MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD
JUNE 4, 2007
COLE HALL
SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT
Board Present: Wynn Metcalfe, Chairman, Bill Pennebaker, Cinda Morse, Karen Mellinger
Others Present: Mike Gleason (Bennington Banner), Phylis Porio, Lon McClintock, Dennis McCarthy, Alice Miller (State Representative), Michael Biddy, Trevor Mance (TAM), Mary Beth Maguire (TAM), Aaron Chrostowsky (Town Administrator), Susan Swasta (Recording Secretary)
1. Call Meeting to Order:
Chairman Wynn Metcalfe called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. He made several announcements:
The vacancy on the Board due to Jim Mead's departure will be filled tonight.
Church Street will be closed to through traffic from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8, for repairs to the drainage system.
There will be a mustache contest for the August Shaftsbury Hoedown. Those who want to participate should come to the state police barracks on June 15 or June 16 to have their pictures taken clean-shaven. Mustaches will then be judged at the hoedown.
2. Minutes:
May 21, 2007 minutes
Karen Mellinger made motion to approve the May 21, 2007 minutes. Bill Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
3. Warrants:
The following warrants were presented for approval:
PR #47 - $ 10,186.64 Payroll Warrant
PR #48 - $ 8,048.09 Payroll Warrant
PR #51 - $ 6,010.99 Payroll Warrant
AP #50 - $ 36,849.72 General Warrant (BCRC administrative fee, grader)
Wt. #49R - $ 522.78 Retirement Warrant
Cinda Morse made motion to pay warrants. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
4. Public Comments:
There were no public comments.
5. Road Foreman's Report:
Chairman Metcalfe stated that Road Foreman Ron Daniels was not able to attend tonight due to his wife's surgery. The road crew is updating the road plan this week.
Ms. Mellinger asked if Mr. Daniels had provided prices for repairing sections of Paran Road. Mr. Metcalfe replied that he has not yet done so, and he asked Aaron Chrostowsky to check with Mr. Daniels on this.
6. RFP for Heating Oil/Gas/Diesel:
Ms. Morse made motion to permit Mr. Chrostowsky to solicit bids for heating oil, gas, and diesel fuel. Mr. Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
7. Corrections Work Camp:
Chairman Metcalfe reported that there had been a good presentation from the Commissioner of Corrections and several others on work camps. Several Pownal Select Board members had attended, in addition to Ed Colvin, Art Whitman, Ms. Morse, and Mr. Metcalfe. The presentation included a DVD production on the Caledonia Community Work Camp, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
The DVD was then played for those present at the meeting and the viewing audience at home. It featured comments from the St. Johnsbury Town Manager, town residents, and work camp inmates, and showed examples of work projects done by the inmates. These included construction, snow removal, beautification projects, and training animals for adoption. Much of the work was done for local municipalities and non-profits.
There was a discussion of the work camp program. Chairman Metcalfe noted that it includes only nonviolent offenders who typically enter the program when they have two years left in their sentence. For each day they work, a day of the sentence is eliminated, so they usually spend a year at the camp. A tour of the St. Johnsbury camp has been offered to anyone interested.
Ms. Morse discussed her positive experiences working with the local restorative justice program on projects. She noted that Bennington County sends the highest per capita percentage of residents into the corrections system.
Ms. Morse commented that programs like this help people to learn employable skills and that the participants are generally highly motivated because it reduces their sentences. She suggested renting a bus to visit the St. Johnsbury work camp.
Ms. Mellinger asked if there are guarantees from the state that if a Town accepts a work camp, this can't in the future be moved up to a medium-security facility. Chairman Metcalfe confirmed that this is guaranteed. He noted that acceptance of a work camp has to be approved by the townspeople's vote. Ms. Morse stated that there is a formal contract between the state and the Town.
Mr. Pennebaker noted that siting would be a key issue because any effect on property values would be controversial. Chairman Metcalfe emphasized that they are just at the information-gathering stage. All agreed that there is no reason not to seek more information. Chairman Metcalfe said that he would talk to people about the next step.
8. Proclamation for Dorothy McGuire Day:
Chairman Metcalfe introduced Dennis McCarthy to present a proclamation in honor of his Aunt Dorothy McGuire, a 100-year resident of Shaftsbury. Mr. McCarthy spoke briefly about Dorothy McGuire, and then Chairman Metcalfe read the proclamation making June 5, 2007 Dorothy McGuire Day in the Town of Shaftsbury.
Ms. Morse made motion to approve the proclamation of Dorothy McGuire Day. Ms. Mellinger seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
9. Interview Candidates for Select Board Vacancy:
Chairman Metcalfe announced that they will now interview two candidates for the Board position open due to Jim Mead's departure. The appointed Board member will serve until the next Town election. Chairman Metcalfe stated that the interviews will be public, but the decision will be made in Executive Session, as all personnel decisions are handled.
Each candidate was asked the same four questions, prepared by Ms. Morse:
Candidate Lon McClintock was interviewed first. He stated that he has been interested in Town government for quite awhile, and is especially concerned now that the state is beginning to regulate more at the local level. He wants to be more involved in the Town plan, and in where the Town is going. Now that his kids are grown, Mr. McClintock feels he has the time to devote to serving.
Mr. McClintock stated that as an attorney he has developed skills as a mediator and in conflict resolution. He thinks that a successful Board should be open to views from both sides, and able to communicate and reach consensus. Mr. McClintock noted his service on nonprofit boards and his experience with managing and budgeting his own business.
He stated that he has no idea if he would run for election, but would have to see how things go. He is prepared for the time commitment. Mr. Pennebaker asked if he saw any potential conflicts of interest, and Mr. McClintock replied that he does not.
Ms. Mellinger asked how he would draw the line in dealing with Board matters that have a legal component, and Mr. McClintock replied that giving legal advice would be overstepping, and that an outside attorney should be consulted, as is the case now.
Phylis Porio was interviewed next. She said that serving on the Economic Development Committee and the Development Review Board had provided an opportunity to see how the Town works and to understand what skills she has to help the Town progress. Serving on the Select Board would be a natural progression from this experience.
Ms. Porio cited her many years of management experience, where she developed valuable skills by managing complex projects and budgets. She understands different ways of thinking and is good at bringing consensus. Ms. Porio stated that she will run for election in March. She is retired, and is prepared for the Board time commitment.
Ms. Porio asked about training for Select Board members, and Chairman Metcalfe replied that the Vermont League of Cities and Towns runs training periodically and that fellow Select Board members are also helpful.
Mr. Pennebaker asked about potential conflicts of interest, and Ms. Porio replied that she thinks it is positive that there are liaisons between the Board and various committees. She sees no conflicts. However, she does feel that serving on all three boards at once might be too much, and that it might be necessary to leave one of them.
10. Other Business:
Mr. Pennebaker reported that he has not heard from Buzz Surwillo on the methane remediation plan. He is still working on modeling which may affect the design.
Ms. Mellinger mentioned candidates for the Facilities and Recreation Committees, and for the prospective Ancient Roads Committee. She asked when the Board will meet with committees. Chairman Metcalfe replied that he and Mr. Chrostowsky will draft a letter to committees inviting them to come and talk to the Board.
Ms. Morse asked Mr. Chrostowsky if he has spoken to anyone at the Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) about a presentation on Ancient Roads. Mr. Chrostowsky said he will call them this week.
Ms. Mellinger asked about grant money for a workshop, and Mr. Chrostowsky said he will be coordination with the other town boards very shortly.
Ms. Morse made motion to go into Executive Session (Contract/Appointment). Mr. Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Ms. Mellinger asked that it be noted in the minutes that Trevor Mance and Mary Beth Maguire of TAM had been asked to join the Executive Session for contract discussion.
Board went into Executive Session at 8:00 PM.
Meeting adjourned at PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Swasta