OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
EMERGENCY MEETING MINUTES
February 7, 2024
6:00 PM Virtual meeting only
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Pete Silverberg. Other selectboard members attending virtually were Patrick McAllister, Edee Edwards and Karen Christofferson. Stephan Chait and Bonnie Brown were also in attendance.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Discuss hiring new employee for highway department to replace departing employee.
Pete Silverberg noted that Blake Janovsky had tendered his resignation today with 2 weeks’ notice. Given that we are still in winter plowing season with mud season coming shortly, we need to be advertising ASAP.
Newspapers discussed include the Deerfield Valley News, which is our paper of record. The Brattleboro Reformer, Greenfield Recorder, and Commons were also mentioned as options. VLCT has a job board as well. Pete said that Patty Dow was already helping by pulling together an updated job application. The content of our most recent advertisement should serve as a starting point. Given that we are also looking for temporary coverage as noted in our last meeting, the advertisement should reference both needs. A CDL would be vital for the temporary coverage, but we could train the right person for the permanent position.
McAllister and Christofferson asked about how our CDL training offer was structured last time. Silverberg said that getting a CDL was in the job offer, with help to cover the costs over time, not all at once. Edwards recalled that Janovsky had requested additional money to cover the full cost of the training, which was $5000, not the $4000 original offered. [Note, subsequent to the meeting, minutes were found here: https://halifaxvt.com/selectboard/meeting-minutes/january-5-2023-selectboard-regular-meeting-minutes-draft/ ] McAllister’s memory and expectation is that either $1250 or $2500 will now no longer be reimbursable, and would potentially be available for the new hire in some arrangement. Edwards suggested that if the time for finding a new employee is lengthy, the board should possibly consider a bonus payout to the remaining staff.
Possible actions to ensure public awareness and road crew safety when we are short-handed include highlighting and following the Winter Roads Policy. Edwards will draft something for the website.
McAllister made a motion to advertise the upcoming road crew position and temporary help in a wide variety of media sources, up to $1000. Edwards seconded the motion. It carried 4-0.
At 6:25, it was noted that we forgot to start the Zoom recording link, so no recording will be available.
HEARING OF VISITORS
Chait was just interested in knowing what employee was leaving, having seen the emergency agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
McAllister made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Silverberg seconded, and the motion carried 4-0. The time was 6:28 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Edee Edwards, secretary pro tempore