Ludlow public meetings in 2020
11 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Village Trustees
The Ludlow Village Trustees voted to hold the 2021 Village Meeting via Australian ballot due to COVID-19, with a virtual informational meeting. They also discussed a state grant for the High Street Water/Sewer project, noting the upcoming bond vote.
- Approved Australian ballot for Village Meeting
- Set Village Meeting for March 23, 2021, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Scheduled virtual informational meeting for March 22, 2021, 6 p.m.
- State grant of $549,470 for High Street Water/Sewer project
- Bond vote scheduled for January 12, 2021
Select Board
The Ludlow Select Board held a budget workshop to review the FY2022 budget, which is essentially level-funded with a total of $4,076,367.60 to be raised in taxes, down $6,495.40 from the previous year. They discussed a clerical error in the ambulance budget that increases the needed amount to $312,000, affecting the tax rate by about $0.02. The board also considered options for the town assessor/listers but decided to keep the current setup and budget unchanged for now. The board reached consensus on the budget to present, with final approval expected at a later meeting.
- FY2022 budget total to be raised in taxes: $4,076,367.60, down $6,495.40
- Ambulance budget clerical error: deficit spending increased from $242,000 to $312,000
- New $5,000 for Black River High School facilities maintenance capital fund
- $18,760 for asbestos removal at Black River Academy building
- Discussed options for town assessor vs. listers; no change to budget
Water Commission
The Ludlow Water Commission held a special meeting and budget workshop to review the FY2022 budget, discussing increases in testing, debt payments for the High Street Water project, and other line items. They also approved purchasing $50 gift cards for staff and officials in lieu of the annual Christmas party due to COVID, and entered executive session to discuss personnel.
- Approved $50 gift cards for staff, employees, elected officials, officers, board members, and commissioners
- Discussed FY2022 budget, including increased testing costs ($1,000 and $460 for state-required tests)
- High Street Water project debt payments estimated at $4,800/year for 30 years
- Water mains spending: $10,790 this past year, $5,200 previous year
- Entered executive session for personnel; authorized chairman to discuss manager review
Village Trustees
The Ludlow Village Board of Trustees held a special meeting and budget workshop to review the FY2022 village and wastewater budgets. They approved $50 holiday gift cards for staff and officials in lieu of the annual Christmas party, and discussed various budget items including audits, street maintenance, and wastewater operations. The board also entered executive session to discuss personnel.
- Approved $50 gift cards for staff, employees, elected officials, officers, board members, and commissioners
- Discussed FY2022 budget, including $7,000 audit for Wastewater Treatment Facility and High Street Project
- Noted PILOT payment from state for train station and railroad properties was $67, down from $500
- Discussed potential paving of sidewalks on Mill and Meadow Streets, deferred due to $12,000 deficit last year
- Wastewater budget includes $175,000 first bond payment for plant upgrade project
Select Board
The Ludlow Select Board approved a $22,025 contract with Springfield Fence for the dog park, set the 2021 Town Meeting vote via Australian ballot with a virtual informational meeting, and discussed the FY2022 budget including highway, transfer station, and fire department items. The board also approved the Sidehill Cronchers snowmobile club road use request and designated two members to sign warrants during COVID restrictions.
- Awarded dog park fence contract to Springfield Fence for $22,025
- Approved Town Meeting vote via Australian ballot on March 2, 2021, with virtual informational meeting on February 22, 2021
- Approved Sidehill Cronchers snowmobile club road crossing and maintenance request for 2020-2021 season
- Designated Brett Sanderson (with Justin Hyjek as backup) to sign warrants during COVID
- Discussed FY2022 budget: highway maintenance position, transfer station staffing, fire department equipment
Water Commission
The Ludlow Water Commission held its regular meeting, approving prior minutes and discussing several operational items. Key topics included a property owner's request to enlarge a water main on Meadow Street, an update on the rescheduled High Street bond vote, and a decision to hold off on any wastewater rate increase. The board also discussed reducing warrant signatures due to COVID and reviewed participation in the state's arrearage assistance program.
- Meadow Street property owner requests water main size increase; discussion deferred to next meeting pending cost and scope info
- High Street bond vote rescheduled to Jan. 12, 2021, with informational meeting Jan. 5, 2021 via Zoom
- Board agrees not to raise wastewater rates at this time; will review before July bills
- COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program: 7 of 25 eligible residential properties applied; $750 water-side value approved
- Board to consider reducing warrant signatures next month due to COVID restrictions
Village Trustees
The Ludlow Village Trustees discussed the upcoming High Street infrastructure bond vote, which has been rescheduled to January 12, 2021, with an informational meeting on January 5. They also reviewed wastewater rates, decided to postpone any rate changes, and discussed the FY2022 budget workshop schedule. The board received updates on the COVID-19 arrearage assistance program and the completed wastewater treatment facility upgrade.
- High Street bond vote rescheduled to Jan 12, 2021; informational meeting Jan 5 via Zoom
- Wastewater rates raised 5% in July; no further increase now, revisit in May/June
- COVID-19 arrearage assistance: 7 of 25 eligible residential properties applied; 5 approved, 3 pending
- Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade 100% complete; punch list remains
- Delinquent tax list down to 11 properties totaling about $60,000
Village Trustees
The Board of Trustees approved a warning for a Special Village Meeting scheduled for January 12, 2021. The meeting will address issuing bonds up to $990,000 for water, sewer, and storm water system improvements on High Street.
- Approval of warning for Special Village Meeting on January 12, 2021
- Proposed bond issuance not to exceed $990,000 for High Street infrastructure
- Approval of Declaration of Intent to allow advancing and reimbursing project costs
Select Board
The Ludlow Select Board held a budget workshop to review the draft FY2022 budget, which is up about 0.4% from last year. They discussed departmental budgets including police, parks and recreation, buildings and grounds, town clerk, planning, fire, and highway. They also discussed the possibility of using Australian ballot voting for the March 2021 Town Meeting.
- Police cruiser purchase: $40,000, offset by $5,000 trade-in, net $35,000 increase
- Parks and Recreation revenue down due to COVID and school takeover of summer camp; skate park resurfacing considered from capital funds
- Town Clerk land records portal now online, cost $1,200/year, with $40,000 in vault preservation fund
- Fire Department equipment/trucks line item up from $27,000 to $30,000; aerial platform about 25 years old, replacement cost ~$1,000,000
- Reappraisal budget overrun: $280,000 for regular, $28,000 for mountain, short $49,000
Water Commission
The Ludlow Water Commission approved a water allocation change for 34 Pleasant Street, converting a 2-family dwelling to a single-family with 5 bedrooms. They also approved an amendment to the Town & Village purchasing policy regarding bid openings. Updates were given on the High Street Project and bond vote, and the next meeting is set for December 1.
- Approved water allocation change for 34 Pleasant Street (Libretto)
- Approved amendment to Town & Village Purchasing Policy (bid opening process)
- Discussed High Street Project and bond vote outreach
- Noted about 35 fire hydrants out of service; discussed testing
- Set next meeting for December 1, 2020
Select Board
The Ludlow Select Board approved an emergency repair of the Vail Bridge deck by Daniels Construction for $7,700, with the town providing equipment and labor. They also reviewed an engineering study for the flood-prone Miele property at 6 Commonwealth Avenue, discussed options including a FEMA buyout, and approved several routine items such as a liquor license, a lease change with Okemo, and an amended personnel manual.
- Awarded Vail Bridge emergency repair to Daniels Construction for $7,700
- Reviewed engineering study for 6 Commonwealth Avenue (Miele property) with options including retaining wall ($20K), foundation replacement ($60-90K), regrading ($10-15K), and FEMA buyout ($50K)
- Approved Stearns Pit lease with Okemo on a per diem basis
- Approved amended Personnel Rules & Policy Manual with HR attorney recommendations
- Approved amendment to Town Purchasing Policy to require public bid openings