Oct 6

10/6/2008

Town of Johnson
Selectboard Work Session

Monday, October 6, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
Upstairs, Johnson Municipal Building
APPROVED
MINUTES

Selectboard members present: Eric Osgood - Chair, Howard Romero, Franklin Hooper, Margo Warden.

Others Present: Duncan Hastings - Municipal Administrator.

Eric called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting – To discuss the monetary affects for the Town of Johnson should Wolcott opt to cut back the Sheriff’s Department service.

Eric updated the Board on Wolcott select boards actions on Sheriff Patrol. They are going to hold a meeting on November 11/19. They are looking at 2/3 services for the 09/10 budget. The options for Wolcott appear to be: no contract, 2/3 service, or continue with full service.

Roger has prepared a draft budget with 2/3 option and full contract. Initial proposal would maintain current level of funding. 2/3 budget would reduce budget by approximately $51,620. with Wolcott paying $80,000. for the 2/3 service level. Eric asked the board what their take would be on Wolcott pulling out. If Wolcott goes 2/3, should Johnson consider it too? Howard asked if the contract towns could limit Roger’s ability to provide contract service. Eric offered some other options including: not providing service to JSC or any other town. Howard wanted to see a “cost per call” and use their cost per calls as a basis for assessing other town’s calls and charge more for those calls.

Various other options and suggestions were discussed about levels of service and cost sharing with Patrol towns: organize a meeting with all county towns and ask for cooperation with paying for calls in non-patrol towns. Good opportunity for expanding service to other towns. Johnson State College’s contribution was discussed and the question was asked if town should talk to college again. Eric to check with Roger to see what college impacts are as a basis for their contribution.

Margo moved to go in to executive session to discuss legal issues. Rocky seconded. Motion passed. Board went into executive session. Howard moved to come out of execututive session at 7:56pm Margo seconded. All in favor.

Work Session continued at 7:56pm.

Duncan brought the board up to speed on The Hub and the noise level issues. Duncan advised the Board about the VEC building and VEC offer to sell the building to the Town. The board felt the proposal by LHP would be the better course of action at this time. If that failed to go forward, they would re-visit the issue.

Work session adjourned at 8:25.

Respectfully submitted by Duncan Hastings.

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