This document is for informational purposes only.

The original document may be obtained at the Town Hall.

 

Town of Danville

Board of Selectmen

December 17, 2007

6:30 PM

 

Selectmen Present:  Russ Pouliot, Shawn O’Neil, John Russo, Bob Moore and Joe Luna

 

Others present:  Donna Sullivan-Administrative Assistant, Steve Jussif-IT, Betsy Sanders-Treasurer, Wade Parsons-Chief of Police and Jill Fleming-Selectmen’s Clerk

 

I               Personnel Conflict Issue

 

Donna Sullivan, Administrative Assistant stated she had requested a nonpublic meeting with the Selectmen to discuss an incident that occurred between her and the Treasurer, Betsy Sanders. Betsy Sanders requested that the meeting be public. Donna Sullivan began the meeting by reading the following statement;

 

“The Treasurer requested that I reissue a check via a note I found on my desk on the morning of 12/5 which I did immediately.  4 out of 5 Board members came in on Thursday, 12/6 to sign the check register.  When I came in on Friday, 12/7 I immediately called the Treasurer and asked her to come by to sign the replacement check.  She said that she had a meeting to go to.  I offered to meet her half way or what ever would be convenient for her. She said no, this was going to make her late and she hung up.  All of a sudden she came into my office yelling.  She kept yelling that she was an elected official and she didn’t have to answer to me. She kept saying don’t you ever speak to me that way again; who do you think you are! I don’t work for you and that she did not report to me.  She was out of control.  She would not listen to anything and I felt blindsided.

 

This incident was very disturbing and upsetting to me. I called the Chairman of the Board and told him what had just taken place.  I am only an employee.  The Treasurer’s actions were unnecessary and uncalled for.  

 

As a result of the Treasurer’s memo regarding the incident, which is her recollection of the event, I requested a non-public meeting.  The Treasurer was so angry with me on the morning of 12/7 that she did not realize that there were other people in the office when she was carrying on out of control.   This behavior is not appropriate”.

       

Betsy Sanders Treasurer apologized for her actions, she stated she was angry at the time and admitted to acting in an unprofessional manner.  However, she stated due to scheduled meetings, coming in that morning would cause her to be late for the meeting and that there was no need for the check to be signed that morning since it was not due to be paid till 12/17. She stated that Mrs. Sullivan said that coming in that night was unacceptable.

 

 After some discussion with both parties, Selectman Moore assessed the incident thusly: One: Donna Sullivan placed an undue burden on the Treasurer by insisting that it was unacceptable to have the Treasurer come in that night to sign the check, that it must be signed that morning. No evidence was presented that indicated there was a pending emergency. While the incident occurred on the 7th, the check was not due till the 17th. Two: While Mrs. Sanders may have been inconvenienced by this request, the incident did not warrant in any way the response she exhibited in the Selectmen’s office. Outbursts such as this are unacceptable and not in the best interests of the town, its employees or officials. Mr. Moore further stated that the Treasurer and Administrative Assistant must be able to work together since they have to continually interact in the performance of their individual responsibilities.  Moving forward the Treasurer will be given ample notice to sign checks so that she can arrange her schedule to perform her duties as Treasurer.

 

Steve Jussif, IT, stated he had been requested to be present by Mrs Sullivan since he was present during the incident.

 

II             Police Department – Purchase Cruiser

a.            Selectman Moore discussed the genuine need to replace one of the PD’s existing cruisers due to safety issues. Selectman O’Neil has suggested to the board that the replacement cruiser be purchased from residual funds in the 2007 budget rather than wait for passage of the 2008 budget.   Moore further stated that he would not support the proposed warrant article to Purchase and Equip a Four Wheel Drive Police Vehicle if a new cruiser is to be purchased in 2008 because he does not believe we should be purchasing two new vehicles in the same budget year.

b.            Wade Parsons presented the Board with information to purchase a new cruiser.  He stated that the cost to purchase and equip the new Dodge cruiser would be $30,245.  This would be a direct replacement for a regular cruiser.

c.            There was discussion on the unexpended funds in the 2007 budget that could be earmarked for a replacement cruiser.  It was stated that the police budget on its own has enough funds left to purchase the vehicle.

d.            Selectman Luna questioned whether the purchase of a cruiser from 2007 funds was OK with DRA/Jeannie Samms? Selectman Moore stated that DRA has said that we can expend excess funds within the budget as long as we don’t exceed the approved budget. The board realizes that no funds could be expended to purchase a 4WD police vehicle, however, because that was a defeated warrant article and is for a new vehicle that doesn’t presently exist.

 

Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to authorize Wade Parsons-Chief of Police to purchase and equip a new replacement cruiser.

 

There was discussion on the motion regarding the cost and inclusion of the cost of decals.  Wade Parsons stated that decals were done locally at Kelly Graphics and would cost $325 - $500.

 

Selectman Luna amended the motion on the floor to include encumbering the funds from 2007 to include the cost of graphics (decals on the cruiser).    Selectman Russo seconded the amended motion.  The amended motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to amend the Selectmen’s approved 2008 Police Department Budget, line item pd-740, from $41,292 to $9,758 and the entire 2008 Police Department Budget (including the Special Detail account 4210.60) from $396,672 to $365,281.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Selectman Moore moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to move forward the tabled Warrant Article: To Purchase and Equip a Four Wheel Drive Police Vehicle with the notation recommended by the Board of Selectmen.  The motion passed unanimously.

               

III            Mooseplate Grant – Town Hall Renovations

                a.     The Board discussed the $5,000 check that had by-passed Heritage and was

                       received by the Treasurer representing the first payment for the Mooseplate Grant

                       for renovations to the second floor of the Town Hall.  The Board previously

                       discussed depositing these funds directly into the existing Heritage account.  As a

                         result of Betsy’s participation, the Board now needs clarification on whether to

                       place these funds into the Heritage account or the general fund. 

                b.     The Board discussed the fact that Leon Buzzell, Facilities Manager, was out of

                        commission due to surgery and they questioned who would oversee and sign off on

                       the work being done upstairs in the Town Hall as well as the Webster Stagecoach?

                c.     Selectman Moore agreed to provide oversight of the town hall renovations.

               

                Mooseplate Grant – Webster Stagecoach

a.        Selectman Luna agreed to oversee the Webster Stagecoach relocation project.

b.        In addition Selectman Luna has spoken with Bill Gard and the engineering work proposed by S.E.C. Engineering & Survey will be donated.

c.        The Board agreed that if LGC does not respond by the December 27th meeting, the Warrant Article for Historic Webster Stagecoach Stop & Store will be forwarded as is.  Should we here from LGC after 12/27 any modifications could be made at Deliberative Session.

 

IV            BUDGET Personnel #4155

                a.    The Board discussed and tabled until Thursday 12/27/07 due to possible revisions to the FD salary budget in an upcoming BudCom meeting.

 

V             Action File

                a.     The new contract for Dragon Mosquito was reviewed and approved.

                b.     The Blake Road decision prepared and drawn by Town Counsel was reviewed and

                      approved for distribution to Michael Cuomo.

d.        A copy of the Blake Road public hearing 11/14/07 was burned onto a CD and prepared for mailing to Town Counsel.

e.        Confirmation will be made that the town hall large meeting room will be available Thursday 12/27/07 for the next Selectmen’s meeting.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to approve the minutes of 12/10/07 as edited.  The motion passed.  Selectman Russo abstained.

 

At 8:20 PM Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

               

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

 

Jill S. Fleming

Selectmen’s Clerk