Update on Last Night's Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 8:47AM Here are some notes from a participant; I (Jay) wasn't able to attend. Let me know if you see any inaccuracies or would like to comment publicly; just reply to this message. Don't forget, Board Meetings take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7 pm, Orange Town House.
Twenty three town residents including 5 former Selectmen, the current and former Town Moderators, the town clerk, members of the planning board, the tax collector and other concerned citizens attended last night’s selectboard meeting.
Selectboard Chair Pat Mercer and Vice Chair George White were unable to confirm whether the third selectboard member, Bob Ells, had resigned or if the town Secretary, Sandi Pierson, had resigned. Bob was not present, Sandi was. Sandi has not submitted a formal letter of resignation.
George White read a lengthy job description for the town secretary position, a description Sandi Pierson has been requesting for more than a year. With no discussion, Pat and George voted to approve the description.
Many citizens then expressed their support for Sandi mentioning her pleasant, helpful manner, the fact she has provided vital continuity over the past five years as each year’s board composition is different. It was emphasized that she has literally saved the town thousands of dollars as she has worked to update the decades old veteran’s exemption lists, elderly exemption lists and the current use lists. The Town, thanks to Sandi’s diligence, is now in full compliance.
Nonetheless, Pat Mercer and George White refused to say that Sandi had the job. In fact she will have to apply for it and the job will be posted as of today.
NOTE: since Sandi was not acting as secretary, former board secretary Pat White offered to take minutes.
Conversation then shifted to the growing concern over the Town’s finances. The Town apparently faces a $5000 fine from the state Labor office because wages haven’t been paid on time. FICA payments, due to the IRS, have not been paid since early in 2014. The Town faces fines for that as well. Pat Mercer sought to reassure residents that there would be no fine for FICA issue because she had ‘talked to the IRS”. Judith Lindhadl pointed out that only written communication from the IRS is valid, not phone conversations.
Betty Fulton asked if the town was now up to date in paying all its bills and Pat stated emphatically that it was, that the only two unpaid bills were sitting in front of her with vouchers to be signed last night. Betty Fulton followed up by asking if that meant that the late FICA payments had been paid. Pat Mercer said ‘no’. Betty asked if the labor department fine that been paid, Pat said ‘no’. Town Moderator Dan Hazelton expressed his embarrassment that those who he recruits to work on election day called because they still hadn’t been paid a month after the election. Dan said it is difficult enough to recruit the number of election staff needed without worrying that they won’t be paid in a timely manner.
Deputy Treasurer Tessa Michetti offered to undertake a total review of the Town’s finances. Dorothy Heinrichs asked the board to vote immediately to accept Tess’s offer, to have Tess provide her findings in an open public selectboard meeting, and to do so at the next meeting which will take place May 26th. The board voted to accept Tess’s offer.
Sharon Proulx, the tax collector, mentioned that 8 items that were tabled at the April 14th board meeting because George was away had not been placed on the evening’s agenda. Some of the actions the board needed to take were crucial to the execution of Sharon’s job. She also mentioned that the treasurer mislabeled a check to the US Post Office, sent it without postage and that the Canaan Post Office staff noted that things aren’t running smoothly in Orange.