Weathersfield Select Board

Reorganization Meeting

Minutes

March 4, 2010

Present: Norman John Arrison

Glenn Fisher

Dave Fuller

Henry “Chip” Cobb

Gordon Eglintine

Others Present: Jim Mullen, Town Manager

Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary

Edith Stillson

Michael Todd

Peter Korbet

Julia Lloyd Wright

Chief Brown

Larry Melen

Wes Hazeltine

1. Call to Order by Town Manager: Mr. Mullen called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Election of Chairperson: Mr. Cobb nominated Mr. Arrison. Mr. Fuller nominated Mr. Fisher. Mr. Fuller said he spoke with Mr. Arrison earlier and he feels it is good to have a new Chairperson every two or three years. Mr. Arrison received two votes. Mr. Fisher received three votes, Mr. Fisher is the Chairperson.

3. Election of Vice-Chairperson: Mr. Cobb nominated Mr. Fuller. Mr. Fuller received five votes, Mr. Fuller is Vice-Chairperson.

4. Election of Board Clerk: Mr. Arrison nominated Mr. Cobb. Mr. Cobb received four votes (Mr. Cobb abstained), Mr. Cobb is Board Clerk.

5. Appointment of Recording Secretary: Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Lisa Sargent the Recording Secretary, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb thanked Ms. Sargent for being the recording secretary for several years now. Motion passed unanimously.

6. Designate regular meeting dates, times and location: Mr. Cobb made the motion to designate the meetings to be held first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall. Mr. Fuller seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

7. Designate newspaper of record for the Town: Mr. Mullen said in doing research it looked the like the Outlook would be a good option but they are discontinuing their mailings to Weathersfield and at this time will only deliver to Downer’s Store. He said the Valley News is $9.75 per column inch and the Eagle Times is $13.75 per column inch. Mr. Fuller said he has noticed the Rutland Herald does not carry much Weathersfield news, Mr. Fisher said they did have information on the zoning discussion. Mr. Eglintine made the motion to designate the Valley News as the newspaper of record for the Town, Mr. Fuller seconded the motion. Mr. Korbet asked if that prohibited Boards and Committees from using others for notices. Mr. Fisher said it doesn’t preclude them but we’re only required to advertise in the newspaper of record. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Cobb said he thinks we should look at also designating a radio station and asked that to be put on the agenda for future discussion.

8. Adopt Policy for Conduct of Meetings and Hearings: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adopt the policy for conduct of meetings and hearings with the changes noted by Mr. Mullen, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. Mr. Mullen said he reviewed the policy and noted a few changes that he feels should be made. Mr. Fisher said he wanted to clarify that if we have a quorum we can make a decision and if four members are present and there is a tie then the motion is defeated. It was also noted that if there are three members present the motion has to be unanimous in order for the motion to pass. If a motion is defeated it can be brought before the Board again. Motion passed unanimously.

9. Adopt Ethics Policy: Mr. Cobb made the motion to adopt the Ethics policy as it exists, Mr. Arrison seconded the motion. Ms. Lloyd Wright asked if this precluded participation if one had a vested interested. Mr. Cobb said the policy gives guidance on how to handle that. Mr. Fisher read the section of the policy that pertains to this situation, it was noted that this is looked at case by case and it deals with a conflict of interest. Mr. Korbet said so, it’s up to the person that has the conflict. Mr. Fisher said it’s up to everyone to discuss it. Ms. Lloyd Wright asked if this policy applied to all Boards and Committees, Mr. Arrison said that some have their own policy. Mr. Fuller said he feels the definition in the policy covers everyone.

Chief Brown asked if he should continue to investigate accidents that involve town vehicles as he has in the past, he said unless there is serious injury he would handle it in his office and not turn it over to the State Police. The consensus of the Board was to continue doing as he has done in the past.

Motion carried unanimously.

10. Appoint Select Board Representative to Fire Commission: Mr. Eglintine made the motion to appoint Mr. Cobb as the Representative to the Fire Commission; Mr. Cobb declined. Mr. Arrison made the motion to appoint Mr. Fuller as the Representative to the Fire Commission, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. Mr. Fuller said he will give it a try. Motion carried 4 – 1 with Mr. Eglintine being the dissenting vote. Mr. Cobb said he has held this position in the past and didn’t feel it went as well as it could, he feels some one else could do a better job.

11. Appoint Select Board Representative to Highway Committee: Mr. Fuller made the motion to appoint Mr. Arrison as the Representative to the Highway Committee. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

12. Establish procedure for handling of complaints and citizen inquires: Mr. Arrison said we never adopted this last year. Mr. Arrison made the motion to table. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Mullen to add the Veterans Memorial Committee appointment to the agenda soon as they are in the process of spending money.

Mr. Fuller said he had several people complain to him about the voting booths not being private enough. Mr. Melen said that is a BCA issue, not up to this Select Board.

Mr. Fuller said he thinks it would be a good idea if the Town Manager or Chair of the Select Board goes to the School and tries to work with them on the disposal of the Perkinsville School.

Mr. Fuller said he hasn’t heard how the voting went and asked the results. Ms. Sargent asked why the results were different between what was published in the Valley News and the Eagle Times. Mr. Melen said they received the same information. After discussion Mr. Melen read the results and the Eagle Times did not have any of the correct results. It was said that a notice would be put in the Eagle Times saying the results were not correct. Mr. Arrison said we should not send the spread sheet next year for them to read from because that was confusing.

Next Agenda: procedure for handling complaints and inquires and appointments.

Treasurer Warrants: Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve the Treasurer Warrants as follows:

General Fund Payroll $17,040.37

General Fund Operating Expense $30,727.21

Highway Fund Payroll $18,603.65

Highway Fund Operating Expense $11,230.59

Solid Waste Management Fund Payroll $ 2,311.98

Solid Waste Management Operating Expense $ 5,760.00

Reserves $ 785.00

Library $ 13.19

Mr. Fuller seconded the motion. Mr. Cobb asked how the salt was holding out, Mr. Hazeltine said fine so far. Mr. Cobb asked about purchasing crush rock, Mr. Hazeltine said it was for inventory. Motion carried unanimously.

13. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Select Board meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on March 18, 2010

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Gordon Eglintine

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Norman John Arrison

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Glenn Fisher

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Henry “Chip” Cobb

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Dave Fuller