WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.470 --> 00:00:06.299 Town of Plainfield: We bought two. I'm gonna pause. Yes. 2 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:11.920 Town of Plainfield: All right, good evening. This is, 3 00:00:12.050 --> 00:00:25.929 Town of Plainfield: June 3rd, special select board meeting, for the Town of Plainfield, 7 p.m, and we have all 5 of our Select Board members here tonight, and online we have 4 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:32.430 Town of Plainfield: Dan Hardy and Eric Blaisdell, and Charlie Cogwell is being admitted. 5 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:36.800 Town of Plainfield: No. 6 00:00:37.290 --> 00:00:44.029 Town of Plainfield: Okay. And Charlie is now in as well, so… And we have with us Tammy Martell, 7 00:00:44.370 --> 00:00:49.950 Town of Plainfield: Before we go into executive session, are there any announcements? 8 00:00:53.440 --> 00:01:05.579 Town of Plainfield: No announcement? No pets. Is there any… I have an announcement. This Friday, first Plainfield Farmer's Market of the season. Yes, okay. Yeah, and community dinner. And community dinner. Now cooking. 9 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:22.150 Town of Plainfield: Oh, nice, thank you. So, I can make an announcement, which I think you all know, but I'll make it for the benefit of Zoom, which is, on the website, there is a link for people to comment on the potential outcomes for Brook Road. 10 00:01:22.230 --> 00:01:28.490 Town of Plainfield: And people are starting to fill that out. We've got a very robust response, but it's open for another 3 weeks. 11 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:47.040 Town of Plainfield: So, if you or people you know want to comment on the future of Brook Road, go to the website, go to the survey, fill it in. It's actually open until the 18th of June, and then it will close. Yep. Okay. Yeah, and there were a lot of comments on there, I read through them. Yeah, I read through a bunch of them today, yeah. 12 00:01:47.300 --> 00:01:49.689 Town of Plainfield: Any public input? 13 00:01:54.290 --> 00:01:57.560 Town of Plainfield: Alright, I don't see any hands, alright. 14 00:01:57.740 --> 00:02:01.070 Town of Plainfield: Alright, so, in that case, 15 00:02:01.080 --> 00:02:18.710 Town of Plainfield: I would entertain a motion for executive session. We are going to, be, have a full board is interviewing Tammy Martell, who was with us. This is a callback interview from our previous interview, so… For the Treasurer. Treasurer Financial Director position, yes. 16 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.570 Town of Plainfield: We'll make a motion that we go into executive session. 17 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:31.299 Town of Plainfield: Pursuant to VSA 1 Chapter 313. Personnel, yes? Yes, okay. Second. 18 00:02:31.940 --> 00:02:37.550 Town of Plainfield: Karen moves, and Francis Rhodes second. Any further discussion? 19 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:54.469 Town of Plainfield: If not, we are gonna go into executive… All in favor? All in favor, please say aye. It's unanimous. And we will turn the recording off, and we'll come… we'll turn it back on when we come back out. And I'm putting folks in the waiting room, 20 00:02:54.660 --> 00:02:57.400 Town of Plainfield: As it's our way, when they… 21 00:02:58.070 --> 00:03:01.380 Town of Plainfield: are not in executive session, let's say. 22 00:03:01.640 --> 00:03:04.330 Town of Plainfield: put in waiting room. Everybody? 23 00:03:04.690 --> 00:03:07.700 Town of Plainfield: There, and stop recording. 24 00:03:08.050 --> 00:03:11.110 Town of Plainfield: Pause. Trail for, like… Here we go. 25 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:13.789 Town of Plainfield: Let everybody get in. 26 00:03:14.570 --> 00:03:16.410 Town of Plainfield: Alright, just a minute. 27 00:03:17.440 --> 00:03:24.790 Town of Plainfield: Some people were actually waiting. Eric's still out there. Come on in, Eric. He's joining. Peter may invite you to this chair. 28 00:03:25.220 --> 00:03:29.209 Town of Plainfield: I'm in the camera made invited to turn the camera, so I'll turn the camera. 29 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:48.340 Town of Plainfield: So we can see people. Where am I going? We're all here. It's imperfect. Okay, it's imperfect. Alright, there's Eric. All right, we're recording. I'm all in. Good. So, I make a motion to leave Executive Session Discussion of personnel pursuant to 1VSA Section 313. 30 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:52.939 Town of Plainfield: Second. And Andy moves, then Karen seconds. 31 00:03:53.060 --> 00:04:06.180 Town of Plainfield: Is there any further discussion? To leave Executive Session? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. And that's 5 to 0, and we are back in public session. 32 00:04:06.420 --> 00:04:15.570 Town of Plainfield: Is there any motions? Are there any motions? Yes, this relates to the Treasurer and Finance Director job offer. 33 00:04:15.570 --> 00:04:32.570 Town of Plainfield: There's a motion to extend an offer to Tammy Martell for the position of Town Treasurer and Finance Director, and authorize Peter Young Bear and Andy Robinson to execute the employment agreement as drafted by our Town Attorney within the salary range as posted. 34 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:34.120 Town of Plainfield: Second. 35 00:04:34.750 --> 00:04:41.550 Town of Plainfield: Andy has moved, and Karen has… Secondly, is there discussion? 36 00:04:43.820 --> 00:04:49.919 Town of Plainfield: We think she's a great candidate. I'm excited. Say, Charlie, your hand's up. Charlie, your hand is up, we'll recognize you. 37 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:53.260 Charles Cogbill: Oh, thank you very much. 38 00:04:53.470 --> 00:04:57.859 Charles Cogbill: I have, an observation that the electorate 39 00:04:58.030 --> 00:05:11.489 Charles Cogbill: has been totally shut out of this process, probably in good stead. But, they have had, no opportunity to have any input into the process. 40 00:05:11.630 --> 00:05:25.909 Charles Cogbill: This job of town treasurer was originally an elected position. It still is a position representing the electorate, representing the town. I have two questions. 41 00:05:26.170 --> 00:05:35.580 Charles Cogbill: One is, is there any, term of how the compensation will be set for the town treasurer? 42 00:05:35.980 --> 00:05:49.819 Charles Cogbill: And secondly, what would be the term of service for the town treasurer? And I anticipate that, these should be in accord with state statute. 43 00:05:50.050 --> 00:05:51.570 Charles Cogbill: And with our charter. 44 00:05:52.730 --> 00:06:02.000 Town of Plainfield: They are, and if, we had a similar example when we hired the, town clerk. 45 00:06:02.030 --> 00:06:15.839 Town of Plainfield: We had an employment agreement that was written by our attorney, and we have a draft year now that we will, iron out the details with the candidate upon approval. 46 00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:24.100 Town of Plainfield: And it is within the salary range as posted, which is approved by the voters. 47 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:39.260 Town of Plainfield: that was done as part of our… as part of the budget. So that is set there. The specific number has not yet been agreed to with the candidate, but we anticipate it will be. 48 00:06:39.270 --> 00:06:48.780 Town of Plainfield: And in terms of employment, this is one of those areas where we have discussed this a bit in public, is that, 49 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:59.040 Town of Plainfield: Our attorney, at, there's a woman named Sarah Buxton at Gillies and Tarrant, Tarrant and Gillies. Sorry, I had it reversed. 50 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:17.069 Town of Plainfield: Who is a specialist in human resource law, and this… the switch from elected to appointed town clerks and treasurer has not been a smooth one in the state of Vermont, and the legislature has not kept up entirely as it should with those, and so there are provisions 51 00:07:17.070 --> 00:07:34.249 Town of Plainfield: Within the employment agreements, that basically call this a, we set a term of one year, roughly a year, which is automatically renewable unless… and then there are a number of conditions. 52 00:07:34.250 --> 00:07:39.649 Town of Plainfield: And those conditions can come from the town, or they can come from, someone who 53 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.439 Town of Plainfield: wants to resign. 54 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.390 Town of Plainfield: Duck. 55 00:07:43.310 --> 00:07:46.539 Town of Plainfield: So, that… that is what we have from the attorneys. 56 00:07:46.790 --> 00:08:04.519 Charles Cogbill: Yeah, that sounds very good. I'm pleased, very pleased that a person has been found, that it is mutually agreeable, we hope, to have a contract. I just want to make sure that the state law statute 57 00:08:04.520 --> 00:08:21.869 Charles Cogbill: says that the town shall vote compensation. The town at last town meeting voted compensation, and I don't think you can say that the contract sets the compensation. It is the town that has set the compensation. 58 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:36.720 Charles Cogbill: Secondly, the, term of, of office, in our town charter says that the Select Board shall appoint, if the town treasurer resigns. 59 00:08:36.850 --> 00:08:54.179 Charles Cogbill: The Select Board shall appoint an elected person to fill the vacancy until the next town meeting. I would like to make sure that your attorney addresses those two issues and informs the electorate of those decisions. 60 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:57.790 Town of Plainfield: That's a good suggestion. 61 00:08:57.990 --> 00:09:15.160 Town of Plainfield: I hear those, comments, and we will check with the town… town attorney. I know that they're very aware of the issues and the potential conflicts with law and charters and whatnot, and that is an area that is cloudy, Charlie, so… 62 00:09:15.160 --> 00:09:27.940 Charles Cogbill: Oh, absolutely, and Plainfield is setting a precedent, in how appointed town officers, after the Coventry decision. 63 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:36.839 Charles Cogbill: And as you have indicated, it is very cloudy, and my one complaint 64 00:09:36.930 --> 00:09:45.730 Charles Cogbill: Is that the clouds have not been cleared to the electorate up until this point. 65 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.960 Town of Plainfield: Okay, thank you. Thanks, Peter. Any other comments? 66 00:09:52.280 --> 00:09:54.189 Charles Cogbill: Thank you for all your work. 67 00:09:54.690 --> 00:09:56.850 Town of Plainfield: Thank you, Charlie. 68 00:09:57.850 --> 00:10:01.369 Town of Plainfield: All right, I don't see any other DMs up. 69 00:10:01.990 --> 00:10:12.810 Town of Plainfield: All right. Will you entertain a motion to adjourn? No, no, no, we gotta vote. Oh, we have to vote. That was discussion. Okay. So, fine. 70 00:10:13.030 --> 00:10:27.749 Town of Plainfield: Do you want to repeat the motion one more time? Motion to extend an offer to Tammy Martell for the position of Town Treasurer and Finance Director, and authorize Peter Young Baron L. Robinson to execute the employment agreement as drafted by Town Attorney within the salary range as posted. 71 00:10:28.290 --> 00:10:45.469 Town of Plainfield: Second. I second it. It was moved and seconded. We've had discussion. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? And that is unanimous. Woohoo! Thank you, folks. Thank you, folks. Yeah, I think… I think we got a good one. 72 00:10:45.470 --> 00:10:58.400 Town of Plainfield: We do think we have a good one, yeah, yes. Okay. When we contact her? Tomorrow? Oh, yeah. Second. 73 00:10:58.450 --> 00:11:04.360 Town of Plainfield: It's been moved by Francis Rowe, seconded by Karen Hatcher, to adjourn. Any further discussion? 74 00:11:04.470 --> 00:11:15.420 Town of Plainfield: If not, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? It's unanimous. Thank you. Okay. 75 00:11:16.090 --> 00:11:27.380 Town of Plainfield: Thank you all. Thank you, Peter. A little underextended. Yeah. It was hot. The kids were messed up, so we had to talk to the attorney.