The Pittsford Selectboard’s Oct. 21 meeting covered, among other topics, consideration of a local option tax, funding for Kendall Hill Bridge repairs, the need for sidewalk construction along Route 7, a presentation by T-Mobile on the results of a balloon test performed at the cell tower, and the possible creation of an e-bike/scooter ordinance.

Local option tax

Reed reached out to the State of Vermont to get an estimate of how much revenue Pittsford could generate through a local option tax, an additional tax on certain sales, meals, and lodging that municipalities can impose to raise revenue for local needs. The estimate came to $164,000 annually. 

Malay explained that revenue from a local option tax could reduce the amount the town needs to raise through property taxes while providing additional funding for road paving and other infrastructure projects, such as the Kendall Hill bridge repairs.

According to Reed, the question now is how to present the proposal to voters at Town Meeting and get it on the ballot in time for next year’s voting. Reed noted each tax — sales, meals, and rooms — can be presented separately, or they can be grouped into one.

Selectboard member Thomas Hooker noted anytime people hear about a tax, “they get scared and say ‘I don’t want no more taxes.’”

Public comment was made by Ed Brutkoski, who expressed concern that it would be another tax on citizens.

Reed will work on refining the tax data, creating an informational brochure to share with residents, and getting the proposal on the ballot for a vote in 2027. 

Kendall Hill bridge concerns

Selectboard member Dan Adams relayed that he has heard complaints from people who run trucks on Kendall Hill Road about the condition of the bridge there.

Town Manager Ann Reed noted that the estimated $800,000 project will cover redoing joints, painting, greasing, and other necessary repairs. Pittsford has received a $200,000 structures grant and has another $400,000 in its bridge repair fund, leaving $200,000 still to be secured. 

Chair Alicia Malay noted that the remaining $200,000 would be a budget-busting tab for the town, so the outside funding sources will need to be found before the work can proceed.

Reed said she has a contractor ready to begin next spring or summer, providing the remaining funding can be secured.

Route 7 sidewalk improvements face uncertainty

Referring to the previous selectboard meeting, Malay raised the question of the town potentially taking over Route 7 through the village for the purpose of installing sidewalks. The town already has control of the sidewalks along Route 7 but still needs a permit from the state anytime they want to work on them.

Reed quoted Brian Sanderson of VTrans: “The town already controls the sidewalks and is responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. However, any work done on them will require an (S1111) permit except for snow removal.”

Pittsford road foreman Chad Eugair noted that the town can perform emergency work and notify VTrans afterward.

The larger issue concerns sidewalks along Route 7 between the Catholic church and the village green. The Vermont Agency of Transportation is expected to repave that section of Route 7 as part of its Segment 2 construction project, potentially tearing up any sidewalks the town installs in the meantime.

Reed expressed concern that the shortening of the Segment 4 project could affect the timing and scope of Segment 2 in ways that are not yet known.

Malay expressed frustration that continued delays in Segment 2 planning have made it difficult for the town to schedule sidewalk improvements. Segment 2 is not expected to begin until at least 2038, and it could be delayed even further.

Resident Chris Szczerba asked whether the town could recover money spent on sidewalk improvements if VTrans later tears them up during Segment 2 construction.

Malay agreed that the question was worth asking, but said she was not optimistic that the state would agree to such an arrangement.

Eugair noted that the town has enough granite curbing to extend from Field Avenue to Furnace Brook Church and suggested adding a crosswalk between the end of Furnace Road and Field Avenue.

Balloon test results

John Springer, legal counsel for T-Mobile, presented the results of a balloon test conducted at the proposed communications tower site  at 1406 Sangamon Road to show how visible the tower would be from surrounding areas

The tower is currently 78 feet tall and has no antennas, and the cellular coverage in town is weak. T-Mobile is seeking approval from the Vermont Public Utility Commission via a certificate of public good to extend the tower to 100 feet above ground level and add 3 antennas.

Springer’s goal was to get the selectboard’s approval, given that the balloon was not visible from any of the locations, and to file the actual petition for the certificate of public good the following week.

Adams noted that the balloon test was performed when the trees were fully leafed out and was concerned about how this might change when the leaves are off the trees.

The board stated that they had no objections at this time but reserved the right to raise objections in the future if necessary.

E-Bike/scooter ordinance

Malay noted the selectboard has started discussing formulating an e-bike/scooter ordinance due to residents’ concerns about unsafe operation of such vehicles.

Reed shared information with selectboard members about e-bike and scooter classifications, as well as the ordinance that the Town of Burlington has formulated for dealing with this growing issue. She also mentioned that Burlington has a formal bicycle and pedestrian committee and is taking the issue seriously.

Malay is going to reach out to the police chief to see if they can have an officer patrol near Kamuda’s when school gets out around 3 p.m.

Combating engine brake noise

Resident Tom Pipeling raised concerns about excessive noise created by truckers using engine brakes while traveling through town. He agreed with Malay that the situation has improved, saying, “only two trucks in the last two days have shaken the house, but for the most part this past week hasn’t been as bad.”

Pipeling also shared feedback he has received: “If the speed limit is 25 mph in the curve by Kamuda’s, they shouldn’t need to be braking that hard and creating that nuisance.”

Szczerba said the noise is also an issue near his home and suggested that making speed limits more consistent near the bridge might help. He noted that many towns have noise ordinances, but they are nearly impossible to enforce.

Szczerba also recommended signage using a “polite-ask approach,” explaining, “It’s a Swiss cheese approach where no one thing is going to fix it. Every slice has holes in it, but when you stack them on top of each other you get some semblance of moving in the right direction.”

Hooker recommended stricter enforcement of speed limits through town, particularly where speed limits decrease.