I attended the Select Board meeting Tuesday, June 7. Emile read a resignation letter from Tom Decker, Dog Officer. Mr. Decker resigned for personal reasons relating to his health. Emile asked Alan Haskins if he would be interested in the position. Alan said he would fill the position. The Select Board agreed and will appoint Alan as the Dog Officer.

Emile asked Peter to contact the individual from Clarksburg who might be interested in the position of Town Administrator. The Select Board needs to know what salary is expected. Peter will get back to the Select Board with the information.

Richard Krutiak, Fire Chief, and several members of the Fire Department attended the meeting to present the Select Board a petition regarding the payment for the 1983 Mack truck. The petition would place an Article on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting at the end of June. The minutes from the April 5 Select Board meeting relating to this issue were read. Alan Haskins verbally approved the purchase, but Peter and Emile were not aware of the approval. The bill for the truck is approximately $3032.00 for repairs, $1500.00 for purchase and $375.00 for man bars (required for safety).

Emile said there might be a possible way not to have to go through all this. “I may have enough money”. The petition will not have to be placed on the warrant if monies are available. If money is not available, the funds would have to come from the Stabilization Fund or approval by the Town to raise taxes. Emile and Sue have been working to try and find monies to transfer at the end of the year. The transfer of money would appear on the warrant for the townspeople approval. Emile said we want to discuss this matter and not fight. We want the truck and will try to get this situation resolved.

The petition now goes to the Town Clerk. She has to verify that all the signers are registered voters. The Select Board must then present the petition to the town counsel to make sure that the wording is correct before it can placed on the Special Town Meeting warrant if necessary.

While the Select Board is trying to sort out this situation, so am I. I am still unclear as to how this breakdown in communication occurred. Emile was in the hospital during the time this Mack truck situation developed. Mr. Krutiak was talking to his liaison, Alan Haskins. I know from the April 5 Select Board meeting that was a discussion about this matter. Will further dialog about this matter be forthcoming when the remaining Select Board minutes are read?

Rita will begin interviews for the selection of ‘accountant’, Thursday, June 16. There are six candidates for this process.

The fence for the NOAA weather station has been approved. The weather station is generating data. The town will link its website with the weather station.

Minutes from past Select Board meetings that Stephanie has transcribed will be read at the next Select Board meeting. Before Select Board meeting minutes can be entered into the official record, they must be read publicly. Stephanie said there were a lot of minutes; Emile agreed.

Select Board meetings will go to a summertime schedule June 30. They will meet every other week until the end of August. Meeting dates are as follows: July 5, July 19, August 2, August 16 and
August 30. by Brenda Smith