Approved as written:                          

                                                                                                Approved as corrected:_____           

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

SPECIAL MEETING AT 7:00PM

DRAFT MINUTES

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                            OTHERS PRESENT:

Michael Courtemanche – Chair                                 Catrina Lawley - Secretary

Christiane Howe – Vice Chair                                                Howard Fairman

Patricia O’Donnell                                                       John Nebelski

Michael Ball                                                                Michael Drexlee

Robert Miller, Jr.(7:10pm)                                          Val LaBelle

                                                                                    Marylynn Scherlin

OTHERS PRESENT:                                                            Martin Langeveld

Courtney Sojka - Police Dept.                                    Bruce Gauld – Police Dept.

Matthew Stains – Police Dept                                                Ann Doe

Cindy & Tim Martel                                                     Kym & Bob Goodnow

Kris Johnston- Police Dept.                                        Frank Hildreth

Daniel & Becca Blake – Police Dept.                         Paula E.

Cam Nesbitt                                                                Richard Nesbitt

John                                                                            Police Chief MaryBeth Herbert (7:34pm)

                                                                                   

MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

 

MEDIA

Chris Garofalo – Brattleboro Reformer                                             

                                                                   

 

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chair Michael Courtemanche called the meeting to order at 7:05pm, welcomed those present and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

At this time, Courtemanche stated that although there was not a public participation portion of the meeting, he would allow the public to speak for a short period of time.

 

Courtemanche started the meeting by announcing the resignation of Police Chief MaryBeth Herbert.  Courtemanche read the resignation letter that was received by the Board.  The letter thanked the Selectboard and announced that she was looking forward to her retiring from the Police Department to be effective November 11, 2011.

 

Two weeks ago, an officer tendered his resignation.  There is already two other police officers out on medical leave and one on light duty.  This has put a strain on the department.

 

Courtemanche commented that at the last Selectboard Meeting, the Board received a request from the Police Chief to hire a part time officer.  The Police Chief was not present for that meeting, as she was sick and unable to attend.  Her liaison, Michael Ball, was not at the meeting at the time of the discussion and was not able to convey the importance of the position.  Two weeks prior to the meeting, another department had approached the Board about hiring someone for a position without following the proper hiring procedures.  It is the Board’s position that the Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer and that the proper procedures needed to be followed.  When the Police Chief’s request came in, the Board neither approved or disapproved the request rather stated that the position needed to be vetted through the proper hiring procedures.  It was the consensus of the Board that the Sherriff Department and the State Police could be utilized during the process time.

 

At this point in the meeting (7:10pm), Robert Miller, Jr entered the meeting.

 

At this point, Bruce Gauld and Becca Jones pointed out that that Chief did not have to obtain permission from the Board to hire.  Per the Personnel Policy, she can hire without their approval but she did so out of respect and willingness to work with the Selectboard.

 

Michael Ball, the liaison for the Police Chief, said that the Police Chief is getting frustrated. As a department head, she sees that there are not that many qualified individuals in her field.  The State Police and Sherriff’s Department is having the same problem and there is a time hold up, not being able to send applicants to the Police Academy until March 2012.  The Chief felt that she had a qualified applicant and so she made the recommendation which was not approved by the Board.

 

Patricia O’Donnell mentioned that she had spoken with Sherriff Clark and his department is willing to help but they are having troubles with staffing and that all of the communities are going to have to band together to make things work for everyone.

 

Ball said that because of the March 2012 issue, the Board needs to decide how the Town can get coverage, how to move forward and what is in the best interest of the Town.  He feels that it is not in the best interest of the Town for the Police Chief to retire, but he will honor her decision and move forward.

 

Several individuals spoke up on support of having Police Chief Herbert staying.  They stated that she was willing to stay, but she was not present to announce that for herself at that time. The public was concerned about the lack of support that they felt the Chief was receiving at a time of emergency. Gauld commented that the position had been put out to the public under the proper personnel channels.

 

Courtemanche stated that MaryBeth needs to voice that for herself and he could not go on what was not confirmed.

 

Courtney Sojka, a part time officer off on medical leave, stated that to lose a chief of this caliber, someone that cares about the Town, the people and the Department, would be a shame.  He felt that the Town should bend and give all that it has to give in order to keep her.  Pursuing her would be well worth it.

 

O’Donnell clarified that the Board was not told how important it was to hire someone immediately prior to the last meeting.  Many people in town are not happy with the way people are being hired.  The Board was not advised that MaryBeth had put an ad out and did not see one.  O’Donnell stated that she stands by her decision and she will not beg anyone to work for the Town, rather people should feel lucky to work for Vernon as it is one heck of a town.

 

At this time in the meeting (7:34pm), Police Chief MaryBeth Herbert entered the meeting.

 

Police Chief MaryBeth Herbert announced that she truly appreciated the support and that she truly cares about everyone there.  She was hoping that things would change but she just is not sure that they will.  There is a dire need in her department for the part time officer.  She just had an officer work 28 hours during the snowstorm and make two arrests with no backup.  Her recommendation is for an officer that is ready to go.

 

Herbert felt that she also needed to address the issue that keeps coming up that she was not in attendance at the last Selectboard Meeting.  She was sick, due to not being able to take any time off and she trusted her liaison would be able to relay the importance of her request.  She did confirm that she would be willing to consider staying on.

 

O’Donnell responded that Herbert should have let the other members of the Board know about the emergency nature of her request.

 

Herbert stated that her department is short staffed and she just needs help from the Board.

 

Some people in the audience felt that the Selectboard should have known already the seriousness of the situation without having to be told.

 

Mr. Fairman asked for clarification as to why the recommendation was discussed at the meeting in executive session, rather than in the open forum.  It was clarified that it was a personnel issue and could not be discussed openly.

 

People clearly were in support of accepting Herbert’s recommendation, even as a temporary measure and to supporting Herbert to stay on as Police Chief.

 

Christiane Howe asked Herbert if she would go into executive session with the Board to discuss the recommendations and see if she would consider staying.

 

A MOTION WAS MADE AT 7:41PM BY CHRISTIANE HOWE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH POLICE CHIEF MARYBETH HERBERT TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH AT THIS TIME MIGHT BE DETRIMENTIAL TO THE TOWN AND/OR THE INDIVIDUAL(S) INVOLVED.  O’DONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED AT 8:35PM WITH NO ACTION TAKEN.

Courtemanche stated that the Board and Chief Herbert had a fruitful discussion and that Herbert was going to present a listof recommendation to the Board at the next meeting on Monday, November 7, 2011.  If at that time, if everyone can reach an agreement Herbert will withdraw her resignation.

This met with the approval of the public that was present.

 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY MICHAEL BALL TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  MOTION SECONDED BY CHRISTIANE HOWE.  MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

                                                           

                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted by:

 

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Catrina Lawley, Secretary

 

It should be noted that the DVD recording from this meeting will not be available due to technical issues.  BCTV was unable to get a backup recording either, again due to technical problems with their recording as well.

 

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