Accepted as Corrected________
Accepted
as Printed__________
March 21, 2011 6:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS
PRESENT:
Mike Courtemanche, Chair Howard
Fairman
Christiane Howe Chris
Garafalo
Patricia O’Donnell David
Andrews
Robert Miller, Jr. David
Walker
Michael Ball Mark
Snow
Marylynn Scherlin
Sally Brassor
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WELCOME & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The
meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Mike Courtemanche. He welcomed those present and led them in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Howard
Fairman asked if there was news about the Lobbyists and Chairman Courtemanche
said he had received information from them, that he is going through it and it
will be available at the Town Clerks’s Office hopefully this week. Mr. Fairman stated that he has a more deeply
researched version of the handout on the Lobbyists that he provided to the
Selectboard last week. Copies of the new
handout were given to the Secretary for distribution to the Selectboard. This
will be provided for publication in the Vernon Newspaper as well. Mike Courtemanche had hoped to get a blurb
into the Newspaper regarding the information he had received, but he didn’t
think he would have time.
MINUTE
APPROVAL
Mike
Ball noted that the word “them” should be added after led in the second sentence. He also felt the word “mitigation” should be
used rather than “litigation”. Under Public Comment, the intent of Mr.
Fairman’s comments regarding the lobbyists—that there needed to be better
accountability by the lobbyists to the Selectboard-- was not included in the
minutes. Mike C noted that Robert
Spencer and Annette Roydon had been omitted from the list of others present. Christiane added that the page numbers, date
and “Vernon Selectboard Meeting” should be at the top of each of the pages of
the minutes.
Christiane Howe made a motion to approve
the minutes of the March 7, 2011 meeting as corrected. Mike Ball seconded. The motion carried.
BILLS & WARRANTS
Robert Miller made a motion to accept
and pay the following warrants:
20 SG
Acct’s Payable $
1,104,476.63
11 S
Payroll $ 23,099.25
12 S
Payroll $ 11,606.31
Mike Ball seconded. The motion carried.
The
Treasurer asked if a meeting will be held with the IBPO and Mike C. said that
he has petitioned their representative to meet with Sally and Cindy, the
Selectboard, all of the police officers, and with their representative to lay
down the ground rules in how the communication lines work, etc. Hopefully other
specifics can be ironed out that are not so clearly stated in the existing
contract. Sally stated that Bruce had
brought another request for outside detail and he asked if he should be
approving it. Sally requested that the Board
approve the officer rate at $50 per hour and administration fee of $20 for a
total of $70 and this particular detail will begin on April 27. The Vernon Personnel Policy states $25 for the
officer and $20 for administrative costs.
It was felt that since this outside detail will not take place until September,
2012, the rates should stay the same as stated in the Personnel Policy. Also, the Board has hired Matthew Stain as a
full time officer but there was no mention in the March 1st meeting minutes at
what step or grade he would start.
Michael Ball stated that it was recommended that he would be started at
step 3 based on his previous experience.
Sally
asked for an executive session for a contractual matter and a second executive
session also.
Chris Howe made a motion that the Board
go into executive session with the Treasurer, Sally Brassor, on a contractual
matter, the disclosure of which at this time might be detrimental to the town
and/or individual(s) involved. Michael
Ball seconded. The motion carried.
Mike
Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 7:02 p.m. and
came out at 7:14 p.m. and no action was taken.
Chris Howe made a motion that the Board
go into executive session with the Treasurer, Sally Brassor, on a personal
matter, the disclosure of which at this time might be detrimental to the town
and/or individual(s) involved. Michael
Ball seconded. The motion carried.
Mike
Courtemanche stated that the Board went into executive session at 7:15 p.m. and
came out at 7:40 p.m. and no action was taken.
FIRE DEPARTMENT—Chief David Andrews
Chief
Andrews gave the Board updated figures on the kitchen and bathroom renovations
at the Fire Station. The three bids
received were in the amounts of $37,919.00, $38,539.00, and $32,190.00. The bid of $32,190.00 is a $9,645.00 decrease
from the previous lowest bid and was submitted by Renaud Brothers. The funding source
for the kitchen and bath is money raised by articles at Town Meeting last
year--$18,000 for the kitchen and $7,500 for the bathroom. There was also money set aside in the
operating budget of $7,000 with $12,000 to come from the Vernon Fire
Association in the form of a grant. Those funds total $44,500.00
On
the expense side, there is the bid from Renaud Brothers of $32,190 plus $5,310
for appliances, overhead lights, paint, etc. plus $7,000 for cabinets which
totals $44,500.00. Based on this
information, Chief Andrews made the recommendation that the Board approve the
bid from Renaud Brothers for the kitchen and bathroom renovation at the rate of
$32,190.00.
Christiane Howe made a motion to accept
the bid for the Fire Department from Renaud Brothers in the amount of
$32,190.00. Patty O’Donnell
seconded. The motion carried.
Chief
Andrews stated that a car wash will be held April 17, 2011, to benefit the
Explorers, the proceeds of which will go to the Fire Association to purchase
turn out gear for the Explorers. Also, there will be a Car Wash the third
Saturday of each month during the warm months.
There are 5 Explorers at this time and the cost of turn out gear for
them is about $800 per person which includes the tops and bottoms, helmets,
boots and gloves.
On
Wednesday, March 23rd, there will be a training event entitled the
“Art of Reading Smoke”. All surrounding
departments have been invited to send representatives to view the video
presentation that shows repeated scenes of various fires in different states to
‘read’ the smoke to see what is happening, how its happening, the color of the
smoke, and the force with which the smoke is coming out, all of which helps
determine what is going on inside. After
that training event, it would be a good time for anyone interested to come to
the Fire Station and see what it looks like now and the changes that are going
on presently. It would also be a good
time to observe how the team works together.
The
Board is also invited to come to an event that the Fire Department will be
hosting at the
This
is a very difficult exercise to go through and lasts all day.
Service Reimbursement Ordinance
This
ordinance is modeled after the Brattleboro Fire Department’s ordinance. In comparison with surrounding Fire
Departments,
Chief
Andrews also commented that another reason for this ordinance and the resulting
revenue fund is to address the critical shortage of people who are willing to
volunteer. Incentives are needed to draw
people in such as providing training at no cost; some form of reimbursement or
stipend, and a good work environment.
SELECTBOARD APPOINTMENTS
Christiane
Howe contacted nearly everyone on the appointment list with the following
results:
Animal
Control---Police Department does not want this responsibility but will continue
until someone else will do it.
Animal
Pound Keeper—
Cemetery
Committee—Sandra Harris plus 4 vacancies
Conservation
Committee—5 vacancies
Council
on Aging—Marylynn Scherlin
Drug
& Alcohol Testing Program Contact Person—David Walker
E-911
Contact Person—Sandra Harris, David Walker
Elderly
Assistance Committee—Phyllis Newton, Linda Shippee, Marylynn Scherlin, Susan
Miller, Sharon Richardson
Emergency
Management Director—Annette Roydon
Energy
Coordinator—Vacant
Farmland
Committee—Michael Zaluzny, Robert Miller, Jr., Christiane Howe, 2 vacancies
Fence
Viewers—Mike Ball, Annette Roydon, Rory Underwood
Finance
Committee—Elaine Howard, Marylynn Scherlin, Lynda Starorypinski, Martin
Langeveld, 2 vacancies
Fire
Chief—David Andrews
Fire
Warden—Raymond Capen
Fire
Warden Deputy—Robert Miller, Jr.
Green-Up—Faith
Jobin
Health
Officer—Mark Snow
Health
Officer Deputy—Annette Roydon
Inspector
of Wood, Shingles, & Lumber—Annette Roydon
Newspaper—Christiane
Howe, Lynda Starorypinski, Brandi Brow
Planning
Commission—Jeffrey Dunklee, Dale Gassett, Michaelyn Carron, Robert Spencer, 3
vacancies
Police
Chief—Marybeth Hebert
Public
Access TV Representative—Mike Courtemanche
Recreation
Board—Eric Potter, Sam Fontaine, Joan Kritsas, Martha Missale, Michael Pratt
Rescue
Inc Representative—Mike Ball
Road
Commissioner—David Walker
Tax
Stabilization Committee—to be discussed later in the meeting
Town
Attorney—Richard Coutant
Town
Service Officer—Marylynn Scherlin
Tree
Warden—David Walker, Michael Courtemanche, Annette Roydon
Veterans
Memorial Committee—Marylynn Scherlin, Mike Ball, 1 vacancy
Weigher
of Coal—Annette Roydon
WCSWD—Robert
Spencer, Michael Courtemanche
WRC—Vacant
________________________________________________
SELECTBOARD LIASON APPOINTMENTS
Postponed
until the next meeting
NEW/OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS
David
Walker
Mike
C stated that he had received a request for mileage certificate which is due
March 30, 2011. He will make sure that
it is submitted on time.
David
has a form for state mileage reimbursement in the amount of $56,561.78 which
needs to be approved and signed by Selectboard.
Mike Ball made a motion to approve the
State mileage reimbursement (State Aid) in the amount of $56,561.78. Robert Miller seconded. The motion carried.
Fire
alarm—The Highway Department needs an explosion proof horn or strobe in the
paint bay. The cost is $4,766.12 and
David can take it out of his budget. This
amount includes the power supply, explosion proof strobe and horn and
hardware. Since there is already work
being done at the garage and this will be part of it, the requirement of three
verbal bids will be waived.
Mike Ball made a motion that based on
the fact that they are in the middle of a job that we accept the bid for the
intrinsically safe alarm. Christiane
Howe seconded. The motion carried.
Pat O’Donnell
Vernon Day @ the Legislature was postponed
because there wasn’t a driver for the van. It will be rescheduled.
Tax
Stabilization Committee—a call has been made to George Sansoucy to set up a
conference call on either March 30th or 31st.
Bill
Hammond has agreed to serve on the committee and Carol will stay on as
Secretary. Mike C. has also agreed to
serve and Patty has a call in to two other town’s people to see if they would
be willing to be on the committee. If
they agree, a meeting time will be set and Patty will inform the Board. There can only be two Selectboard members on
the committee so as not to have a quorum.
Selectboard Secretary
Bob
Miller stated that he and Chris had met with one candidate. There were 3 actual responses, but one found
another job, another did respond by leaving a message, Chris called back and
left a message, but the two never actually connected. Only one official interview has been
conducted thus far. The person interviewed
did a good job on the interview, answered questions and asked good
questions. Bob felt she would be on the
top of the list if the job was advertised again. Mike C was concerned about the time period
for the process since one applicant had found another job because of the length
of time it took to get back to her.
Chris said the applicant seemed to be really interested in the job; she
was very pleasant and answered questions well.
While she doesn’t know how town government works, she is very willing to
learn.
Chris
would like to see it advertised again, but would definitely consider her if it
is not re-advertised. If it is
re-advertised, Bob Miller thought this applicant should be contacted to see if
she is willing to wait another couple of weeks while other candidates are
considered. Mike Ball suggested that the
applicant meet with the Selectboard at the next meeting for both sides to get
acquainted, ask questions, etc.
Mike
C stated that the applicant would be asked to come in on April 4, 2011 at 6:00
p.m. before the regular Selectboard meeting and a preliminary interview would
be done. Chris will call and ask
her.
WSWMD
Rural Rover Day—WSWMD has
offered to bring their Rural Rover program to
The
people that come are hazmat trained. Mike
C will call and let them know we are willing to have them come. Posters will be around the area to let people
know this is happening. A question was
asked—if they will only take paint, etc, what should be done with the
cans? The answer is that once the empty
cans are dried, they can be recycled.
Mike will get verification as to the process.
BCTV—a
new website provides an ‘on demand’ link to a section for municipal government—Selectboard
meetings, town meetings can now be watched anytime. The camera issue in the
Selectboard’s room is not straightened out, some people still complain that the
volume is too low but meetings are now on the web—on demand and the volume is
good.
Chris
Howe informed the Board that it is with grave regrets that she has given up her
position at the EOC, her reasons are personal, and she feels the need to start drawing
back from some of her commitments. She
has given her two month’s notice and will stay for the next two drills. Mike C
thanked her for her service.
The
Windham County Humane Society contract is in process of being signed.
The
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) currently on file with the Town of
Entergy
is just following up to make sure that the Selectboard knows what was signed and
that they are still committed to this agreement.
Patricia O’Donnell made a motion to
continue with the MOU that we have in place with Entergy. Chris Howe seconded. The motion carried with 4 ayes and one
abstention. Mike Ball will let Entergy know of the decision.
When
the Board hired Carol to cover as secretary, it was decided that the grade and
rate of pay would be the same as was used for Elaine, which was grade 4 at
thirteen dollars per hour.
Mike Ball made a motion that the Board
ratify the previous discussion that Carol as acting secretary is a grade 4 at thirteen
dollars per hour. Chris Howe seconded. The motion carried.
Mike Ball made a motion to adjourn. Chris Howe seconded. The motion carried.
Mike Ball made a motion to
reconsider. Chris Howe seconded. The Board is
back in session.
Reporter
Chris Garafalo asked who
Mike Ball made a motion to adjourn. Patricia O’Donnell seconded. The motion carried.
The
meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Carol Hammond