Vernon Selectboard Mtg.                                                       7/20/09          

               Draft

  Accepted as Printed______________

                                                                       Accepted as Corrected _______________

 

 

VERNON SELECTBOARD

 MEETING

 

 

July 20, 2009                                                       6:30 PM

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                   OTHERS PRESENT:

Mike Ball                                                         Rory Underwood                                            

Mike Courtemanche                                         Chris Garofolo 

Robert Miller, Jr.                                              Jeff Dunklee

Lynda Starorypinski                                          Jim Matteau

MEMBERS ABSENT:                         Susan Fillion                            

Len Howard                                                     Mike Coughlin

OTHERS PRESENT:                                       Chief Turnley

Phyllis Newton                                     Cindy Turnley

Marylynn Scherlin                                             Bruce Gauld

                                               

                                                                       

WELCOME AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

At 6:36 pm Chair Mike Ball called the meeting to order, welcomed those present and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT-

No public comment at this time.

 

BILLS AND WARRANTS- Sally Brassor

 

Lynda Starorypinski made the motion to approve warrants 1SG, 28S and 29S. Mike Courtemanche seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

Mike courtemanche made the motion to go out of order on the agenda to Windham regional commission. lynda starorypinski seconded the motion. the motion carried.

 

 

wINDHAM REGIONAL COMMISSION-Town Plan Jim Matteau

Mike Ball stated that the Planning Commission consists of six members as follows:

Rory Underwood

                         Dale Gassett

Stephen Skibniowsky

 Jeff Dunklee

                        Shane Shippee

                        mike zalunzy

 

The biggest item on their agenda this year is to update the Town Plan which needs to be updated every five years. Because of the amount of updating to the maps and the Flood Plan the deadline is quickly approaching. Mike Ball stated that it is best to have the Windham Regional Commission help with the updates. Rory’s research found that maps and updates go back to 1986. Jim Matteau stated that there are a number of areas that would need to be addressed to bring the plan up to what is required by state statue for approval by the WRC, if that is the towns intent. It would also be possible to make some but not all of those changes, as the town wishes. It’s the town’s option whether to request WRC review and approval as required from the statue that describes the required content for a town plan to fully meet the standards. Out of 27 WRC member towns, 24 have town plans and 17 of those are regionally approved. 

The biggest area needing improvement is land use, which requires development of current and prospective land use plans in both text and maps. Other areas that also need some changes are housing, energy and transportation. Jim stated that the maps that are currently in use are quite dated and stem mostly from the Low Level Radioactive Waste Authority work, which were produced more than 15 ago. Jim Matteau stated that the estimated cost is based on an hourly rate of $60.00. This would include all support and indirect costs, and the estimated hours include time to prepare for and attend meetings in Vernon. Jim stated that town plans that they have worked on over the years cost ranged from $6,000 to costing well in excess of $15,000. Jim stated that there is a state-funded municipal planning grant program. This is available for towns that don’t have approved plans for the purpose of developing one. The program is very competitive because funding was cut in half last year.  Jim stated that an application from Vernon for half of the cost sharing strategy would help. The program is managed by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and applications will be due in September. WRC could help to develop that application at no cost to the town, and doing that would result in a firm estimate of time and costs for the project.

Mike Courtemanche asked when this needed to be started.  Susan Fillion stated that the grant deadline is September 30th. The grant would then be awarded in November. WRC would work out a suggested contract to get started. Rory stated that the pressure is from the Flood Hazard Bylaws expiring on October 16 and the Town Plan has to be in placed for the Flood Plan to be adopted. Jim stated that it is possible that the town could readopt the current town plan as is, for one more year and be working on a new town plan and at least there would be something on the books. To extend the current plan for the one year the selectboard would need to have a public hearing stating it’s an emergency measure to protect public health and safety, at the close of the meeting the board would vote to extend the interim bylaws, then the interim bylaws would be sent with notice to the neighboring towns and Housing and Community Affairs. Susan Fillion could help with this process. It would beneficial for the Planning Committee to meet with WRC to move on with this.

The board thanked Jim and Susan.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO CONTINUE WITH THE   ORDER ON THE AGENDA. Lynda Starorypinski seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

mAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT-Mike Coughlin

Foyer Project- Mike Coughlin presented the board with three bids for the design of the foyer project. The board noticed that the prices where very different from each other. Mike Ball stated that references should be included.

 It was the consensus of the board to look over the bids and get references before making a discussion.

 The board would put this on the agenda for July 27 @ 6:30 pm.

 

Carpet Bid- Mike Coughlin updated the board on the replacement of carpeting that is going out to bid. This is for the Town Office Buildings common areas.

 

The board thanked Mike.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT- Chief Turnley

Audit Response- Chief Turnley presented the board with Vernon Police Department Operating Guidelines for Collection and Preservation of Evidence. 

Mike Ball stated that in reading over the audit there are some issues that have not been addressed. The Policies and Procedures should be updated by the end of 12/31/09. The Officers training matrix also needed to be addressed with a working draft of policy and to be finalized by 12/30/09. Mike Ball also stated that a development of a policy for the department is in place with qualifications defining which items are dealt with in-house and which are sent to Vermont State Police for investigation. This means that if the on-duty officer is not fully certified in performing and documenting an investigation the case would be immediately turned over to the State Police. Mike Ball stated that the Chief will need to notify his personnel of this requirement.  Mike Ball also stated that the officer expectations needed to be developed. Chief Turnley will send the Town Attorney a copy of the Departments Operating Guideline for Collection of Evidence.

 

Hire Recommendations- Chief Turnley has two candidates that he would like to recommend for hire pending records check. The rate of pay would be $16.00 to start and $ 17.00 after probation.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO ALLOW CHIEF TURNLEY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIRING PROCESS WITH A RATE OF PAY TO START AT $16.00 AND AFTER A PROBATIONARY PERIOD TO $17.00 PENDING COMPLETION OF BACK GROUND CHECKS. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Bid Recommendations- Bruce Gauld updated the board with the bids for a new police vehicle. Bruce stated that they were trying out other vehicles and have not finished with their discussion on the type of vehicle that they are looking at. He will keep the board updated on their discussion.

The board thanked Chief Turnley and Bruce Gauld.

 

EOC BUS BID- No bids at the time.       

 

NEW/FUNISHED BUSINESS

Mike Ball asked Lynda if she has heard from Harry Snyder.  Lynda stated that she has e-mailed him and has not heard anything as of yet.

 

Lynda Starorypinski stated that she was unable to put out the Newspaper for July because of family issues and not enough time to complete the paper. Lynda also stated that she had misunderstood Chris Howe and when she would be available. The next newspaper would be August.

 

Mike Courtemanche stated that the board had received a letter from Triple T regarding the super sized trashcans along with un-bagged trash in these large containers.  These large containers can hold much more trash by weight than what the town’s contract states can be left out each week. The un-bagged trash requires their drivers to lift these large containers to the truck and Triple T believes this is an accident waiting to happen and is asking residents that if they choose to use these large containers to please bag all of the trash contained in them.  This will allow Triple T workers to pull the bags out rather than lift the entire container. Triple T will start putting a sticker on the offending containers asking them to please bag their trash for further service.  If residents continue to throw un-bagged trash in these containers Triple T will leave their trash behind.

 

Mike Courtemanche stated that the composting project had hit a snag but is going to move forward. News will be posted on the composting project. Mike Courtemanche stated that he wanted to make clear that commercial composting is not free and the savings per ton would be $45.00. Personal composting is free.

 

Mike Courtemanche asked the board to think about a policy that would make recycling mandatory.  He asked the board to drive around town on trash day to see how much recyclable materials were being thrown away on trash day.  A mandatory recycling policy would help to alleviate the problem and the town would save on its tipping fees.  The board may consider this in the future.

 

Mike Ball received a letter from VY with changes to the fence with reference to Act 248.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO ALLOW MIKE BALL TO SIGN ANOTHER LETTER FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FENCE CONSTRUCTION AT VY PENDING VERIFICATION FROM THE VERNON POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.     

 

Mike Ball stated that the Advent Christian Church sent an invitation to the selectboard regarding their 100th year celebration as a church on their site here in Vernon.  A special service will be held at 2:00 pm on September 20th. 

 

 MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION to allow mike ball to sign the letter of agreement with Computer Appraisals Services. robert miller seconded the motion. the motion carried.

 

eRRORS AND oMISSIONS- 

 

ROBERT MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO REVISE THE AMOUNT FOR NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY FROM $5,066,000TO 6,708,627.00  MIKE COURTMANCHE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ERRORS AND OMISSIONS AS PRESENTED FROM THE VERNON LISTERS OFFICE FOR TIMOTHY AND CHERYL FRANKLIN. MIKE COURTEMANCHE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

MIKE COURTMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO GO BACK IN ORDER TO THE MINUTE APPROVAL. LYNDA STARORYPINSKI SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

MINUTE APPROVAL-

July 1

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE JULY 1 MINUTES AS PRESENTED. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 3 AYES AND 1 ABSTAIN.

 

July 6- Correction of spelling of abstain from substain.  

LYNDA STARORYPINSKI MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED. ROBERT MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. 3 AYES AND 1 ABSTAIN.

 

MIKE COURTEMANCHE MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON A PERSONNEL MATTER WITH PHYLLIS NEWTON, 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 @ 9:08 and came out at 9:30 and no action was taken.

 

MEDIA

No media present at this time.

 

mikE courtemanche made the motion to adjourn. ROBERT MILLER seconded the motion. THE motion carried.

 

 Adjourned @9:31 PM.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE, July 27, 2009 @ 6:30 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by ________________

Elaine Howard

 

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