MINUTES OF THE SHAFTSBURY SELECT BOARD

AUGUST 20, 2008

COLE HALL

SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT

Board Present: Lon McClintock (Chairman), Karen Mellinger, Cinda Morse, Bill Pennebaker

Others Present:  Aaron Chrostowsky (Town Administrator), Henrietta Billow (Town Treasurer)

1.         Call Meeting to Order: 

Chairman McClintock called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM.

2.         Conflict of Interest Statement: 

Chairman McClintock asked if any Board member has a conflict of interest with any topic on today’s agenda. None did.

3.         Public Comments:

None.

4.         Special Town Meeting Warning:

Mr. Chrostowsky shared with the board, the recommended language for the Special Town Meeting. He explained that there would be a conflict with getting the taxes out before November 10, 2008.

Ms. Billow urged the board to reconsider holding this town meeting because it conflicts with her tax collection.

Mr. Chrostowsky explained that he spoke to VLCT regarding this problem that according to statute we would still be able to send out the tax bills, later. Tax bills would be around Nov. 22, 2008.

Board could not gain consensus on how to resolve this problem.

Mr. Chrostowsky called VLCT for guidance on this problem at the meeting. They agreed to get back to us later with an opinion with further study.

Ms. Mellinger expressed concern over the tax bill going out so late. She still had grave concerns on how the residents would be able to handle an additional deficit tax with this economy and the increase in school taxes.

Ms. Morse felt that the deficit tax should be dealt with now and any cost saving strategies developed this year should be implemented to prevent a deficit this fiscal year.  

Ms. Mellinger made a motion to deal with the deficit reduction tax at town meeting in March 2009. Mr. Pennebaker seconded. Motion carried 3-1-1.          

5.         Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Aaron Chrostowsky