Selectboard Minutes - January 26, 2010



Vershire Selectboard Minutes
January 26, 2010 (approved)

In attendance: Vernal Stone (Chair), Marc McKee, Rita French, Gene Craft, Alan Lyford, Debra Kingsbury

Guest: Syd Veysey

Vernal Stone called the meeting to order at 7:03pm

French made a motion to go in to executive session, McKee seconded, all were in favor.

The board entered in to executive session at 7:04pm

Selectboard came out of executive session at 8:16pm-- the decision was that highway crew member, Syd Veysey, would be informed that he was suspended for three days with pay. Stone asked Craft to contact Veysey and inform him of their decision.

Lyford asked the board about the gravel line item on the 2010 Highway Budget and to verify how it would be seasonally divided and noted during the calendar year. It was also discussed as to previous shortcomings of data in highway personnel records.

The Selectboard reviewed the 2009 Annual Report and the Town Warning for 2010 with the articles and budget amounts.

Discussion followed about the donations category and the time frame on same to help minimize the municipal tax impact.

New Topic: Recycle ramps: French has some 2x8 boards approximately 15 feet long that she would contribute to assist with the redesign for the angle of the present recycle center ramps. Stone stated that Steve Ward would verify that the ramps were movable and not presently frozen to the ground. McKee and others would attempt to work on the ramps on Friday 29th, weather permitting. It was suggested that a board be placed to enclose the rear of the upper platform area so that participants don?t exit via the rear area.

Stone moved to approve the 2009 Town Report and sign the Warning for the 2010 Town Meeting. All were in favor and approved.

Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) implications were discussed as Stone had supplied Kingsbury with the recent Valley News article and asked for her input. Kingsbury, as Town Lister, stated that she felt the town was in a good position with the CLA increasing 5% compared to other towns in the article and anticipated that the school tax rate would remain either level or down a cent or two.

Craft plans to send the 2009 Annual Report to the printer at the end of this week or first of next week.

McKee plans to meet with R. Covey, from Pike Industries, at the Town Center Building parking area on Wednesday Jan. 26th, to get a quote for paving the needed areas.

Meeting was adjourned to a date specific time of Jan.28th at 5pm to go into executive session. Selectboard met at 5pm on Jan 26th and went into executive session until 6:10. No decision. Meeting adjourned to date
specific time of January 29th at 1 pm.

(minutes above were taken by Kingsbury)

The Vershire Selectboard met in a recessed session of a regular meeting on Friday January 29th, 2010 to discuss a personnel matter. The meeting was held in an open session, attended by the Selectboard, Sydney Veysey, Alan Lyford, and Town Attorney Paul Gillies. It began at 1pm and last approximately until 3:40pm.

Sydney Veysey, a member of the road crew, has accused Alan Lyford, Road Foreman, of altering a tool and returning it to the supplier in a defective condition. Mr. Veysey contacted the supplier to caution him not to resell the part because it was defective. The supplier has now confirmed that the part was not altered, although some confusion resulted in misunderstandings created through conversations with the supplier by all three members of the Selectboard.

After discussing the matter, the Selectboard concluded that the accusation was baseless. Mr. Veysey apologized to Mr. Lyford and agreed that the accusation was a mistake. The accusation is dismissed.

The Selectboard resolves that all personnel disputes involving the road crew shall first be discussed with the Road Commissioner before being discussed with others or the Selectboard. The Selectboard further resolves that all personnel disputes with the road crews shall be addressed by the Selectboard before discussing these matters with others. It also resolves that no member of the road crew shall discuss personnel matters with others before reviewing them with the Selectboard.

The Selectboard then voted to enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Upon leaving executive session, Marc McKee moved to remove Sydney Veysey from his position on the road crew. The vote was two in favor, with Rita French abstaining.

Rita French moved to allow Sydney Veysey one month’s severance pay, and the vote on that motion was unanimous.

The board reviewed the minutes, and unanimously approved them.

The vote to adjourn was also unanimous.

(minutes in this section respectfully submitted by Atty. Paul Gillies)