Selectboard Minutes 10-19-2021
Selectboard Minutes 10-19-2021
TOWN OF RUTLAND SELECTBOARD OPEN MEETING
RUTLAND TOWN MUNICIPAL TOWN HALL
181 BUSINESS ROUTE 4, CENTER RUTLAND, VT 05736
OCTOBER 19th, 2021
This meeting had a virtual attendance option available for anyone to join.
- Meeting opened at 6:00 P.M. with the pledge of allegiance
- Board members present Mary Ashcroft, Joe Denardo, Sharon Russell, John Paul Faignant and Don Chioffi
- Members of the public present – Lydia Flynn, Kim McKirryher
- Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway was present
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the pending retirement of the Town Road Commissioner at the end of the year, and what steps the board would like to take in preparation of this.
The board would like to hire someone to fill the position until the full replacement plan is realized. Ideally the new hire would start before to Commissioner Hathaway retiring so there could be some cross training, but the timeline is very short to accomplish that.
The board intends to include an item son the ballot asking town voters if they would approve the position being appointed by the board, or if it should stay an elected office.
If the voters approve the position being appointed, the individual hired for the interim could stay on as the permanent candidate.
If the voters do not approve the change, as election at a future date, possibly August or November would be held to elect a new person for this position. If this weas the case, the individual hired for the interim would stay on until the election process was complete.
An individual who is appointed is not required to be a Town resident. An individual who is elected must live in Rutland Town.
Selectman Chioffi commented that the topic of the position being appointed versus elected is new for him and he has not been a part of those discussion yet. Selectman Chioffi is not in favor of the position being appointed but does not object to it being included on the ballot.
Selectwoman Russell moved to have Town Counsel draft a ballot question for Town Meeting Day. Selectman Faignant seconded the motion. There was discussion about an alternative that came up at a recent Highway Committee meeting in where absent a Road Commissioner, a member of the board could act as the interim Road Commissioner until one was put in place. Selectman Chioffi asked Selectman Denardo if he was in favor of this approach or if he wanted to be elected to the position. Selectman Denardo said no to both aspects. Selectman Denardo said these discussions have been going on prior to Selectman Chioffi’s election in March which is why he has not been a part of them. The board has had over a year to discuss this since Commissioner Hathaway had said when he was reelected last time that it would be his last term. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Discussed advertising for the pending vacancy. Commissioner Hathaway’s last day will be December 31st. Selectman Chioffi asked Commissioner Hathaway if he would stay on until March. Commissioner Hathaway said he will not.
Selectwoman Ashcroft asked Commissioner Hathaway to work with Administrative Assistant Bill Sweet to create the job posting. Locations for the posting were discussed. As many as can reasonable be done will be used. The board asked for the job posting to be put up as soon as possible.
Selectman Faignant moved to adjourn. Selectman Denardo seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:22 PM.
| Mary Ashcroft, Chair |
| Joseph Denardo, Clerk |
| John Paul Faignant |
| Sharon Russell |
| Don Chioffi |
Center Rutland, VT.