I put it in my hands, there was also a sign. Yes, John's going to put a, is going to want to get a sign up there for blind driveway. There probably should have been one there anyway for Steve's in the, been for years. And we always were amazed at value. It was able to go in when they built that house, but. Well, there used to be a mirror across the road. So that people coming out could see it. They don't last long in any situation. Not through the weather. Maybe come with target, basically. So that's it, I mean. I appreciate that. Yep, good. I see that there was some work done at the bottom for drainage. Yeah. To help with drainage. That's what we've been working on, mainly, really. And so I think that that is something until it's well established that we'll need to have some baby sitting along the way, keep an eye on it as the seasons change. Well, right now, to be honest with you, just so you guys know, I know it's a different deal, it's not zoning, but we have cut to where these apply. I mean, they came out, staked it, and we dug to it. So that approach is technically 35 feet back, 3% down with a crown. And the state of Vermont is acceptable, whether there's five or 10. I'm just talking about my baby, the bottom of Bethlehem Mountain Grove that took a year of my life away. Six months of my life away, and I don't wanna make sure that I don't need to do that again. I understand completely. That's all I'm saying. I understand. They marked out the road, so it looks like they're gonna put bigger culverts in, I'm assuming, across the town right there. No, they're not doing anything there. They just marked culverts where they were. Where they just were paint. Yeah, well, he's got, the program is looking at the culverts every year. He has a rotation that he does, so he keeps an eye on what's going on there. We actually went one size larger culverts on everything the engineer told us, just in case a stick down the way. It was cheap insurance, that's why I told Pat. He spent money to do it, so every single culvert on the whole road is over-sized. They're actually bigger than the town culverts across the road. I don't know if you know what you could get. You have to get a slice bigger than that. They're not a lot of culverts in the world right now. Okay. So you're happy? Okay. I am. I appreciate it. We would still be waiting for student signature who was on his way back, he should be back in a couple of days. But we've got two out of three. We're good to go. I thank you. You're welcome. Good luck. Yes. Okay. And you don't have to stay for long, even if you're not too. Well, I'm curious what's up on the agenda tonight. Okay. So there is something on our agenda called Review Chargers Report. We have decided that we want to review that we're the full board here. It is something that our auditors have asked us to do. And since we are going to be starting a new process, we want to make sure that all three of us are here. So we're going to forward that to our next new day. If that's okay with it. And the next thing on our new business is the White River Alliance asking permission for use to the parking lot for hazardous waste day, September 17th from 8 a.m. to noon. That is a permit that we have. The only snapple on this is they request the town constable for the day and that we will be reimbursed for his time from the Solid Waste District. Right. And it's just that one day that they're asking for. Right. It's like a four hour stint, eight to 12 a.m. Yeah, eight to 12. Is that the same day that we have trash and recycling? Yes. So they share the lot. They share the lot. So they want the constable to direct traffic as the way I read this letter. So they can set the lot up. How they do anyway. So they can do hazardous waste all at the same time. And they can do hazardous waste over on this side. Is that it? Yeah. So you want to make a motion to accept this? Yes, I'd like to make a motion to accept the hazardous waste day collection event to fold into the same day as our trash recycling. That is the same day, right? Except it's every Saturday. That is the harvest Saturday. Okay, yep, correct. I second that motion. All in favor. All right. All right. There's a good one. Yeah, it's not the same day as the harvest day. Oh, excuse me. Yes, Martha. Yes. The next item is harvest of my car permit application and it's typed out. Someone put in September 12th, but I'm sure I filled out September 10th on the form. Okay. Yep. I see that. The correct date is September 10th. Yeah. That's what I'm looking for. You got that right? Yes. It's on here September 10th. Okay. Okay. Yep, you did it correct, Martha. Yeah. Okay, thank you. The agenda has a mistake of being September 12th. We're changing that to September 10th. I don't think that that would prevent us from taking action. Throughout the years, there has been no objection to the harvest fair. So I learned that we accept the application for use of the town park and allow the harvest fair to happen. I second that. Thank you. Thank you. All in favor. All right. All right. And you missed at the top of the new business with music net and compos. Is there a reason for the note? The people that were visiting us are not here. Okay. I'm sorry. Thank you. And the last thing on our new business agenda is quarter potty removal discussion. We have been taking inventory of quarter potties that we have located around town. We also are taking note of the cost of those quarter potties. Also the fact that we have so many that every once in a while one shows up missing. So that cost may be borne on the town to replace the missing quarter potty. So if anybody around here knows of a quarter potty that showed up on their property. One that's missing is gray. It belongs to the town and we'd like to have it back. That said, it did make us realize that we are a little over budget on quarter potty and we'd like to have a discussion about the location of them, the seasons of them. And if there's something we can do to maybe bring that cost down a little bit. Where we have them right now? Yes. We have one at these bridge. We have one on the park. And the ADA accessible at the firehouse has been opened. That's open like during the summer. And then we had one at the Little League field behind the high school. And then we had that one moved to the tennis courts. And that was the one that was stolen. And so now they've brought another one and we delivered to the tennis court. So there's a total of five that we pay for. We're still paying for the one that was stolen. Beans Park, Firehouse, and Tennis Court. Yeah, that's, yes. So the big part. I think the one at the firehouse, the ADA one is was a requirement for the park, I believe, down there. Is that correct? I think not. The park, right? Yes. So that was, we changed it. I'd love to get rid of it. I'd love to get rid of it. I'd love to get rid of it too. I'd love to get rid of it too. But I don't think we can with it because it was part of that. I think it was part of the grant. What part of that changing that to a park, I think? So these gizmos don't have beaters on them. So we really don't know exactly how much usage they get. So I guess the discussion surrounds the park versus Beans Bridge Park. Does the Port-A-Potty-Up Beans Bridge get a lot of use? Can it be removed? Or just open for discussion, folks? Well, we've just encouraged all kinds of people to go and hang out around Beans Bridge, all the bike racers and things like that. I know they sometimes bring their own. But there are lots of people who stop at Beans Bridge. I'm not disputing. And I guess I would ask another question. Did the fee on the Port-A-Potty-Skill-Up, which is why we're now spending so much money? Always go, yes. The fee on the Port-A-Potty-Sills went up as well as they're charging more of a delivery cost. And when they come, they have a fuel surcharge. I don't blame them? Yeah, totally. But that's what's happening. And I think the one that we put on the park was placed there because of the COVID. And there was not access to potty facilities. And there still is not. So we're just bringing this up as time goes by. Well, I think you see that the park one gets a huge amount of use. Yeah, I'm sure about that. Pick a chew-up or something to say on there. Nick, let's hear what you have to say. He doesn't like it. Yes, this is about actually the use that that Port-A-Potty gets. We, you know, we're wondering if there would be some discussion around possibly moving the Port-A-Potty to a different location on the park. It's become quite an invasive for us because we were so close to it. And there's a lot of strange people that are out of our house all the time and that's not really that much of a hardship. But it's, you know, we're constantly hearing that the doors slam and it's, and then, you know, the smell when they come and clean it out, it's not very pleasant. We're wondering if there was something else, if there was another option. And if, you know, if you're needing a Port-A-Potty to be put somewhere else, I would recommend that one. You recommend what? That one. Oh, that one. I'm putting it somewhere up on the floor. Where would you recommend me to put two on the park? Two on the park? Where would you like it to move to? Oh, you know, I don't know. That's what I'd like to discuss. Is there anywhere else that on the park did it? That would anybody, that people would feel comfortable with? I mean, is there a problem with having it on the park, like maybe right next to the bandstand or something, or, you know, or, you know, maybe even moving to the other side of the park. I understand you. You know, we're just wondering why it has to be right in front of our, I know it's not directly in front of our house, but it's close enough that it's, so we're wondering if anybody could, if anybody wanted to have, no, open a discussion about that, would we like to see if anybody would be able to move in at somewhere else? Okay, let me just ask one more question based on the comments that you said. Are you thinking that because we have a porta potty on the park that it's inviting strange people to hang out on the park, is that the insinuation there? I'd say it's bringing people, people that normally would just be driving through are stopping, you know, and I don't know how much it's really like when people stop, when they come through and say, ooh, porta potty, and they use the porta potty and then they, oh, look, a park, and then they stay and enjoy the park. I'm not sure how often that's happening. People are just kind of driving through and using the porta potty and taking off. And sometimes there's people that people have to hang out. Sometimes there's a line of talks. And it's just, you know, it's not that big a deal. It's just that we, you know, it's sometimes when we're out in front of our house, it makes it a little harder to enjoy being out there with, you're just kind of seeing people walking in and out of a porta potty, hearing that door slam and, you know, it's just, you know, so I'm wondering if it could be put anywhere else, I mean, if it has to be there, if there's a reason that it has to be right there, we understand, and we can live with it, but if it could be moved somewhere else, we'd just see if anybody would be open to that. Okay, well, this is so noted. I have my hand raised. Hi, Burma. Hi. Two things. I think an ideal place to put the porta potty would be on the corner of Route 100 and where Bethel Mount Road comes down into town across from the gas station on that corner. It gets a lot of traffic and I think it would be a convenient place for people to stop and use it. And it wouldn't interfere so much with that householder's life and their living situation. And the other comment that I would like to ask is, can you give us the cost of what it actually costs to have a porta potty? What are the fees, the total porta potty? What are the fees, the total fees? I don't have any idea. I think there's a normal one in there. I know that there's a special one. Yeah, I saw it. I saw it. Yeah, that's the special one. I think it's like 137. I'm just trying to find. Per what? Per unit. Just a second. Per unit and then. And that's clean. Per month. Per month. Per month. That's what it was. So it's $127.50 to have it serviced. And then there's a $10 fee on top of that for delivery or fuel charge. So it's $137.50 a month for each. And you rent them for four or five months? No more than six. About six months. Yeah, it's about six. It starts with a little week and then, yeah, we get from the whole late fall. Thank you. Anyone else have an opinion about the portafilies? Well, it looks to me, if you lost your portafilies at the tennis court, the people can walk up to the fire station and use that one. You can't move the one from the fire station, right? Correct. But it's not that far. From the tennis courts? From the tennis courts up to the turnoff. It's far enough, I realize. I thought you were going to go in the car. Too far. So how much is going in the bush? Is any car in the shop? Three inches too far. Better get in the car and drive. Well, there you could do that, too. On Zoom, we have Martha and then Amy Braun. Martha, let's say it. These days since I used to be head of the park committee and don't have anybody else on it, but now. So I agree with Nick, maybe I don't live there, but I can imagine it must be bothersome for them sometimes to have it in that location. And am I understanding him correctly that where he would like it is down near the intersection of Route 100 and Bethel Mountain Road across from the skit, Mark? That's what Burma was asking. Nick was targeting behind the bandstand. OK. Up against the bandstand on the backside or side of the ground. I don't have a specific opinion about either one, but I definitely would like to keep a port of putting on the park because before we had one there, I used to hear from people who lived in the area that people were wandering and everything. And then of course, when they were looking for a place. And of course, when the pandemic happened and local places like this skit, Mark of course didn't want their restrooms used by everybody coming through, of course, and you couldn't blame them. The port of putting became all the more important. So I don't know. I would like if you're going to move it, OK, but I would love to keep one on the park if possible, not remove it from there. OK. OK. Amy Braun. Yes, can you hear me? We can hear you. OK, super. A little I remember that the Port of Potty was on the opposite side of the park on the 4th of July because I got stung by a bee when I went into the Port of Potty. So I just wanted to share that it did exist on the opposite side where no one actually lives full time. So I'll just kind of push for that. Also, just comment, you know, it is it is important that we do have these things available to people. I do think it's good to have one near Beans Bridge as well. But just also to comment that when the 4th of July happened, we were literally surrounded by Port of Potty's. There were two directly across the street. I know this. We were calling them the proliferating Port of Potty's. So we don't mean to be difficult. It's just it's really not a pleasant thing to be surrounded by Port of Potty's and then out of state cars that are pulling up and people getting out. And, you know, we do. We are the only people on the park without a porch, but we are the people who sit in our chairs and do appreciate the view. And when you have to look through Port of Potty to see the beautiful park, it's it's just gets a little bit tiresome. So maybe across the way. Amy, I want to apologize for that because I'm also director of the 4th of July parade. And they it wasn't I saw the truck come to put them in there, but I was doing other stuff. And I didn't notice where they put them until that morning. And then there was no way I could get them changed. I'm sorry. You don't need to apologize. We're here just to sort of express that, you know, that the odor sometimes and then the 3 a.m. banging of the door when people come and pee at it or whatever they're doing at it. I don't know, but because I've always had to order an extra one before the July because when we get a big crowd, we need more than one sort of, you know, okay. There's also something else about those Port of Potty's that would put there for July 4th. They were put right on the edge of the road. And so when people were coming out of there, they will walk right out onto the road. And we went just a couple of times when somebody could get clicked like coming out of the bathroom. So they should be definitely put that maybe a couple of feet back. Martha, if you want to talk, if you are able to talk to the people that are dropping those off. I'll put that in my notes for next year. Yeah, that's dangerous. They asked me if I wanted them close to the road. And I did say close to the road simply because they were right on the road. I didn't mean right on the road. They're right in the road. Maybe they must obviously, they must understand the guy following them. Okay. Everybody on Zoom is dead? I actually have a little concern about if it's rigged at the corner, if they moved it to the corner of Bethel Mountain Road and 100, the only site there would be a problem. Too much traffic on Bethel Mountain Road to have it close to that. No parking. A little history here on the Port of Potty's. When we originally put it down, we put it on the triangle part over there by the, by ITI and that didn't go over very big either. So the reason why it wound up on your side of the road over there was because we felt the phone company is a commercial building that's, there's nobody ever in there, very seldom. And that is part property. So we stuck it there thinking that was going to be easier for the more and the pumper and everything else to take care of it. We thought it was close enough and yet there was, it was on a side street that was a lot less traffic on it. So that's why that wound up there. We can review it later and think on it and try to find a solution. I hate to put it over on by the skip mark because there just is too much congestion there with the intersections and all. And I think that would be a nuisance to everyone. There's no real parking space there only on the Bethel Mountain roadside and it would lead to some confusion there. So I am not really fond of that site but I think we just need to think about it a little more and leave it at that. What do you say, Pat? I'm dedicating 2022 to Don Poop and Portapies. That's nice. There we go. Seems that's what we've been talking about all year. But yes, we will take it seriously and take a look at it and see if we can find a solution that fits everyone. As far as- Thank you. And our budget. As far as the tennis courts goes, I mean, if we need to get rid of one, that sounds like the one that would need the one to go. It's just a suggestion that Julie and I had noticed just because we were so far over budget and it's just a lot of money with prices going up spending on Portapies that we just wanted to make sure that you guys were aware of that. I think another thing that we have to take into consideration is the fact that still a lot of places aren't opening up their restrooms. Yeah. And so the community needs to have some place where someone to relieve themselves. Definitely. And these businesses are now experiencing increased water sewer rates. Yes. They aren't going to open them back up either. No, they aren't. So, you know, we have to look at a solution that we can live with. Besides the rates and the mess they leave, it's not worth it. Right, exactly. Well, they have to clean them after somebody who uses a restroom to skip them. Yeah, there are a bunch of paves in there. Yeah. They really are. The restaurants are more apt to leave theirs or let customers use them because they have to but the individual places like the skip mark, the store, the banks and in the trade union, they don't have to supply that. So we'll continually think on this. Yes, we definitely appreciate the input. Everyone, thank you. Okay, now we're going to go into our department reports. Joan is not with us this evening, so we're going to move right into the library. I see Tony's here. Yeah, we have moved our trustees meeting to the next Tuesday, I believe, not this one. It's still on Tuesdays, okay. Yeah. Is it just your next trustees meeting? Yeah, I think so. Excuse me, I couldn't hear him when the date of that was. It's the 19th. And that is only for the next meeting. It's going to be changed one week later for just this July meeting. Okay, thank you. And I guess we had an application in to use the part for the library outfit that was going to send someone from the Brewing companies. Okay, did you do some research on what those laws are? We, well, we can wait for June to get back to make a conclusive decision on it, but what we have decided or discovered or felt so far is that we do not want to encourage alcohol being served on the park. It would include, it would just open up avenues to the other buildings, the other areas and the ball fields and we don't allow alcohol anywhere on town property officially. So we do have to stick to what our decision was at the last meeting. Okay, well, I didn't feel that there was a decision at the last meeting. It was sort of like, well, let's wait and see. And, you know, this is something that should be, should be obvious to people if they only want to know about this kind of thing. It's not just let's just do it now and then. We don't really feel that we can approve it on, let's say, a liability basis. I understand that you were having a licensed bartender there, but we would be the facility, the facilitator for the event and it still doesn't sit right with us to allow it. Okay, my point is that this should be in writing in some way so that people can understand this. I'm not sure how important this was. I don't know that it was. I think the trigger is being pulled that it will be a nightmare. Very good, because we also had, you know, another case with the library again some time ago that we were asked to go running around to get the signatures and so on and we didn't feel that was correct, it was proper and all as a real part of this panel. And if that's good, we looked at the paperwork then and there was really nothing there that made sense. So, you know, it's just kind of nice to know and be able to know ahead of time. Well, we certainly didn't have any problem approving any of the other available elements. Right, I think you're right. I'm not denying that. There wasn't an issue with the fire department at one time, is that correct, Terry? What about? With the help, when we used to have beer in the firehouse there, we had to- Insurance company, shut that down. Yeah, that's kind of- So we just don't want to allow it. I would think with Elma Holland's panel supported fund, the insurance company would probably look down on us for even thinking about it. So I would think that that's the real reason and I'll look into that down the road because I do want to address use of the park and clean up the ordinance and make some different rules there on how uses should be used for use there. All right, thanks. So that is up on the agenda at some point. Probably get to it this winter. We do not have anyone from the highway department with us, but we do have Terry Severi from the utilities department. Anything new to report to us? We had a survey today from the state for the water system. A survey? Same Terry survey. Everything was good. And that is septic? Three, no, water. Water. Every three years we have to get them before they give you a call. Well, that's good. That's good news. Yeah, the only problem is that it's one hydrant that we argue about a lot. So we gotta write a letter. Are the reservoirs in good shape? Yeah, we had that inspection last year. Time folks, water is looking good in our town. Is it? Yep. And I believe on our camera we have our energy coordinator, Jeff Gephardt. Hi, not much to report, but just back to pick off on vacation and stopped in at the town garage and measured the wall between the... Just back to pick off on vacation and to look for you. Stopped in at the town garage and measured the wall between the unconditioned space so that I can figure out an assembly that will hold a little heat in that building. Well, I'll get that worked up and have it for you hopefully for your next meeting. Okay, and that will have pricing with it as well. Is that what you're saying? Well, it'll be pricing on materials. Okay. Excuse me, Jeff. What was this for at the town garage or measuring space at the town garage? But I can't remember what it was for originally. The wall between the conditions space, the work space and where the trucks are parked and the unconditioned space towards the ball fields, the three bays there has once had insulation on it. It has few scraps left, but it's almost all uninsulated and I'm sure on the air seal. So it's a very big heat loss. It won't take care of all the heat loss that's happening in the building, but it's a start to pick away some of the things we can do. Okay, so basically it's a space in the town garage that needs new insulation to stop heat loss. Yep. Okay, thank you. Sorry. Got it, Martha. That's it. And that's it for me. Thanks. That was asking us to make it known. I should say make it known that the Secretary of State Office on July 1st this has redistricted the Senate seats. And Robert wanted to call attention to the town's voters that we have changed districts with that. We are now part of Addison County. And Robert felt that there just was not a lot of input or publicity from voters. And wanted to make it a point that if there were to be more discussion, which this is kind of a done deal. So I don't think that we can do or say a whole lot about it, but to raise awareness for in 10 years when this comes around again, perhaps. But he had some concerns that this happened without input from towns. We didn't have any input. We did for the House. We did, but we did not fix that. So that is his discussion and he is not here. We also do not have Zach, Kavakis and Jake. So I guess we will tangle that since we're not quite sure what their discussion was for our next meeting. Is there anything else that we want to discuss tonight? Well, I move that we adjourn the meeting. I second that motion. All in favor? All right. Thank you. We are going to pay some bills and streets.