Vernon Selectboard Mtg.                                                                 6/7/10    

 

                                                                                Accepted as Corrected_________                                          

                                                                        Accepted as Printed_______                                               

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

June 7, 2010                                         6:30 PM

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                 OTHERS PRESENT:                        

Mike Courtemanche-Chair                     Sally Brassor-Town Treasurer                                     

Chris Howe                                             Tom Fox                                                                 

Robert Miller Jr.                                       David Andrews                                         

Mike Ball                                                 Eleanor Allen        

Len Howard-Absent                                Edna Huey                                                

                                                                 Pat Wood

                                                                 Donna Carlise 

                                                                 Jeff Durborow

                                                                Nancy Durborow

                                                                Annette Roydon

 

           

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 6:31 pm Chair Mike Courtemanche called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT-

No public comment at this time.

 

MINUTE APPROVAL-

            5/17/10

CHRIS HOWE MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 17, 2010 AS CORRECTED. CORRECTIONS ON PAGE 2 INCLUDE DISTINGUISHING THE BOARD, NOT FIRST THROUGH MIKE BALL, AS THOSE WHO AUTHORIZE EMPLOYEES BEFORE CONTACTING TOWN ATTORNEY. SECOND CORRECTION INCLUDES REVISION OF THE ORDER OF MOTIONS. MIKE BALL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

            5/24/10

CHRIS HOWE made the motion to approve the minutes of may 24, 2010 AS PRINTED. MIKE BALL seconded the motion. the motion carried.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS-

            Town Treasurer-Sally Brassor

ROBERT MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING WARRANTS:

            22S/G IN THE AMOUNT OF $9, 3961.32

            21S IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,342.17

            22S IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,834.82

CHRIS HOWE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Sally asked Mike Ball if a spread sheet was completed for the salary grid. The spreadsheet is still being worked on. Once completed a separate meeting will be held to put the information together and go forward. Mike Courtemanche stated that Mr. Dickson called wanting to implement the IBPO contract by July of  2010. Mike Courtemanche will send everyone the most recent copy of the contract including new salary requirements. An attempt to meet with Mr. Dickson the last week in June will be the goal.

 

Use of Personal Vehicles for Town Work

Mike Courtemanche stated that Len received a call from Seth at the Recreation Department.  An employee broke a leaf spring on his personal truck while towing a lawn tractor around because the department’s tractor was broken. No estimate has been submitted by the employee but a guesstimate is $700. The vehicle is still drivable but no weight can be put in the back of it. In Sept. 08 an incident occurred with an employee using their personal vehicle to haul wood for the preschool and a back window was damaged. The town replaced the back window for approx. $400. Mike Courtemanche suggested looking into the option of using the town garage’s three-quarter-ton truck.  Sally noted the Rec. employees don’t request mileage reimbursement unless they travel to trainings. 

 

CHRIS HOWE MADE THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO FIX DAMAGE TO THE EMPLOYEE’S VEHICLE WITH STIPULATION THAT THE TOWN TRUCK WILL BE USED FOR FUTURE HEAVY WORK AND HAULING BY ALL EMPLOYEES. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.

 

MIKE BALL MADE THE MOTION TO GO OUT OF ORDER ON THE AGENDA TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ROBERT MILLER JR. SECONDED MOTION. THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.

The Board thanked Sally.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT-

            VFD Generator

David Andrews stated that they continue to make progress on the replacement of the emergency generator at the fire house. The project consists of four areas that must be completed. The back up generator was tested and ran but no power came out. Brookfield Services from Northfield came to look at it and determined that the stater on the generator was broken. The cost to rebuild the generator was cost prohibitive and that it’s time to replace it.  This brought up a discussion as to whether there are opportunities to improve the fire station building. There was discussion of whether the insurance risk ratings at the fire house be improved.  It’s safer to put the generator outside rather than attach it to the building. If concrete is being poured for installation of the generator then at the same time pour a back step at the firehouse. The four parts of project include: purchase generator; purchase transfer switch; electrical work in building to remove old install new generator; pour concrete pad. Replacement generator would be an industrial version, 30 kilowatt made by Kohler.  

David Andrews suggests purchasing the generator from Brookfield Services who will load test the generator after it is installed and wired at no charge. Transfer switch is a standard 200 amp switch. Lamoreau Electric recently visited the site for the electrical conduit work. Mike had mentioned the Thunderbolt, which was the siren, it’s service in the building is a 200 amp service which comes from the pole, goes to the meter and goes to the main disconnect. From there it goes to a conduit, to a transfer switch, which goes to the generator. From there the service splits into two, 100 amp services to two disconnect boxes. The first is a Thunder bolt. The second box feeds the main breaker box, which runs all the loads in the building. This configuration is not code compliant. The size of the conduit that feeds the main power going to the generator transfer switch is not compliant. Making the building compliant starts from electrical disconnect switch where it comes in, new conduit from where the transfer switch where the generator would go and then conduit from the transfer switch to the main breaker box in the fire house. A smaller set of conduits would go outside and fed under the concrete pad. There are conduits that have to go to the generator. One is power coming out of the generator and the other is power that feeds the block heater and the signaling cables that come back and forth.  Concrete pad is standard 5x10 feet, six inches deep and would sit in the back of the building. There is also a need for of excavating for the hole and pouring concrete. David Walker from the highway department volunteered to dig the hole which solves the issue of finding an excavator.  The generator with outdoor enclosure for sound would cost $16,295. The transfer switch cost $1,167.  Lamoreau Electrical work costs $6,500 (Lamoreau has agreed to let members of the fire department  take down the old conduit to save money on the bill.) Lamoreau will take care of the permit and will allow the town to run the conduit that goes through the cinderblock wall for more savings.   The concrete pad is $500. Total cost of the project is $24,462.  David Andrews would like guidance on what to do with the old generator.   In other Fire Department business David Andrews mentioned that the fire department has ordered and will take delivery of and distribute a number of “volunteers needed” signs with the department’s phone number. 

 

CHRIS HOWE MADE THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE A KOHLER 30REZG GENERATOR, TWO HUNDRED AMP TRANSFER SWITCH, REQUIRED ELECTRICAL WORK, AND EXTERIOR CONCRETE PAD. MONIES WILL BE EXPENDED FROM THE EMERGENCY CAPITAL RESERVE FUND IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $24,462. MIKE BALL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.

The Board thanked David.

 

EOC-

            Concerns about recent power outage-

Annette Roydon stated that the power outage in Vernon was caused by the storm hitting the Velco sub station therefore there were no phones or power to the area. Parts were held up in Massachusetts which took longer than planned.  This caused a longer delay in the restoration of the power. Mike Courtemanche stated that several complaints came from the Huckle Hill Housing about not having a generator at there site. Mike Courtemanche stated that there is no state law requiring them to have one. Members from Huckle Hill Housing attending tonight’s meeting conveyed that there was no emergency lighting and no property manager checking on them. Pat Wood stated that they have no contact other than Stewart Property Management.  With phones out during a storm there is no way to contact anyone in the event of an emergency.  Westgate is also under Stewart Property Management and it is the belief that the same maintenance person works for both properties. Pat Wood believes that Huckle Hill Housing is a senior housing and needs to have emergency lights and communication with the outside world in the event of an emergency especially for an outage lasting more than a few hours. It is not known if the fire alarms would work during a power outage. There are many people in wheel chairs that could not get out of the building due to the evaluators not working.  This concerned the tenants for safety reasons. The tenants received a letter from Stewart Property after the outage stressing the importance of having flashlights and water on hand for the next outage.  This was the only contact with the property managers during this whole incident. Their issue is that no one checks on them and would like a procedure in place in the future to check on all the tenants when the phones are not working or the electricity is out for an extended period of time. With much discussion the Board will look into the safety issues at the housing development.

The Board thanked all for attending.  

 

            RERP Paperwork

Annette Roydon presented the Board with the ECO’s budget for the fiscal year.

 

Chris Howe made the motion to allow the chair to sign the rerp paperwork. robert miller seconded the motion. the motion carried.

The Board thanked Annette.

 

TOWN POLICIES-

Mike Courtemanche stated that the policies spread sheet was created by the board secretary.  It was then brought to Susan Miller at the Town Office to compare it with policies that were on file with the Town Clerk. After reviewing the dates on the policies the Board would need to revise the oldest first. The cell phone policy is currently being worked on. Mike Ball stated that other policies might be available for review from VLCT. Chris agreed to contact them and see what they have.  Mike Courtemanche would see what the Town of Brattleboro also has for current policies.

 

NEW/OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS-

            Velco Letter (Backup Feed)

Mike Ball stated that the Town of Vernon is the only town in VT that doesn’t have a second source of power to be used as a backup feed in the event the main source is interrupted.  This can create problems as evidenced by the recent power outage. Mike Ball read a letter to Green Mountain Power and VELCO which addressed this fact.  

 

Mike Ball made the motion to HAVE THE CHAIRMAN SIGN A FORMAL letter to Green Mountain Power and VELCO WHICH ADRESSES THE NEED FOR VERNON TO HAVE A BACKUP FEED IN CASE THE PRIMARY TRANSFORMER FAILS OR IS DAMAGED.

Chris howe seconded the motion. the motion carried.

 

            Town Picnic

The Board discussed the activities for the Picnic and some options for cooking of the food. Town Picnic is June 26, 2010 with Potluck dinner-BBQ at the Recreation Center. Fireworks start at dusk. Call Mike Courtemanche to let him know what you can bring.  There was also discussion about using the excess funds for the picnic to have it catered.

 

            Town Bus Policy

This is still being worked on.

 

            Bucket Truck Contract

The contract is currently with the Town Attorney.

 

            Update on Job Descriptions

Job Descriptions are still with Linda Starorypinski.

 

The Board discussed the first July meeting which would fall on Monday July 5th.   That Monday is often considered as a holiday.  The board will move that meeting to the second Monday in July.

 

Chris Howe stated that many people can not hear the sound of the meeting.  The Board is looking at options for a new camera.

 

Nancy Gassett is still waiting on quotes for the signs.

 

MEDIA-

None present at this time.

 

MIKE BALL MADE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN. CHRIS HOWE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.         

 

 Adjourned @ 8:45 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Elaine Howard

 

Return to Selectboard Homepage