Accepted as Corrected_________                                          

                                                                        Accepted as Printed_______                                              

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

 

DECEMBER 6, 2010                                         5:30 PM

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                 OTHERS PRESENT:

Mike Courtemanche-Chair                                 David Andrews

Chris Howe                                                        Sally Brassor

Mike Ball                                                           Sandy Harris                                               

Robert Miller                                                      Fred Sage

                                                                           Carol Shippee

MEMBERS ABSENT:                                      Nancy Durborow

Len Howard                                                       Richard Coutant

                                                                           Mike Coughlin

                                                                           Phyllis Newton

                                                                           Carol Hammond

                                                                           Marybeth Hebert

                                                                           Susan Miller

 

 

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 5:34 pm Chair Mike Courtemanche called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

BUDGET WORKING SESSION-Department Heads

Town Clerks Budget- Sandy Harris, Town Clerk, was asked by the Board if the budget could be broken down to show all of the Assistant Clerks by each person. Sally had the figures and after some review the Board cut back the third Assistant salary.  

 

Chris Howe made the motion to go into executive session with Sally Brassor Town Treasurer and Sandy Harris Town Clerk on a personnel matter which the disclosure for at this time maybe 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 @5:42 and came out @ 5:47 and no action was taken.

 

The Board continued with the Town Clerk’s budget.

Mike Ball suggested that the salaries be listed on each budget. Mike also suggested that the Travel and Conference be lowered to $1000.00 instead of $2500.00.

The budget was over by 9.02% but after some reconsideration the Board reduced the budget to 2.99%.  

The Board thanked Sandy.

Town Treasurer Budget – Sally Brassor explained her budget in detail adding that she was going to need a new copier in the near future. With much discussion about copiers Sally will need to get more information on leasing and/or replacing the one she has. Mike Ball suggests that an assessment be done on all the copiers in the building to check the life expectancy of the existing copiers. Phyllis Newton stated that they also would like someone to check over theirs since it’s very old. Sally talked about the telephones and who had what carriers. It was suggested that they all have the same carriers to have added savings. Mike Ball suggested that it should be put out to bid at a later time. The Treasurers budget was 5.96% over and after review the budget came in at 4.9%.

 

Auditors Budget-Phyllis Newton and Carol Hammond stated that they cut their budget to be level funded. This was by changing printers for the Town Reports. The new vendor has a stricter deadline for getting things in and the Town will have to abide to that the get the lower price.

 

Listers-Sally had the figures for each Listers salary. The Board agreed that this could be level funded with the Listers have more things happening with what is happening with VY.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public comment at this time.

 

Chris Howe made the motion to go into executive session with the Town Attorney on pending litigation which the disclosure for 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 @6:43 and came out @ 7:22 and no action was taken.

 

The Board moved on with the Budgets.

 

Selectboard Budget-The Board still needs the recommendation from the Safety Committee to see what there needs will be.  The Board allowed $1500.00 for the Safety Committee for now so that something was in the budget. The budget is $742.00 less than last year’s budget.

 

Employee Benefits-With much discussion about the insurance for employees the Board moved on and opted to remove incentives for the FY2011 proposed budget. The Board will need to wait for the FICA to come in to finish the budget.

 

General Expenses- The Board cut the Secretaries Floaters Salary to level fund this budget.

 

Building and Grounds-Mike Coughlin. The budget is as it stands.

 

Seniors- Carol Shippee. Mike Courtemanche asked Carol about seniors from other towns using the bus. Carol stated that if they pay the membership they get the same benefits. With much discussion to keep the budget level funded the Board made some suggests to the seniors. The seniors requested the Board to take under consideration to grant them $500.00 more for postages and cards. The Board level funded the budget.

 

Police Department Budget-Chief Marybeth Hebert reported that salaries could not be reduced due to it being harder to employ part-time officers.  The budget is over because of grade adjustments which are out of their control. The budget is as it stands.

The Board reviewed the Highway Department Budget again and Chris will talk to David Walker about the Salt line.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS

Robert Miller made the motion to approve warrants

 12S/G $117,605.98 and 49S $13021.18.

Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Chris Howe made the motion for the Board to sign the Wellness document. Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Chris Howe made the motion to include Vernon’s Fire Chief and Assistant in the gift cards distributions for all the volunteering that they to for the Town.  Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Fire Warden-

Chris Howe made the motion to recommend adding a third Fire Warden to the Town of Vernon. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried. With 3 ayes and 1 abstaining.            

 

MINUTE APPROVAL

November 15, 2011

Mike Ball made the motion to accept the November 15, 2010 minutes as written. Robert Miller seconded the motion.

 The motion was rescinded due to corrections not stated in the motion.

Robert Miller made to motion to rescind the motion to accept the minute due to corrections. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Mike Ball made the motion to accept the November 15, 2010 minutes with the following corrections: Mr. Dickerson to Dickson, under Planning Commission last sentence to read, With the changes to be done to the Town Plan and the possible closing of VY more work will be necessary. In next motion to include: A friendly amendment was made to also authorize the entire Board to sign later in the document. Also add that Mike Ball returned to the meeting. Spelling of Police Officer to Kris Johnson.  Robert Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.

November 29, 2010

Chris Howe made the motion to accept the minutes of November 29, 2010 as printed. Mike Ball seconded the motion.

 

Chris Howe made the motion to go into executive session on a personnel matter which the disclosure for 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 @9:02 and came out @ 9:14 and no action was taken.

 

NEW/OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The Board tableted these items due to time to another meeting.

 

MEDIA-

No Media at this time.

 

Chris Howe made the motion to adjourn. Mike Ball seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

 Adjourned @ 9:14 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Elaine Howard

 

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