Approved as written:
Approved as corrected: ______
VERNON SELECTBOARD
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 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 Bronna Zlochiver
Jeff Dunklee Cindy Turnley
Jean Carr Kevin Turnley
Joyce Goodnow
Rita Mudd
Virginia Kenney
Robert Kenney
Marylynn Scherlin
Ellen Merkle
Patty O’Donnell
Maddy Arms
Janet Rasmussen
MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
CALL 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 to New Business to appoint of two (2) Library Trustees to fill vacant positions until the next Town Meeting.
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO ADD THE APPOINTMENT OF TWO (2)LIBRARY TRUSTEES TO NEW BUSINESS. JEFF DUNKLEE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED WITH 4 VOTES. JEAN CARR RECUSED HERSELF.
CHAIRS REMARKS:
None
GUESTS:
None
OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS (non-Agenda items):
None
DEPARTMENT/COMMITTEE REPORT:
Treasurer – Cindy Turnley – Emergency Capital Fund adjustments
Cindy Turnley, Treasurer, when the Emergency Capital Reserve Fund was established in 2000, Article 31 states that the town establish a new fund to be known as the Emergency Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose and subject to the restrictions as set forth in the report of the finance committee the income derived from such a fund to be annually added to the funds held and administered under the Vernon Capitol Fund. This was never done, the interest and income from the Capitol Reserve Fund was never put into the capital plan to help defray the cost. From 2000 to the end of last fiscal year $622,874.88 of earned income should have been moved to the Capital Fund. Cindy’s recommendation, use it as we need it each year to cover Capital Plan costs without raising the money through taxes. Start moving it like we were supposed to but when it comes to Town Meeting where it says raise and appropriate we wouldn’t have to raise we could just take a portion of the monies not used and move it over to the capital fund. In the meantime this would continue to earn interest and income.
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO GO WITH THE TREASURER’S RECOMMENDATION. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
There was agreement that “As per the opinion of two (2) attorneys” should be added after the first sentence of the Chairs Remarks.
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 21, 2017 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WITH CORRECTIONS. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4 -1 ABSTENTION.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Bills and Warrants
STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING BILLS AND WARRANTS FOR TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2017.
19 –TAccounts Payable - $20,329.25
12SPayroll - $8,741.01
13SPayroll - $8,106.52
SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Selectboard Rules – Agreement
Changes were made to rules 12 and 16.
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AND SIGN THE TOWN OF VERNON SELECTBOARD RULES. JEFF DUNKLEE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
b) Committee Discussions
A discussion about whether or not each committee needs a liaison. It was decided that the Town Administrator, Michelle Pong, take on the role as Primary Liaison and the board encouragesCommitteeChairsto speak with any board member they feel appropriate.
A discussion about the vacancies on Rescue Inc. town representative, Windham Regional Commission, Capitol Plan Committee, Recycling Committee ensued. The Town Administrator will advertise for those positions.Expiring Terms on the Elderly Assistance Board and Recreation Board were renewed.
JEAN CARR MADE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT SHARON RICHARDSON AND SANDRA HARRIS TO THE ELDERLY ASSISTANCE BOARD AND EMILY VERGOBBE AND STEVE BIRD TO THE RECREATION BOARD, JEFF DUNKLEE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
1) Disband Fiber Optic Committee
Consists of 2 members. Work is complete. Bronna Zlochiver recommends it be suspended until there is interest for more coverage by the residents and businesses in town.
STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO DISBAND THE FIBER OPTIC COMMITTEE AND PRESERVE THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR FUTURE USE. SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
2) Recycling Committee Discussion
STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO RENAME THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE TO THE SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE TO REFLECT BETTER AS TO WHAT THEY DO. SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
c) Library Board of Trustees Appointment
Julie Ball resigned and the Trustees recommend Ruth Kibby to fill her term until March 2018. Kathy Korb has resigned and the Trustees recommend Ellen Hardy to fill in until March 2018.
STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT RUTH KIBBY AND ELLEN HARDY AS LIBRARY TRUSTEES UNTIL TOWN MEETING MARCH 2018. SANDRA HARRIS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4 – 1 RECUSAL FROM JEAN CARR.
d) Welcome Sign Spring Clean-Up – quote for services
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO AWARD AN AGREEMENT WITH HEATHER FROST FOR SPRING CLEAN UP OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH WELCOME SIGNS FOR A TOTAL OF $250.00, 2017 AND $250.00, 2018. JEAN CARR SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
e) Open Cemeteries
SANDRA HARRIS MADE A MOTION TO OPEN THE TOWN CEMETERIES EFFECTIVE APRIL 5, 2017. STEPHEN SKIBNIOWSKY SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY):
None
CORRESPONDENCE:
None
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
The Energy Audit is complete and the advice is complicated, because there have been so few energy upgrades to the building in the last 40 years there is a lot that can be done. 2 options on how to proceed – take a punch list from the Auditors and Efficiency Vermont that would include lighting changes, insulation upgrades and other suggestions that would qualify for minimal incentives OR come up with a full energy upgrade plan so that each project dovetails with the next, avoiding increased cost in the long run. Gary Swindler from Efficiency Vermont has offered to come speak with the board about the options.
Kevin Turnley would like to clean the carpet in the Selectboard room on April 19, 2017. There is nothing scheduled for the room and it will take a couple of days to dry.
They have begun some preliminary work on the Rt. 5 Bridge in Guilford but road closures are not set to occur until the summer. There is a public information meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Guilford Community Church.
UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE:
Regular Meeting – Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Hiking Tour of Black Gum Swamp – Friday, April 28, 2017 – 5:30 to 7:30pm
Black Gum/Wetlands Meeting – Monday, May 8, 2017, 6:00pm in the Selectboard room.
Public Information Meeting for the School –Monday,April 10, 2017 at 6:00pm
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting Adjourned at 7:33 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted by
Michelle Millerick
Michelle Millerick, Secretary
Vernon Selectboard Regular Meeting Minutes 04-04-2017
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