If you have any questions about this posted agenda, email kimnormanmercer@gmail.com or call me at 802-343-1265.
AGENDA
Selectboard Meeting
April 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Jericho Town Hall, 67 Vermont Route 15
(All agendas are subject to change)
7:00 PUBLIC TO BE HEARD
BUSINESS
7:05 Approval of 3/2/10 & 3/18/10 minutes
7:10 Community Center Green Up Day Breakfast Request
7:15 Riverside/Underhill Flats planning and Village Center Designation
7:20 Approve transfer of reserve funds for Town Hall bond payment
7:30 Ethan Allen Road Speed Limit Petition
7:40 Approve hiring Summer Recreation Assistant Directors
Possible Executive Session (Personnel)
Other business
Adjourn
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
WANTED: community-minded people-person to fill TSO post
The Town of Jericho is looking for a resident to fulfill the term of Town Service Officer. This person should know the community and enjoy helping others in need.
Please read this letter (pdf) from the deputy commissioner of the Dept. for Children & Families. Here is an excerpt describing the ideal candidate for this appointment:
Please share this info with anyone you feel would be a good candidate!
- Does the candidate really know the people of your community?
- Is the candidate available to assist members of your community in accessing needed services?
- Can the candidate be depended upon to maintain in complete confidence (as required by law) the names of people who are receiving assistance?
Please share this info with anyone you feel would be a good candidate!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Survived 1st meeting - recap here
What an efficient administration we have! Todd Odit and Paula Carrier, town administrator and assistant, put together the SB "packet" at the beginning of this week: the agenda, minutes from previous meetings for approval, and a host of other documents that relate to the agenda items. My role in the machine was idiot-proof! I really appreciate the preparation and clarity with which Todd and Paula go about organizing the business of Jericho.
I took the oath at 7:00 - witnessed by Jessica Alexander, town clerk, and Lucy, my 5 year old, photo courtesy of Ryan Mercer - and the meeting was called to order swiftly after (the Mercer clan left at that point).
Beginning of Meeting
There was no one present save the town officials, so no public to be heard (standard first order of business). Then the SB was reorganized, Tim Nulty assuming his turn at the chairmanship, which is brilliantly organized in rotations of three months, allowing each SB member to take some of the responsibility of running meetings and responding to town business as needed. My first turn as chair will begin with the June 3rd meeting and last through the summer. Meetings will continue to be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month (mark your calendar!).
Liquor & Tobacco Licenses
We approved the liquor & tobacco license renewals of four stores - Jericho Country Store, Jolley's, Jericho General (Mel's), and Chittenden Mills.
Other Business
We amended the agenda to add an "Other Business" item and covered a few items of interest - Jericho Rec staffing (more on that later), an application to the state for large solar panels in Jericho Center, the matter of creating a Clean Energy Assessment District (very complex, we discussed at some length, I requested that a Vermont Energy Investment Corporation expert be invited to a meeting to fill us in on the implications), and finally we recommended that the town administrator draft an email to our state legislators regarding an issue on a pending bill that seeks to reduce, if not eliminate, municipal involvement in issues that come before the Public Service Board. If anyone is interested in hearing more about this, let me know, I can forward you the email.
Regarding Jericho Rec., the camp director, Lynn Wagner, had submitted a memo requesting permission to hire an assistant director for one of the locations (big kids - BRMS, little kids - JES). I think the other SB members were inclined to grant a blessing without any further information, but I expressed some concern for aquiring a high quality of management at the camp (both of my children attend for all 6 weeks so I've had lots of experience as a parent of the program). I asked if Todd had seen a resume of the candidate, or if he knew anything else about it. He indicated that he didn't, and Tim suggested that I look into it and report back at the next meeting. Lynn, I'll talk with you real soon!
Appointments
We discussed appointments for the town's officers, including the animal warden, the listers, the health officer, and members of all the town's commissions. The only position without an easy reappointment option is the TOWN SERVICE OFFICER, which has traditionally been filled by the town administrator. Todd is willing to serve in this post. But the position is described as a person intimate with the community, preferably a person with connections in human services. This person could be a real life-saver for town resident's in need. I'll write a separate post about this later, with more information on what the job entails and how to apply.
That's about it...let me know if this information is helpful, interesting, or what. I want feedback!
I took the oath at 7:00 - witnessed by Jessica Alexander, town clerk, and Lucy, my 5 year old, photo courtesy of Ryan Mercer - and the meeting was called to order swiftly after (the Mercer clan left at that point).
Beginning of MeetingThere was no one present save the town officials, so no public to be heard (standard first order of business). Then the SB was reorganized, Tim Nulty assuming his turn at the chairmanship, which is brilliantly organized in rotations of three months, allowing each SB member to take some of the responsibility of running meetings and responding to town business as needed. My first turn as chair will begin with the June 3rd meeting and last through the summer. Meetings will continue to be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month (mark your calendar!).
Liquor & Tobacco Licenses
We approved the liquor & tobacco license renewals of four stores - Jericho Country Store, Jolley's, Jericho General (Mel's), and Chittenden Mills.
Other Business
We amended the agenda to add an "Other Business" item and covered a few items of interest - Jericho Rec staffing (more on that later), an application to the state for large solar panels in Jericho Center, the matter of creating a Clean Energy Assessment District (very complex, we discussed at some length, I requested that a Vermont Energy Investment Corporation expert be invited to a meeting to fill us in on the implications), and finally we recommended that the town administrator draft an email to our state legislators regarding an issue on a pending bill that seeks to reduce, if not eliminate, municipal involvement in issues that come before the Public Service Board. If anyone is interested in hearing more about this, let me know, I can forward you the email.
Regarding Jericho Rec., the camp director, Lynn Wagner, had submitted a memo requesting permission to hire an assistant director for one of the locations (big kids - BRMS, little kids - JES). I think the other SB members were inclined to grant a blessing without any further information, but I expressed some concern for aquiring a high quality of management at the camp (both of my children attend for all 6 weeks so I've had lots of experience as a parent of the program). I asked if Todd had seen a resume of the candidate, or if he knew anything else about it. He indicated that he didn't, and Tim suggested that I look into it and report back at the next meeting. Lynn, I'll talk with you real soon!
Appointments
We discussed appointments for the town's officers, including the animal warden, the listers, the health officer, and members of all the town's commissions. The only position without an easy reappointment option is the TOWN SERVICE OFFICER, which has traditionally been filled by the town administrator. Todd is willing to serve in this post. But the position is described as a person intimate with the community, preferably a person with connections in human services. This person could be a real life-saver for town resident's in need. I'll write a separate post about this later, with more information on what the job entails and how to apply.
That's about it...let me know if this information is helpful, interesting, or what. I want feedback!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Not yet sworn in
When Louise Miglionico told me that Bob Penniman requested two "Write-in Kim Mercer" lawn signs, I was more than a little surprised. I hadn't thought he was a real fan of David Villeneuve necessarily, but I wouldn't have thought that he'd endorse me outright for his seat. I began to think we had a very good shot at winning.
From the VLCT Selectboard Handbook, Chapter 3 - "Conflicts of Interest and Incompatible Offices":
During my time as the Assistant to the Town Administrator (2006-2008) I took the minutes for dozens of SB and DRB meetings and I watched quietly from the corner as David Villeneuve worked to get what he wanted out of Town Hall. When I saw on the ballot that he was running unopposed for the board, I was worried about our other two selectpersons: that they might be hassled and aggravated; that they would be required to expend endless energy to maintain the board's integrity; that the board would struggle constantly to prevent discussions and decisions that might contain conflicts of interest.
I tried to convince a number of other people in town--people who are competent and honest--to run as a write-in, but the effort was futile.
I was thinking that I might become one of the town's watchdogs, monitoring meetings and diligently studying the minutes of each meeting. If I was going to be appearing at Town Hall every 1st and 3rd Thursday nights to keep a vigil, I might as well throw my line into the river and see if there would be a nibble.
From the VLCT Selectboard Handbook, Chapter 3 - "Conflicts of Interest and Incompatible Offices":
The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials be independent, impartial, and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy be made in proper channels of government structure; that public office not be used for personal gain and the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.So there's that, of course.
During my time as the Assistant to the Town Administrator (2006-2008) I took the minutes for dozens of SB and DRB meetings and I watched quietly from the corner as David Villeneuve worked to get what he wanted out of Town Hall. When I saw on the ballot that he was running unopposed for the board, I was worried about our other two selectpersons: that they might be hassled and aggravated; that they would be required to expend endless energy to maintain the board's integrity; that the board would struggle constantly to prevent discussions and decisions that might contain conflicts of interest.
I tried to convince a number of other people in town--people who are competent and honest--to run as a write-in, but the effort was futile.
I was thinking that I might become one of the town's watchdogs, monitoring meetings and diligently studying the minutes of each meeting. If I was going to be appearing at Town Hall every 1st and 3rd Thursday nights to keep a vigil, I might as well throw my line into the river and see if there would be a nibble.
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