Killington Select Board approves $900,000 Operating Note and $3,000 for fire station site investigation

Mountain Times

July 7, 2016

KILLINGTON — Last Wednesday, June 29, at 9 a.m. the Killington Select Board gathered for a special meeting at the Town Offices. Board Members Chris Bianchi and Ken Lee were present as well as Town Manger Debby Schwartz and Chet Hagenbarth, highway and facilities director. Additional members of the community present, included Steve Finer, Jim Haff, Vito Rasenas, Roger Rivera and Andy Salamon.

The meeting primarily consisted of two agenda items: Review and approval of operating note in the amount of $900,000 and the approval of expenditure of funds for fire station site investigation. Both were approved.

Based on conversations with the bank, it is the town’s intention to repay the note immediately after receipt of the first quarter taxes in August, Town Manger Debby Schwartz explained. Chris Bianchi offered additional clarification saying that because the town is taking out this note within the Fiscal Year, which ends on June 30, it is an Operating Note versus a Tax Anticipation Note.  However, the reason for the note is no different as in past years, when a similar loan has been requested, he said.

A vote on the motion to approve the Operating Note in the amount of $900,000 was unanimously approved.

With regards to the funds for further investigation into a fire station, Schwartz provided a brief background on this project noting that various sites have been identified and then prioritized for further investigation.

Chet Hagenbarth, highway and facilities director, explained that a few months ago, there was a request made for $1,800 to do a building layout on one of the sites. Because one of the top site involves potentially two lots, Hagenbarth would like to do a survey to see how much of the land is useable, identify the expansion capabilities, and to determine the orientation for the fire trucks. In order to do a wetlands survey, topo and conceptual layout, Hagenbarth requested that the board approve a not-to-exceed expenditure in the amount of $3,000 instead of the $1,800 originally requested and approved. He added that the Fire Department would be contributing $1,500 of the expenditure with the remainder coming from the town.

Andy Salamon advised that the Committee looked at two different footprints for the new Fire House and suggested that a conceptual layout be done for both noting that the Williamstown model was the one preferred by the Committee. Salamon also raised questions regarding signalization at the proposed site entrance and at the Killington Road/Route 4 intersection. Hagenbarth responded that if there is any type of traffic signalization, it will be determined by VTrans and they will design it and will provide partial funding.

The expenditure of $3,000 for the Fire Station Site Investigation was unanimously approved.

Fire Station Funds