Town pays library's attorney fees
VERNON — VERNON - The Selectboard voted at their July 5 regular meeting for the town to pay attorney fees associated with Vernon Library officials' requesting clarification on a Town Meeting vote.
The vote was 3-1, with Emily Vergobbe issuing the only dissenting vote and Sandra Harris absent.
During Town Meeting on March 1, an amendment was made to the library's budget, but a $9,000 surplus mentioned in the original motion was left out of the amendment. Thus, library staff and trustees were uncertain whether their Fiscal Year 2017 budget was $106,000 or $115,000.
Library staff asked the Selectboard at a recent meeting for authorization to speak to the town attorney to clarify what the motion dictated regarding their budget. The Board consented, but asked the library staff to pay the associated fees from their budget.
During the process of working with the attorney, the library staff and trustees determined the issue wasn't about the library, but Town Meeting, and they shouldn't pay for it. Library Director Kris Berberian said to the Board, “it wasn't our fault and we need clarification on it.”
“It's a town affair, not a library thing,” Selectboard Chair Christiane Howe said.
The Board voted to cover the attorney fees through the professional services budget.
Selectboard members question librarians' pay raise
VERNON - After the library's Board of Trustees offered a 5-percent raise to library staff, some Selectboard members weren't happy with their decision.
At the July 5 regular Selectboard meeting, Board Chair Christiane Howe reminded Library Director Kris Berberian she agreed library staff should get a 2.5-percent raise - the same as other town employees received - and noted her disappointment with the larger raise.
“I felt I had no choice” but to agree at the time, Berberian said, noting the Trustees assessed the Fiscal Year 2017 budget and determined the larger raise was acceptable.
“Your library Trustees can do whatever they want with their budget,” Board member Josh Unruh said. “I feel it is very inappropriate and I'm kind of disgusted by it, personally."
Kibbee to serve out Webb's term as library trustee
VERNON - At the July 5 regular Selectboard meeting, Board Chair Christiane Howe announced David Webb's resignation from the Library Board of Trustees.
Ruth Kibbee expressed her interest in serving the remainder of Webb's term. The Selectboard unanimously voted to appoint Kibbee to the position.
Sheriff gets unlicensed dog list
VERNON - Town Clerk Tim Arsenault received unanimous approval from the Selectboard to send the list of unlicensed dogs to the Windham County Sheriff's Department for “further action.”
At the July 5 regular Board meeting, Arsenault announced “the good news is, we have more than 350 dogs lawfully licensed in town. The bad news is, we have five dog owners with a total of six dogs who have not.”
Arsenault assured the Board he had worked hard to notify all owners of the yearly licensing date of April 1, when all dogs six months of age or older must be licensed. He said he sent two letters to every dog owner in town before the “expiration date” - “people were either called, Facebook-messaged, text-messaged,” - and he even contacted dog owners' employers when he had no other way of reaching them.
“I certainly think the town clerk has made every effort,” Board member Steve Skibniowsky said.
Town ordinances and state law allows the town to impound unlicensed dogs and confine them “in a humane manner for a period of 10 days unless claimed by the owner, and then delivered to the Windham County Humane Society for placement,” Arsenault said.
The fine for a first offense is $150. Owners can claim the dogs by paying the fees and complying with licensing requirements, including proof of rabies vaccinations.
“This is a very serious health issue,” Arsenault said, noting that if a rabid dog bites someone, the town may be liable.