Vernon Selectboard Minutes

 

                                                                                Accepted as Corrected_________                                          

                                                                        Accepted as Printed_______                                              

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

 

OCTOBER 18, 2010                                         6:30 PM

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                              OTHERS PRESENT:         

Chris Howe                                                        Sally Brassor

Mike Ball                                                           Sandy Harris                                               

Robert Miller                                                      Fred Sage

Mike Courtemanche                                           Stanley Sage

Len Howard                                                       David Andrews      

OTHERS PRESENT:                                     Mike Coughlin        

Tom Fox                                                             David Walker

Seth Deyo                                                          Marylynn Scherlin

Phyllis Newton

 

 

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 6:32 pm Chair Mike Courtemanche called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Len Howard made the motion to move to New/Old Business Cemetery Deeds with Sandy Harris. Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

            Cemetery Deeds-

Len Howard made the motion to approve and sign cemetery deeds for Lot 257-258 north, Lot 155 site F and Lot 511-515 in Tyler Cemetery. Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

The Board continued back in order on the agenda.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public comment at this time.

 

MINUTE APPROVAL

10/4/10

Chris Howe made the motion to accept the October 4th, 2010 minutes with corrections to omit on page 3 Bills and Warrants which are shown on page one already. Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried with 3 ayes and 2 abstentions.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT

David Andrews stated that he received five bids and needs to go over each one. The Board will revisit the bids at the next meeting. David will provide a summary of all of the bids to the board prior to the next meeting.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS

Robert Miller made the motion to approve warrants

8S/G for $67,652.27 accounts payable,

41S for $11,041.16 for payroll and

42S for $10,794.49 for payroll.

Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

          Credit Card Policy-

The Board already approved the policy and will sign off on the policy.

Town Treasurer Sally Brassor stated that the credit card statement may come in at a time when the Board has not met to sign warrants and asked what was the Board’s pleasure?

 

Mike Ball made the motion to allow Sally to get approval via e-mail to pay the credit card statement. Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Sally stated that she received a letter from Martin Towing in reference to an Environmental Hazard to the property were the abandoned car was recovered. The Board had turned that issue over to the Town Attorney and Mike Courtemanche will follow up on that.

Sally also stated that Vermont Yankee has not reimbursed the town for the Fireworks as of yet. Mike Courtemanche stated he would contract Larry Smith.

          PD/IBPO-

Hold until Police Chief arrives.

Sally has had a brief conversation with the Richards Group about short term Disability Insurance.

          Doc Send-

With much discussion about maybe getting quotes to hire out the task of scanning documents and the extent of the paperwork needed to be done. The Board continued on.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMITTEE

            Goals and Expectations-

It was determined that the Department Head meetings needed to move forward with what the Board expectations were. The problem stems from lack of communication between the Board and the Department Heads.  Some goals would be to improve communications between the Board and Department Heads and to set some goals together.          

            Moving Forward-

The Board would like to have updates from Department Heads on a monthly basis.

Job Descriptions issues need to be brought to the Selectboard.

            Budgets-

No official statement has come out about COLA as of yet.

The Board requested that the Department Heads level fund their budgets. All budgets need to be turned in to Sally November 22, 2010 along with any articles by December 6th.

The Board thanked all the Department heads that attended.

            Parking Lot Lighting Update-

Mike Coughlin stated that he has talked with David Walker about changing the light bulbs. The problem would be if the balis or repairs need to be done David would not be able to do that. Mike Coughlin stated that he hires someone to do that already and they were just there replacing some bulbs. 

The Board thanked Mike Coughlin.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Chris Howe made the motion to go into executive session on a contractual matter with Town Treasurer Sally Brassor and Police Chief Marybeth Hebert which the disclosure of at this time may be detrimental to the Town and/or individuals involved. Len Howard seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Mike Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 8:00 and came out at 8:20 and no action was taken.

 

Marybeth updated the Board about the computers and radios. The radios are in and working great, also the computers are currently being installed. Also the Explorers program is starting up with much success.

 

Policy on care of Dog and Cats-

Mike Ball made the motion to abolish the policy on Maintenance of Dog House and Care of Dogs. Chris Howe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Policy on the handling of injured Cats and Dogs-

Len Howard made the motion to abolish the Handling of Injured Cats and Dogs. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

The Board thanked Marybeth.

 

            CEMETERY COMMITTEE-

Caretaker job will be put to bid since it was extended an extra year last year.

The painting of the fence will also be put out to bid in accordance to the bid policy.

            HUCKLE HILL HOUSING-

After some discussion about sharing the cost of a generator the Board felt that it was not the Towns responsibility.

 

NEW/OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS

            Foyer Update-

Jeremy Coleman offered to present the plans at the next town meeting. It was the consensus of the Board to use the plans that they already have and do the presentation themselves.   

 

Mike Ball made the motion to purchase the Lockbox for the Town Office for $150.00 to come out of the Town Office maintenance budget.  Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

            Forest Fire Warden-

The Forest Fire Warden has resigned the Board will discuss this with the Fire Chief.

            Personnel Policies-

The Board liked the level of detail that the Town of Brattleboro has with their personnel policies. Mike Ball would take on the task of going over the Brattleboro policy and marking it up for the Board to review.

            BCTV-

Mike Ball stated that the sound issues might be from Comcast. Mike Courtemanche stated that according to BCTV it is a Comcast issue. The issue should be brought to Comcast attention.

            Rescue Contract-

Mike Ball will scan and send to all the Board members to review.

            Cell Phone Numbers-

Chris will get a listing from Sally on cell phone numbers that are currently being paid for by the town.  It is the opinion of the Selectboard that in the event someone needs to be contacted a list of numbers be available.

 

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

Mike Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 9:04 and came out at 9:20 and no action was taken.

 

MEDIA-

No Media at this time.

 

Mike Ball made the motion to adjourn. Len Howard seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

 Adjourned @ 9:22 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Elaine Howard

 

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