BOARD OF SELECTMEN

NOVEMBER 28, 2016

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DRAFT

Attendance:  First Selectwoman Derrlyn Gorski, Selectman Donald Shea, Selectman Clark Hurlburt

Visitors:  Christine Floyd, Mackenzie Floyd

First Selectwoman Gorski called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 7:35 p.m.  The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.  The meeting was held in the Selectmen’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

ADDITION TO AGENDA

Selectman Shea moved to add Big Brothers Big Sisters to the agenda of this meeting.  Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

Christine Floyd representing the parents of the Elementary School sixth grade class, asked if the group could use the area in front of the Town Garage, for a drop off area for used clothing collection on January 28, 2017.  A truck would collect the clothes and take them away.  They would receive twenty cents a pound for the clothing.  The money collected would go into the Student Activity Fund for expenses for the sixth grade end of year activities.  High school students would help with the collection and the loading of the clothes in the truck.    Following a brief discussion Selectman Hurlburt moved to allow the Big Brothers Big Sisters group to use the area in front of the Town Garage on January 28^, 2017 as a staging area to collect used clothing weather permitting.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The motion received unanimous approval.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the meeting of November 14, 2016.  The motion of approval was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  First Selectwoman Gorski amended the minutes to read that Roger Hathaway and Brian Smith were re-appointed to the Inland Wetlands Commission.  Nancy Scanlon was moved to a full board member.   The amended minutes were then approved on a unanimous vote.

TAX REFUNDS

Selectman Hurlburt moved the motion to refund to Ashleigh Daniels the sum of $54.35, to Financial Vehicle Trust the sum of $1,258.55, to Frank & Jeana Richo the sum of $24.85, to Shannon Mahoney the sum of $117.86, to Toyota Lease Trust the sum of $1,044.03, to Van T. Jackson the sum of $374.67 and to VCFS Auto Leasing Co. the sum of $38.02 all for overpayment of taxes.

LIGHTING OF MENORAH ON TOWN PROPERTY

Rabbi Hecht has requested permission to light a Menorah on Town property behind the Town Hall on December 24, 2016.  Following a brief discussion Selectman Hurlburt moved to allow Rabbi Hecht and members of his congregation to light a Menorah on Town property behind the Town Hall on December 24, 2016.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

MODIFICATION OF PERSONNEL POLICY

The Selectmen discussed modifications to the Personnel Policy for the Town of Bethany regarding compliance with the Family Medical Leave Act.  The Highway Department contract was modified to meet this change in the new contract.

The adopted policy change was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous.

ARTICLE X

SICK LEAVE AND PERSONAL DAYS

 

Section 1. Permanent full time employees who have been employed at least six months shall be entitled to 12 paid sick days for personal illness or injury not sustained in employment. Abuse of sick leave privilege shall be considered sufficient cause for disciplinary action. Supervisors have the right to investigate employee absences to avoid abuse of sick leave. Employees must notify the Highway Foreman on the first day of absence to be eligible for sick leave. The Town may require employees to provide a doctor’s certificate stating the nature and duration of the illness or injury for any absence of four (4) consecutive work days or more, or in any cause of suspected abuse.

 

Section 2. Unused sick days may be banked only for the purpose of covering any qualification period for short-term disability up to 120 days. Unused sick days may be banked for the purposes allowed under the Family Medical Leave Act for a period of thirty (30) days.  The initial period of thirty days may be extended by the First selectman. Any approval of a request shall not be unreasonably withheld for purposes of sick days under the Family Medical Leave Act may be used for the following: spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, uncle, aunt, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, grandparent of spouse, grandchild, or anyone residing in the same house with the employee.

 

Section 3. The employees shall be entitled to three (3) personal days.

Vacation time will be modified as follows:

Any employee who has worked 15 years or more will receive 5 weeks paid vacation.

ANY OTHER MATTER PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

First Selectwoman Gorski reports that she attended a meeting of the Working Land Alliance where the Town of Bethany received an award for the Preservation of the Carrington Property. 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 7:55 p.m. after a motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Secretary, Board of Selectmen