Vernon Selectboard Minutes 1/17/11

 

                                                                                Accepted as Corrected_________                                          

                                                                        Accepted as Printed_______                                              

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

 

JANUARY 17, 2011                                         6:30 PM

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                 OTHERS PRESENT:

Mike Courtemanche-Chair                                 David Andrews

Chris Howe                                                        Sally Brassor

Mike Ball                                                           David Walker                                              

Len Howard                                                      Annette Roydon

                                                                                                           

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Robert Miller

                                                                                      

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 6:31 pm Chair Mike Courtemanche called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public comment at this time.

 

MINUTE APPROVAL

 

January 3, 2011

Len Howard made the motion to accept the January 3, 2011 minutes as written. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

January 10, 2011

Chris Howe made the motion to accept the January 10, 2011 minutes as written. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS

Len Howard made the motion to approve warrants

 15S/G accounts payable $102,149.75 and 2S payroll $11,645.44.

Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Mike Courtemanche conveyed to Sally what was discussed last week about the questions she had with the IBPO contract. Sally would prefer that someone go over the contract with her to answer all her questions.

 

Sally also wanted to bring to attention the bill received for the Cemetery. Should she hold the bid and wait for the three bids for pay it and get the proper documents at a later date. The Board stated that she should pay the bill.

 

Sally stated that there is also an issue with the credit cards. The board conveyed that the policy should be followed and the liaison with talk to the department. 

 

Mike Ball made the motion to go into executive session with Sally Brassor, Town Treasurer on a personnel matter, which the disclosure of at this time may be detrimental to the Town and/or individuals involved. Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Mike Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 7:01 and came out at 7:20 and no action was taken.

 

Copiers-

After much discussion, Mike Ball will create an RFP with bid specifications to put the copier project out to bid.  Once this is completed the Board will review.

Telephone Expenses-

The Board had reviewed all the telephone expenses and learned that there are many different plans and that could be combined to save the Town money. The Fire Department conveyed that they consolidated their phone expenses to Comcast in order to get more cost effective service plan. Not knowing what contracts each department has and for how long, it was decided the Board would invite representatives from each company to speak to department heads and put together proposals for the entire town.

The Board thanked Sally.

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT-

Annette Roydon stated to the Board that the Rapid Response Plan needed to be updated.  This is required by the state and there is much information in our current plan that is inaccurate. Annette will get copies to everyone and in two weeks she will get input from the Board.

The Board thanked Annette.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT-

Fire Chief David Andrews gave the Board an update of ongoing items happening at the fire station. The Cascade should be arriving by the end of the month, the new officers are in place and bids for the renovation on the kitchen and bath are in the works.

 

Fire Chief David Andrews stated that he also is working on a proposal for setting the underground water storage tanks on town property where the museum is located. It seemed like the most logical place at that end of town since there is no water source to fight any mishaps that could happen. David has met with the Vernon Historians with the proposal and received overwhelming support on the project. The Board approves this project and thanked David for the update. On another note the 60th anniversary for the Fire Department is coming up this summer. 

The Board thanked David.

 

NEW/OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Highway Department

David Walker presented the bids for the alarm system for the Highway Department. David conveyed that Code 3 is only going to replace any conduit that is needed. The funding source has not been established therefore it would come out of the Emergency Capital Plan. David had no issue with either vendor. 

 

Chris Howe made the motion to accept the lower bid from Code 3 Products, option one, pending insurance requirements and pending acceptance agreement on the conduit that would be replaced. Len Howard seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

David Walker received a call from a person wanting to be a substitute bus driver. David will talk to Cookie about this.

 

Mike Ball made the motion to go into executive session with David Walker on a contractual matter, which the disclosure of at this time may be detrimental to the Town and/or individuals involved. Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Mike Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 8:10 and came out at 8:15 and no action was taken.

 

Governor Hunt Sidewalks- The Board conveyed the motion to David regarding the sidewalks and David conveyed that he just wanted that stated in the job descriptions.

 

Snow Plowing-

David conveyed that a mess was left a day after the storm where a resident plowed the snow across the road. The Highway department just wants the residents to clean up the road when they plow across the road.

The Board thanked David.

 

Lobbyists

The Board needs a motion to renew the contract for the lobbyists.

 

Mike Ball made the motion to continue with the Lobbyists Miller and Smith for this legislative session pending response from Mike Hebert and Patty O’Donnell. Len Howard seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Selectboard Secretary-

The Selectboard Secretary has announced her resignation effective February 28th, 2011. The Board members stated that an ad with be placed as soon as possible.

 

Rescue Inc.

Mike Ball stated that the forth quarter report is out and if anyone needed a representative  from Rescue to speak at Town Meeting. The Board conveyed that there are no issues presently and if any arose a meeting with Rescue would be requested.  The board also conveyed the need for Vernon to have a representative on the Rescue board.

 

New Year Appointments-

Post cards with go out in the mail to see if everyone who has volunteered for a committee is still willing to continue. 

 

Budget Session with the School Board will be February 7th at the Vernon School.

 

Mike Ball made the motion to finalize the Budget as presented. Len Howard seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Len Howard made the motion to finalize the Capital Plan as presented.  Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

MEDIA-

No media present at this time.

 

Len Howard made the motion to adjourn. Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

 Adjourned @ 8:38 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Elaine Howard

 

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