Board of Selectmen Meeting, April 15, 2024
No volunteers yet for Budget Committee vacancy. Complaints about Building Inspector. Concerns about new Fire Department shifts. Complaint about the town withholding personal property and consequent da
Budget Committee Vacancy
Thursday at 7:00 pm the Budget Committee will meet to choose a candidate to fill John Decker’s seat, which became vacant when he became a Selectman. So far no one has volunteered for the position. If you wish to volunteer, contact Michael Kelly at mzpfarms@gmail.com. Volunteers for the position may also just show up at the meeting.
Complaint About the Building Inspector
A resident’s security camera captured images of a strange man wandering their property. They posted these on Facebook, concerned about the incident. Facebook users identified the man as the town’s Building Inspector. The resident filed a complaint with the town, as there were no building permits open on their property, no reason for the inspector to be there, and most importantly, neither the inspector nor his car are identifiable as being involved in town business.
The incident was determined to be due to the Building Inspector having been given an incorrect address.
Because the incident was publicized on Facebook, another citizen reported to the town a similar incident that occurred last autumn. In both cases the key concern was that the Building Inspector and his car are not visibly associated with town business.
The Town Administrator is working on ways to address the concern. One thing in the works is for all town employees to be provided with badges.
Concerns About New Fire Department Shifts
Former Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock questioned how the Fire Department could maintain two full-time staff on hand at the Fire Station 24 hours per day, six days per week, as the voters approved in 2022, on the department’s new 42-hour per week schedule. Responses from the board, primarily from Selectman Shirland, who is the board’s Fire Department liaison, generally failed to address the specificity of the question. The department is currently running with 24/7 scheduling, but not with six full-time staff. Instead it is using four full-timers and a large number of per diem staff. Further, the proposed 42-hour workweek schedule turns out not to be based on a calendar week. Because of this, the schedule would still cause overtime to be incurred based on the town’s existing overtime policy. Selectman Shirland said that the town would need to change the policy so that overtime would not be incurred. In the prior meeting the board was told that this new schedule would eliminate overtime without having to change the town’s overtime policy.
The board offered to provide a redacted copy of the department’s April/May schedule showing 24/7 coverage. This caused a question to arise about the department’s officers. It was noted that Steven Ross while still with the department, was no longer an officer. Ross was the losing candidate in the department’s January election for Fire Chief.
Complaints about Inappropriate Holding of Personal Property and Illegal Usage
Former Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock complained that he still hasn’t had his personal property at the Fire Station returned to him, and that he has been denied access to it since March 20, 2023. Selectman Decker asked if anyone had arranged for Vilchock to obtain his property. The answer was that this had never been done. The board directed the Town Administrator to arrange for the complainant to retrieve his property from the Fire Station.
Vilchock also claimed that someone had accessed his personal laptop and taken a photo from it. Selectman Decker pointed out that such a thing is a crime and that the town should forward the complaint to the police to investigate.
The photo in question was shared on social media by a pseudonymous account that presented the photo as evidence of Vilchock’s son giving a Nazi salute.
Highway Department Vehicle Failure
The Highway Department’s 2016 Ford Explorer, a high-mileage vehicle that had formerly been a police cruiser, and which served as the department’s light-duty vehicle, had a massive front-end failure requiring towing. It is uncertain whether it makes economic sense to repair the vehicle.
Library Septic System Temporary Repair
A temporary leach-field pipe has been installed allowing the library’s septic system not to have to be pumped every week. Replacement of the leach field is still planned, but this temporary fix allows the Highway Department to delay the installation to a time of year when there is less need for road work.
Highway Brush Removal
The Highway Department has begun removing brush from the April snowstorm. The brush will be chipped. Landowners can request that chips be left on their property. More details.
Town Beach Road Blocked by Downed Trees
The April snowstorm knocked five large pine trees down across the access road to the town beach. As this is also the access road to Drown’s Dam, the town is hoping that the state will clear the trees. The beach is scheduled to be opened on Memorial Day weekend. It cannot be opened until the road is cleared. The Town Administrator will discuss the situation with the landowner.
Cost of Town Email Accounts
The Town Administrator followed up on a question from the prior meeting about the cost to the town to issue town email accounts. It’s $6 per month per account.
Tax Collector’s PO Box
The Town Administrator reported back to the board with her research about whether other towns use a PO box for the Tax Collector. Yes, they do. The reason is to reduce the chances of error and interference with mail delivery. Delivery to a PO box is the most secure method.
Playground Equipment Installation Failure
The volunteers who attempted to install the new playground equipment at the Community Center were unable to do so due to missing pieces and missing instructions. The company that sold it will come out and do the installation.
Meeting Recording & Broadcasting Technical Problems
Recent board meetings have been plagued with technical problems, particularly with the microphones. Planning Board member Doug Cummings volunteered to attempt to fix the problems. During the meeting a hum in the audio was identified. Cummings interrupted the meeting to successfully track down its source.
Staffing Update
The Administrative Assistant role in Town administration has been filled by Nancy Reese, who grew up in Nottingham and now lives in Deerfield.
The two open full-time positions in the Highway Department have been filled. The department is now fully staffed: 4 full-timers plus the Highway Director.
Hazardous Waste Collection
Saturday, April 27. Details.
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