Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Anderson  called for a moment of silence for the victims and families of the Las Vegas Massacre. Town council members present: Jim Perkins, Lula Price, Tim Nottingham and Shirley Miller. PWD Mike Ventling, Chief of Police Ralph Dawson, Town Clerk Brenda Kansala and Town Attorney Hope Freeman were present.

 

Review and Adopt Agenda: Motion by Price and seconded by Perkins to approve the agenda as written. Approved unanimously.

 

Public Comment (For those items Not on the agenda): Tammy Taylor discussed the water rates of other towns which she pulled off the internet and gave a handout to clerk to give to council. Randy Wike discussed letters they (the.fromberg.advocacy.com) received from the town. He also discussed letters given to the town which were not received by them and he is curious as to what happened to those letters because they have them. He asked if town functions under Roberts Rules of Orders and they mayor said yes. Mr. Wike discussed sargent at arms, times he thought police chief had removed people from meetings and employee handbook.

 

Minutes: Motion by Perkins and seconded by Price to approve the minutes of the Regular Town Council Meeting of September 11, 2017. Approved unanimously. Motion by Miller and seconded by Nottingham to approve the minutes of the 7 PM Special Town Council Meeting of September 18, 2017. Approved unanimously. Motion by Nottingham and seconded by Perkins to approve the minutes of the 7:15 PM Special Town Council Meeting September 18, 2017. Approved unanimously. Motion by Price and seconded by Perkins to approve the 7:30 Budget Workshop Notes of September 18, 2017. Approved unanimously. Motion by Nottingham and seconded by Miller to approve the minutes of the Special Town Council Meeting of September 21, 2017. Approved unanimously.

 

Bills: Motion by Price and seconded by Perkins to accept the bills as presented. Approved unanimously.

 

Employee Reports:

Clerk report was read aloud by town clerk. Council received usage/billing summary, billing journal summary, accounts receivable summary, collections history, tax voucher detail, revenue voucher detail, combined check register, copy of Bank of Bridger bank statements, statement of expenditure budget vs actual and statement of revenue budget vs actual as reports. Motion by Miller and seconded by Nottingham to accept the clerk report as presented. Approved unanimously.

 

Public works report by Mike Ventling: Had to shut water off for a couple of hours while repairing water leak on Lovers Lane as water was coming up thru the street and did tie in for gentleman building log cabin. Weather permitting as authorized by mayor will put down 100 tons of asphalt on Lovers Lane. Discussion held on windows and doors for town shop. Bid for windows was $810.00. Motion by Nottingham and seconded by Perkins to have new windows put in at town shop. Approved unanimously. Ventling will check on pricing for new doors. Discussion held on curb stops. Motion by Price and seconded by Nottingham to approve the PWD report as presented. Approved unanimously.

 

Police report by Chief Ralph Dawson: Discussion held on two reports of trespass at the school, report of broken window at residence on east side of town, five agency assists, reports of animal control and citations given, served subpoena, complaints of tree/brush encroachment, report of children playing in street failing to yield to traffic talked to parents, removed two deer carcass from highway, parking congestion north end of 3rd Avenue is gone, visited with an elderly female in a no parking zone at the post office and complaint of motor vehicle blocking a driveway by the school. Discussion on meetings and trainings attended and upcoming trainings. Mileage sheet included. Motion by Price and seconded by Miller to approve the police report and the purchase of practice ammo for the month of September. Approved unanimously.

 

Correspondence: Mayor Anderson read aloud a letter received September 27, 2017 from the.fromberg. advocacy.com. Stating they did receive copies of correspondence to Mayor and/or town Council received from January 1, 2017 thru August 7, 2017 as requested but stated a letter they have was not in our copies of correspondence we sent to them. Mayor stated if they have name of person, date or other information regarding this letter let us know. Mayor Anderson stated the town does not make a record of phone calls and the town does not give out any information regarding any investigations. Mayor Anderson did read aloud another letter received September 21, 2017 from the.fromberg.advocacy.com requesting constituent letters to the Mayor and/or Town Council of Fromberg, Mt. from January 1, 2016 thru December 31, 2016 stating they will be glad to pay the costs of copies. Mayor Anderson said clerk can send these letters out. Mayor Anderson read aloud a letter from Tammy Taylor regarding the Barley Field area which she states could be deemed hazardous with a very large propane tank and junk cars being buried there. Mayor Anderson asked Marge Taylor to try to be more specific. Discussion held.

 

Zoning Committee: None.

 

Resolution #471 - A Resolution Amending Resolution # 468 Authorizing Additional Project Funding: Mayor Anderson read this header aloud and held discussion. Motion by Price and seconded by Miller to approve Resolution # 471 to Amend Resolution # 468. Approved unanimously.

 

Resolution #472 - A Resolution to Approve A Quitclaim Deed: Mayor Anderson read this resolution aloud. Discussion held. Motion by Nottingham and seconded by Miller to approve this Quitclaim Deed as read. Approved by council. Perkins abstained. Motion passed.

 

School Street Stop Signs. Discussion held. Motion by Miller and seconded by Price to accept the removal of the School Street stop signs. Approved unanimously.

 

Bid Opening - Land For Sale - Barley Field: Nottingham said he thinks council should wait and let new mayor and new council deal with this property. Mayor said did advertise for these bids and states sealed bids will be opened at this meeting. Not accepting bids tonight opening them. Mayor said three issues about this property. Something could be buried there. Possible ball field encroachment appears to be on corner piece of this property and found a resolution from the 1970's annexing this property into the town  but not  filed. Attorney Freeman will check into this and will file annexation paperwork. Attorney Freeman said has always been town property and now is within the town limits. Discussion held. Mayor asked if anyone who gave a bid would like to withdraw before bids are open. No reply. First bid opened was from Phil Lambert who was present with a bid of $16,502.00. Second bid was from Wayne Vargas who was present with a bid of $52,257.00. Those were the only two bids given at this time. Discussion held. Mayor Anderson said will do more checking on this property and should have more information at the next council meeting.

 

Resolution # 473 – A Resolution Approving The Town Of Fromberg 2017 – 2018 Budget As Attached And Labeled As Town Of Fromberg Final 2017 – 2018 Budget:  Discussion held. Mayor Anderson stated Judge Schara was hired in 2015 and by state law her term is 4 years and will expire November 2018. Budget cuts were discussed. Motion by Nottingham to cut Chief of Police Ralph Dawson to twenty hours per week. No second. Miller abstained. Motion fails. Motion by Nottingham to pass the budget with no pay increases seconded by Miller. Nay by Perkins and nay by Price. Tie. Mayor Anderson broke the tie with nay. Motion not passed. Motion by Price and seconded by Perkins to adopt the budget and include a 2 percent wage increase for employees. Nay by Nottingham. Motion carries. Mayor Anderson read Resolution #473 aloud. Motion by Price and seconded by Perkins to approve Resolution # 473 as read. Nay by Nottingham. Motion carries.

 

Old Business: Mayor Anderson said to date we have no applicants for town attorney and Attorney Freeman said she will stay until the town finds a replacement. Randy Wike voiced his opinion regarding correspondence sent to the town and town surveys. Discussion held.

 

Next Regular Town Council Meeting Date: Monday, November 6, 2017 at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall of Fromberg.

 

Adjourn: Motion by Price and seconded by Miller to adjourn the meeting.  Approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned.