Vernon Selectboard Mtg.                                                                 12/7/09   

 

                                                                                                                

                                                                          Accepted as Printed 12/21/09

                                              

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

DECEMBER 7, 2009                                     6:00 PM

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                 OTHERS PRESENT:                        

Mike Ball -Chair                                             Olga Peters     

Mike Courtemanche                                        Chris Garofolo                                               

Lynda Starorypinski 6:20                               Linda Shippee                                                

Robert Miller Jr.                                              David Andrews

Len Howard                                                    Annette Roydon

                                                                        Patty O’Donnell

                                                                        Michael McKenney

                                                                        Sally Brassor

                                   

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A PERSONNEL MATTER, WHICH THE DISCLOSURE OF AT THIS TIME MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE TOWN AND/OR THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.           

            Mike Ball stated that the Board went into executive session @ 6:18 and came out             @ 6:33 and no action was taken.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE DELIBERATIVE DOCUMENT COPIES OF WHICH WILL BE SENT TO BOTH ATTORNEY’S.  LEN HOWARD SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO ALLOW CHAIRMAN MIKE BALL SIGN THE INDEMNIFICATION LETTER FOR OUR PACIF ATTORNEY’S. LEN HOWARD SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 6:38 pm Chair Mike Ball called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO LISTEN TO RICHARD CLARK. LYNDA STARORYPINSKI SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

           

            Richard Clark stated that he came to talk to the selectboard about the Guilford-     Vernon Town Line at Broad Brook Road and Lowry Road. The Town of Guilford           is looking to share the expense of having Thomas Wagener, Land Surveyor        perform deed and town line research to establish recorded documentation. With             much discussion about where the money would come from the Board felt this        was beneficial to the town. The Board would check with the Treasurer on the      balance in the legal services fund and would let Mr. Clark know on the      December 21st meeting.

The Board thanked Richard Clark.

 

MINUTE APPROVAL-

            11/16/09

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 16TH

 MINUTES AS WRITTEN. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH MIKE COURTEMANCHE ABSTAINTING.

            11/23/09

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 23rd

MINUTES AS WRITTEN. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS-

            Lynda Starorypinski conveyed that a check got sent to a wrong vendor by mistake            and Sally was working on getting the money back from the wrong vendor. Lynda             also stated that the town’s workman’s compensation was up 33%, which is very      high. This also ties in   with having a Wellness committee and getting all             employees on board to cut back on employee’s claims.

             Lynda Starorypinski stated that another red flag is the bills was for the 8 reams of            paper for $58.00 and that there should be a better process for buying such items to    lower the costs.

With much discussion on the bills the Board moved on.

 

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE WARRANTS 10SG, 46S, 47S AND 48S. LEN HOWARD SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

            WELLNESS COMMITTEE

            Sally stated that the Wellness coordinators are Linda Shippee and Sharon   Richardson. The committee has had a couple of meets already and after taking a       survey of everyone and what they wanted to do with the money the committee has       decided  to purchase a Wii. Most people also wanted to get a piece of equipment   but needed a place to put it. Sally mentioned that the board room might house the        equipment. The committee expects receiving $3,000 in funds. Sally conveyed that          there are 13 people signed up. The Board members agreed to let the committee             use the board room.

            ACTUARY RECOMMENDATION

            It is the Boards goal to explore this more and discuss this on the December 21st      meeting.

            TIME SHEETS

             Mike Courtemanche stated that while doing bills and warrants he had noticed       that only a few town employees actually file time cards that show actual hours     worked. Some only show total hours. In light of the current lawsuit he felt that the            town is being put in a vulnerable situation in the way hours worked are tracked.           The vision that the Board would like is to have everyone working together as a      whole. Mike Courtemanche stated that an elected official should be bound by the          town’s personnel policies. Sally is not in a position to check all time reports. It   was discussed to have Sally and Lynda get together to find out what departments    are currently doing and to make sure everyone it doing the same all around.

            SIGN INSURANCE COVERAGE

            The Board mulled over options for the sign coverage and decided to include the    coverage for the town signs and leave the deductible as it stands to $1,000.00.

 

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO INCLUDE TO THE INSURANCE COVERAGE THE SIGNS AT $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLE WITH AN INCREASE OF 127.00 FOR THE premium. LYNDA STARORYPINSKI SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

            pERSONAL EVALUATION AND MERIT RAISE

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE A MOTION TO RATIFY THE MOTION THAT THE 3% COLA INCREASE THAT EMPLOYEE’S ALREADY RECIEVED FROM JULY 1, 2009 IS THE MERIT RAISE WITH ON OTHER INCREASES. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. 

 

Lynda starorypinski made the motion to grant kyle vinton an increase of .14 cents from november 16th forward. robert miller seconded the motion. the motion carried.         

 

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE THE MOTION TO TAKE THE EOC REQUEST OUT OF ORDER ON THE AGENDA. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

EOC REQUEST

            Annette Roydon, Patty O’Donnell and Mike McKenney presented the board with             the news that Entergy would like to let the EOC use the property at 298 Governor           Hunt Road. Entergy would pay all expenses plus construction to remodel.  Mike            Ball stated that he checked with the town attorney and everything looks good.  A      move in date would be around January 11th of 2010.

 

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO HAVE VICE CHAIR MIKE COURTEMANCHE SIGN THE AGREEMENT WITH ENTERGY FOR THE USE OF THE BUILDING AT 298 GOVERNOR HUNT ROAD.LYNDA STARORYPINSKI SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH MIKE BALL ABSTAINING.

 

The Board thanked Entergy.

 

The Board continued with the Lobbyist on the agenda.

 

LOBBYIST

            Patty O’Donnell stated that the Lobbyist is very important to the Town of             Vernon. She recommends that the Town continue with them. Vernon had hired           the Lobbyist for the last legislative session and need to reaffirm for the next   session.  Patty O’Donnell stated that for the best interest of Vernon the Lobbyist   would effectively support the Towns goals.  

 

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION FOR VICE CHAIR MIKE COURTEMANCHE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT TO RETAIN THE LOBBYIST FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION. MIKE COURTEMANCHE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

    

The Board thanked Patty O’Donnell.

 

ALICE J. BROOKS

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH SALLY BRASSOR ON A PERSONNEL MATTER, WHICH THE DISCLOSURE OF AT THIS TIME MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE TOWN AND/OR THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Mike Ball stated that the board went into executive session @ 8:07 and came out @ 8:20 and no action was taken.

 

CEMETERY DEED

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO SIGN THE CEMETERY DEED LOT 137 D FOR DOUGLAS GLEASON. LEN HOWARD SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

The board thanked Sally.

 

CARPET UPDATE

The Board would revisit this on December 21, 2009.

 

WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

            Mike Courtemanche stated that WSWM is looking to receive a 1% increase in        their budget. The Town of Vernon would be charged per population a $292.00 increase.  With inflation and the economy, the Board thought that to be         reasonable.  Mike Courtemanche would be at their next meeting and let the            board know if there are any changes in their budget.

 

LEN HOWARD MADE THE MOTION TO ALLOW MIKE COURTEMANCHE AT THE WSWM MEETING TO VOTE FOR THE 1% INCREASE. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.  

 

NEW/UNFINISHED BUSINESS

            Joint Schoolboard/Selectboard meeting is scheduled for December 14, 2009 at       6:30 at the Vernon Elementary School.

            Safety Committee- Mike Ball would send a memo attached with the approved       policy to all departments.

            Foyer- The Board stated that the foyer would stay the course as approved by the   voters: exterior only and interior would be done at a later date.

            Composting Program- Mike Courtemanche stated that this was the best weekend for the project and that there needs to be more advertising. One item to think           about besides advertising is how the composting rangers will stay dry if they     continue with this project. Mike Courtemanche asked the Board to consider           continuing with the project but needs to work on the other obstacles.

 

The Board thanked Mike Courtemanche for his effort with the project.

 

            Holiday “Gifts”- Mike Ball stated that all gifts have been distributed.

            Flood Plan by-Laws- The Board set the date January 11th at 7:00 to go over the     Flood Plan By-Laws.

            E-Mails- The Board discussed having all the e-mails put on the web-site after the   minutes are approved.

            Storm Water Discharge- Mike Ball would discuss this with David Walker.

 

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A PERSONNEL MATTER, WHICH THE DISCLOSURE OF AT THIS TIME MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE TOWN AND/OR THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. LEN HOWARD SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Mike Ball stated that the board had entered into executive session @ 8:54 and came out @ 9:18 and no action was taken. 

 

MEDIA-

            Olga Peters and Chris Garofolo left the meeting prior to Media.

 

mike courtemanche made the motion to adjourn. robert miller seconded the motion. THE motion carried.

 Adjourned @9:20 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by _____________    Elaine Howard

 

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