Minutes of Meeting
Board of Selectmen
Meeting held upstairs in Town Hall Monday August 20,
2007
Attending: Town Manager Edward Samson
Selectmen David Stickney, Leo Enos, Sr., and Allan Carr
Administrative Services Manager Becky Newton
Others attending: Alan Savage, Murray Vashaw, Joe Bachofer, Rev. Don Williams, Superintendent of Schools Lou Lafasciano, School Board members – Peter Riviere, Chris Wheeler and Greg Odell. Melissa Grimma and Charlotte Sheltry Reporters.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman David Stickney, followed by the Pledge to the Flag.
APPOINTMENTS:
Superintendent of Schools of SAU 36 Lou Lafasciano and various members of the School Board were present. Dr. Lafasciano introduced himself and the Board and said that they were going to go around to all of the Selectboard meetings and let them know who they were and what their plans were. They are trying to break the cycle of a new Superintendent every 3-4 years. They would also like to work with the Town boards when it comes to budget time, as the various towns work through their budgets they would like to come back and let them know what they are doing and maybe work together. They want to keep the lines of communication open that is the only way that everyone can be on the same page.
Greg Odell of the School Board asked if the Selectboard had any thoughts or directions that they would like the school board to take. He said that there is a Facility Study that had been done and suggested that the Towns read it.
Leo Enos
asked how the front entrance to the
Dr. Lafasciano said that it is on schedule and that there would be an open house on Thursday Aug. 24th, and that they came in under budget. He also stated that there are various sub-committees that have been set up to help make things run smoother. Peter Riviere is the chairman of the Facility Committee: Chris Wheeler is the chairman of the Personnel Committee, they are in negotiations and this will also include job descriptions.: Lynn Holland is the chairman of the Curriculum Committee; Cathy Warren is the chairman of the Policy Committee and there is a chairman for the Vocational and Careers. He also stated that he, the Committee heads and the other members of the School Board work together on the Fiscal, Facility and Finances. They are setting up a 5 year plan. They will be looking into the student and work program needs. He had just met with area School Administrators and a lot of good information was given for now and looking into long range planning. He feels that with a District the size of ours having the sub-committees that they have set up things will move along much faster.
They have already started looking into ways of saving monies. For an example they found that there were multiply contracts for copy machines and if they are all put together there would be a savings of about $l73,000.00 over a 5 year period. He also suggested that maybe the towns and the schools could get together and purchase supplies such as copy paper and various other things that they both use. The School Board has given him the challenge to change things. He feels that a $20 million dollar budget is as high as he will go and will do everything he can to stay below it.
Edward Samson stated that communication is the key. To meet with the various town boards and work together. The reason that the school meetings are poorly attended is that the people feel that their comments are disregarded, but once they attend they realize how much it costs to run the schools.
Dr. Lafasciano said that he would be coming to the Town boards throughout the year. He will also bring the people from the Central Office around so that everyone will know who they are, it is important for everyone to know whom they are talking too.
Don Williams stated that he feels that the long range planning is good.
David Stickney stated that in the past people didn’t feel that they were being heard and some of the prior School Boards didn’t want to listen.
Dr. Lafasciano said that this is why they are going from town to town to get information from and to them. If people want to talk to him his number is in the book and he will do the best he can to answer any questions they have.
David Stickney said that the towns did not get information from previous boards, people want an answer whether it be good or bad.
Melissa Grimma asked if the school board was going to have the Principals back at the school meetings. She was told that they have the summer off. They will be rotating the school board meetings to the various schools and the Principal of that school will have to be there. On August 27 they will be having a District wide Curriculum meeting and everyone will have to be there so that they are all on the same page.
Becky Newton asked about the Emergency Management issue. She was told that Rick Vashaw has written a grant for that. And where will it be housed?
Peter Riviere said that particular issue was brought up at the last Facility meeting.
Dr. Lafasciano will be meeting with Law Enforcement on Tuesday to go over some of those issues. The schools are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Chris Wheeler said that the school does have a final emergency management plan.
Edward Samson said that they various town department heads are working on their plans now.
Becky
Newton said that the
David Stickney said that the School Board should check with the Passumpsic Bank as in the past that was also a shelter, but since it changed hands they might not be aware of it.
It was also mentioned that maybe the District could apply for some grants to help with that.
Dr. Lafasciano thanked the Board for their time and they would keep in touch.
OLD BUSINESS;
Review and approve the minutes of the August 6th meeting. A vote was called for to accept.
A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by Leo Enos to accept the minutes as written. A vote was called for and the motion carried. David Stickney abstained, as he was not at the meeting.
Department Head Up-dates: None
Signing of various paperwork.
Edward Samson brought up the request as to whether or not to continue with the yearly inventory forms. A letter was read from Northtown Associates, LLC (Jason and Malcolm Call) saying that they keep it. (a letter was in the packet). The biggest cost is of the mailing of them. It was suggested that they do a Cyclical Reval and it would be over a 5 year period. David Stickney said that it was brought before the voters and they turned it down. Edward Samson said that the re-val would not hurt the voters it would all be the same. There is $42,000.00 in the budget now for the assessors. After much discussion it was asked what the Board wanted to do.
A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by Leo Enos to do away with the yearly inventory. A vote was called for and the motion carried.
After the vote the Board signed the forms to be sent back to the Department of Revenue Administration.
Signatures were needed on forms for the CDBG application for Donna Lane Consultant. This was to do with the Water St. Project.
NEWBUSINESS;
There was a letter from Wayn-o’s Disposal Service. They have submitted a new contract for the 2008-09 year. There was an increase of $2,548.00 over last year. This was due to the increase of fuel prices. Edward Samson said that these are normally put out to bid but in the past there has been no one compatible to them and he suggested that the Board continue with them.
A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by Leo Enos to continue with Wayn-o’s curbside pick-up service. A vote was called for and the motion carried.
Edward
Samson said that someone who wanted to add some names to the
There was not a motion on this but all were in agreement.
Tax Appeal: Elmwood Lancaster LLC appealed Tax Assessment. Jason Call recommended changing the assessment from $700,010.00 to $589,330.00.
A motion was made by David Stickney and seconded by Leo Enos to accept Jason Calls recommendation. A vote was called for and the motion carried.
Lucy Wyman presented a list of names that would be willing to serve as an “Energy Committee” to address Global Warming. The names were – Ben Southworth, Kay Doherty, Molly Tobin, Cid Southworth, Peter Gair and Lucy Wyman.
Ed Samson told the Board that the Town is not bound by anything that they submit.
A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to accept the names presented. A vote was called for and the motion carried.
Edward Samson said that the negotiations with Easter Seals were stalled. He said that he would be willing to let them pay the $5,000.00, $4,000.00 etc. until it comes to the end. All agreed to let it be done that way.
On the issue with Tim Lussier. Ed said that he has been given “every” opportunity to take care of his situation and he still has done nothing. He (Ed) would not accept any monies as things still weren’t done. The Board agreed to let Ed do what he had to do with it.
In the packet were Building Permits for:
David & Louise Lufkin on
Patricia Perras & Kevin James on
Gregory
Bartlett on
Robert & Georgianna Ladd 180 Portland St. for a gazebo.
Also in the packet were the July 25th Zoning Board of Adjustment minutes – unapproved.
Col. Town Spending Committee minutes of June 21st and July 11th.
Allan Carr felt that there should be a police officer downtown during the busy hours of the day taking care of traffic and there is a lot of people passing on the right and someone could get hurt. There was a lot of discussion on this.
The Board
agreed to let Edward Samson and Becky Newton come up with a short list for the
Noting that there was no further business to come before the meeting a vote was called for to adjourn.
A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to adjourn. A vote was called for and the meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.
It was also noted that due to the Labor Day Monday the
next meeting would be on Tuesday September 4th at 6:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted; Approved:
Sandra E. Doolan – Clerk David
Stickney
Leo
Enos, Sr.
\\\
Allan
Carr
Board
of Selectmen