MINUTES
Morgan Select Board Meeting
Held on January 25, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
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Present: R. Miller chair
L. Labor
R. Guyer
Guest: Shawn Austin (road commissioner)
Previous minutes: reviewed and accepted as read.
Shawn presented two road budgets for the upcoming year. The two proposals
differ in that one is the traditional where the employees are paid for by the
town based on time worked for the town and he pays a portion of the FICA and
taxes etc. The town incurs the liability for any workman’s comp issues if
there are injuries etc. and the town incurs the OSHA and VOSHA compliance
liabilities. We are not insured for the latter, and the former is expensive.
The employees also do not accrue benefits when working on town time.
After lengthy discussion of the merits of the two budgets, it was decided to
go with the 2nd proposal, it is more expensive in the short term, but as the
workman’s comp risk decline so does the premium, unfortunately it is always a
year behind. Shawn’s business will be responsible for the DOT testing, for
the insurance premiums increase, and for compliance with the OSHA and VOSHA
regulations.
The total cost for the town to go from a employer based to a contracted basis
for road services will be about $8,000.00 more than the traditional method,
but will cut back significantly on the town’s liability exposure.
As the State increases it inspection frequency more and more towns are
experiencing significant fines for non-compliance with the regulations. Just
one fine will offset any of the savings by going the traditional way.
The new budget to be placed in the Town meeting budget will therefore be
$198,200.00. vs. $184,500.00.
Communications and notices:
1. A letter from the Drift Dusters snowmobile club requesting the town to open
the Morgan-Charleston road to snowmobiles during the regular season was
received. The request comes on behalf of several Morgan residents who do not
live near a VAST trail and must trailer their machines until the lake has
safely frozen. This would be treated just like the Mead Hill Road that is
opened for a 3-mile stretch from the North part of town.
After discussion the board voted to open the road.
2. The 2010 Highway Mileage Certificate was filled out and signed.
3. A letter was received from Frankie Holdings defining the parcels of land in
the Round top Development that he is interested in obtaining. Discussion
followed. Diane Moore (lister) has completed her research of the parcels and
the Board has approved including the request to sell in the articles of
warning for the Town meeting in March.
4. The balance of the meeting was devoted to finishing up the budget.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Submitted by L.Labor