Approved As Written

Approved as written: Approved as corrected: ______VERNON SELECTBOARD TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017 REGULAR MEETING 6:30pm DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Josh Unruh, Chair Michelle Pong, Town Administrator Sandra Harris, Vice Chair Michelle Millerick, Secretary Stephen Skibniowsky, Clerk Barbara Moseley Jeff Dunklee Nancy Durborow Joyce Goodnow Rita Mudd Michael Root Peggy Frost Jesse Jobin Todd CapenMEMBERS ABSENT: Jean CarrCALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETINIG: Josh Unruh, Chair, called the regular meeting to order at 6:30pm, welcomed those present and led the Pledge of Allegiance.ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Josh Unruh, Chair wants to add the signing of the Annual Financing Plan for the Town Highways and Certification of Compliance for the town roads, bridges etc.SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO ADD THE SIGNING OF THE ANNUAL FINANCING PLAN FOR THE TOWN HIGHWAYS AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE FOR THE TOWN ROADS, BRIDGES ETC. TO NEW BUSINESS. JEFF DUNKLEE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.CHAIRS REMARKS: Josh Unruh, Chair, responded to an article that the Brattleboro Reformer published online regarding an investigation of repayment of Patty O’Donnell’s legal fees by the Selectboard in 2015. The charges were thrown out by a Grand Jury due to lack of evidence. The recent investigation was brought about by the Vernon’s Voters Alliance. This attempt to defame Patty O’Donnell and the Selectboard decision will once again be found to have no merit. Josh Unruh encourages the members of the Vernon’s Voters Alliance to reach out to the Selectboard in the future and work together to build Vernon. GUESTS: NoneOPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS (non-Agenda items): Barbara Moseley asked why the Recreation Dept. doesn’t put its meeting notice out in the box and questioned the lack of detail in the minutes as well as their availability. She said the Recreation Dept. should have their own secretary and questioned the legality of staff to do the minutes. Josh Unruh, Chair, said that it is appropriate for staff to take minutes at meetings but he will look into improving postings and details in minutes. Janet Rasmussen commented on the Brattleboro Reformer article and the letter submitted to the AGs office from the Vernon’s Voters Alliance regarding an old issue about Patty O’Donnell, who was exonerated over a year ago. This town has done an amazing job moving forward in the last year and she feels this was a slap in the face to the Selectboard and many others. Peggy Frost responded that the Vernon’s Voters Alliance’s intention in asking about this payment was not to have it public knowledge but to have questions answered. She said the Vernon’s Voters Alliance had no desire to create a public spectacle. Josh Unruh, Chair, stated that it’s exactly what this did, and that any questions could have been answered by the Selectboard or the Town Administrator or through past minutes instead of involving the State Police and starting an entire investigation. Peggy Frost said the Vernon’s Voters Alliance didn’t know the State Police would get involved; they thought the States Attorney’s office or Secretary of State would be. The Bills and Warrants get paid but we don’t know what they are. Josh Unruh, Chair, informed her that they are public record and can be accessed anytime. Peggy Frost apologized for her part in this.DEPARTMENT/COMMITTEE REPORT: NoneAPPROVAL OF MINUTES:STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE FEBRUARY 21, 2017 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AS WRITTEN. SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-1 JEFF DUNKLEE ABSTENTION.SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 7, 2017 AS PRESENTED. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.TREASURER’S REPORT: Bills and WarrantsSTEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING BILLS AND WARRANTS FOR TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017.18 –T Accounts Payable - $60,530.028S Payroll - $10,053.189S Payroll - $7,385.5910S Payroll - $9,375.5811S Payroll - $8,461.88RATIFY:17 – T Accounts Payable - $14,068.35SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.NEW BUSINESS: a) Nesbit’s Portside Tavern – Liquor License Renewal ApplicationJEFF DUNKLEE MADE A MOTION TO RENEW AND SIGN NESBIT’S PORTSIDE TAVERN LIQUOR LICENSE ON THE CONDITION THAT THE MISSED QUESTION WAS ANSWERED AND “NO” BOXED CHECKED. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 3-1. b) Increase in access permit fees at WSWMD The cost of permits will be increasing for users of the Ferry Road facility. Should expect overall recycling costs to increase for Vernon. c) Bill to compensate towns for property tax overpayments and litigation expenses- formal support from the Selectboard? There has been a Bill introduced to the House that may help offset litigation expenses if dealing with tax appeals in regards to utilities. SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. SANDRA HARRIS RECINDED HER MOTION. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY RECINDED HIS SECOND.SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE BILL ASKING TO INCREASE COMPENSATION FROM 50% TO 75%. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. d) Discuss purchase of 3 new office computers – Treasurer X2 and Lister – total cost of hardware and licenses $4,665.75 - discuss possibility of purchasing an additional upgrade this year.SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF THREE NEW OFFICE COMPUTERS TWO FOR THE TREASURER AND ONE FOR THE LISTERS OFFICE TOTAL COST PLUS LICENSES OF $4,665.75 AND HOPEFULLY A FOURTH WITHIN THAT BUDGET. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e) Approve purchase of Projector and Screen for the Selectboard room.This will help save paper on printing the Agenda and the entire packet will be projected on the wall so people can see what’s going on during Selectboard meetings. It will also be used for other Town of Vernon purposes. SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A PROJECTOR AND SCREEN NOT TO EXCEED $500.00. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. f) Selectboard Rules – edits, suggestions etc. Sandra Harris would like to change # 12 she would like the Selectboard to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding executive sessions, there have been violations in the past, the board agreed. # 16 if you leave the Selectboard early (before the end of your elected term) you should have to pay back the Town for the time you left. Stephen Skibniowsky said you shouldn’t get paid until you’ve done the work. The Selectboard is happy with the options that we have but want to have the legal recourse to go back and retrieve our money if needed. This section will be rewritten. Stephen Skibniowsky thinks that having these rules for the Selectboard will give guidance to current and future Selectboard members. Josh Unruh pointed out that there are rules and policies for other town employees and the Selectboard should also have rules to abide by. Rule # 18 a discussion about conflict of interest and when a Selectboard member must recuse themselves from the discussion or from the room or just from the table. The Board opted to leave the rules as written and reflected by State guidance. g) Lost Keys – Replace lock on the Police Entrance Door? A Sheriff’s department’s deputy left and lost his keys. The question on the table is do we rekey the PD door and the door to their office. The Town Administrator will approach Lt. Anderson and ask him to find the keys or the Sheriff’s department will have to replace the locks. h) James Cusick Scholarship - Selectboard Chair, School Board Chair and Principal - $92,000.00 in Fund earns about $1,500.00 a year. Are you taking applications for this? Mike Hebert, Principal Macey and Josh Unruh are the members of the Board and should accept applications this year. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE JAMES CUSICK SCHOLARSHIP FUND. SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. i) Town Juror interested parties – Paul Fantini and Christiane Howe. j) Town Agent interested parties – Christiane Howe.SANDRA HARRIS MADE THE MOTION TO APPOINT PAUL FANTINI AS TOWN JUROR AND CHRISTIANE HOWE AS TOWN AGENT PENDING THEIR ACCEPTANCE. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. k) Approve RFP for Landscaping, Snow removal and Office Cleaning Services. There was discussion on whose responsibility it will be to take care of the Flags. The Town Administrator will look into this. Remove dishes from duties. Remove trash duties from offices (employees can dump in a central location). Changes will be made to these and approved via email. l) Fire Department DiscussionTodd Capen, Fire Chief said the corned beef and cabbage dinner did really well, grossed $1,125.00 and expenses were $475.00, they had about 70 – 75 people attend and he wanted to thank all that came and the people who donated. m) Signing of the Annual Financing Plan for the Town Highways and Certification of Compliance for the town roads, bridges etc.SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION FOR THE SELECTBOARD TO SIGN THE ANNUAL FINANCING PLAN AND THE CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE. JEFF DUNKLEE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. l) Back to Fire Department DiscussionSANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:30 P.M. WITH THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OR EMPLOYMENT OR EVALUATION OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. 1 V.S.A. § 313(3)(A)(3) [ NOTE: THE FINAL DECISION TO HIRE OR APPOINT AND THE REASONS FOR THE BODY’S FINAL DECISION MUST BE MADE IN AN OPEN MEETING. ] STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED AT 8:32 P.M. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.OLD BUSINESS: NonePUBLIC PARTICIPATION (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY): NoneCORRESPONDENCE: VLCT is looking to fill vacancies on their Board of Directors. NRC has a new website for information on the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee – Google NRC Vermont Yankee. Draft Discharge Permit for Vermont Yankee. Letter from McNary Firearms Manufacturing of Vernon requesting our consideration of their services when we sell the Police Department firearms. Connecticut River Watershed Council is objecting to the revised process plan and schedule submitted for relicensing of Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project and the Turners Falls Project. Invitation for membership in the Vermont Council on Rural Development organization for $150.00 a year. The Selectboard would like to know what the benefit of being a member is. The Town Administrator will look into it. The Selectboard was provided with the Sheriff Department Activity Log. There is a Northeast Resource Recovery Association Annual Conference and Expo.TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Bob Spencer will be meeting with the Windham Regional Commission on March 27, 2017 to discuss the work that will be done on the energy planning portion of the Town Plan update. This was an in-kind grant we received along with two other towns. The Planning Commission will get a chance to learn more about the process and confirm that it’s a project that Vernon should take part in.David Walker, Highway Forman, has successfully completed a Vermont Better Roads Grant application for $6,000.00 with a local match of $1,500.00 to bring the Town into Act 64 Clean Water Act Compliance by conducting a Road Erosion Inventory and Culvert Inventory.Windham Regional Commission has filed intervenor status in the Vermont Public Board case regarding Entergy’s transfer to Northstar.Dates to remember:Thursday, March 23, 2017 – 6-9 p.m. NDCAP meeting in the multipurpose room at the Brattleboro Area Middle School.Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 7p.m. Elementary School Cafetorium, Public Service Board Hearing on Entergy/Northstar joint petition.April 10, 2017 possible meeting with State of Vermont Wetlands Program to talk about Black Gum Swamp.Thursday, April 13, 2017, 7a.m. to 7 p.m. – School District Budget revote.Wednesday, April 26, 2017 – 4 to 5 p.m. – BDCC Semi- Annual Meeting.UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE: Regular Meeting – Tuesday, April 4, 2017ADJOURNMENT: Meeting Adjourned at 8:43 P.M.Respectfully Submitted by Michelle Millerick Michelle Millerick, Secretary

Approved As Written

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