Central Vermont Public Safety Authority

Central Vermont Public Safety Authority “Together is Better” BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 4, 2018 Board Members present: Tm Golonka, Martin Provost, Mike Smith, Kim Cheney, Doug Hoyt, Donna Bate, Sam Dworkin by phone Others present: Caroline Earl, David Rubalcaba and Paco Aumand Agenda moved by Smith/seconded by Cheney. Paco requested executive session on personnel matter, added to agenda, and voted to approve Minutes of 12/21/2017 moved for approval by Smith and Seconded by Prevost. Smith suggested that minutes correct statement that $40,000 in reserve funds were from the training budget as the reserve included other sources. Cheney requested authority to correct typo and grammatical errors and resubmit. Motion for approval of minutes amended with suggested corrections made and carried. Executive Directors Report Paco and Smith met with Barre City Counselors Boutin and Herring. Martin met with Mayor Luzon. Herring suggested that because there would be many changes in the city councils of both Barre and Montpelier, that a joint meeting, possibly including Cap West be held to discuss plans for regional cooperation and services. Paco will prepare a document to present to each City Council to include the Authority strategic plan, with goals and objectives. He submitted drafts with notice of the meeting. A draft statement of goals, or performance expectations, for 2018 was presented including: 1. Cap West: Hold meeting(s) with Cap West to develop a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) for its joining the Authority 2. Simulcast Radio: Provide a detailed report on the need for and plans to provide a such a system 3. Single Site Dispatching Center Provide a plan for such a center, and how it would mitigate the concerns of the two cities’ dispatchers regarding a single service to support both cities and regional fire and ems communications. Pending legislation may move 911 call taking from the jurisdiction of the state police and provide assistance for regional entities. 4. Exit Strategy: In the event the two city councils or the voters do not support the planned accomplishments, plan how unused funds would be returned, and other steps need to wind down the Authority. Discussion: Golonka suggested adding the joint meetings suggested by Councilor Herring as an additional Goal. Paco would include a set number of meetings to be held for the public to explain Authority’s objectives. He would seek to have measurable goals established and listed. Cheney stated critical issue was having the dispatchers voice their support for the Authority by providing accounts of current problems facing them that could be met by the Authority. Rubalcaba noted dispatchers were unwilling to do so because they doubted the Authority would be able to do anything constructive. Paco noted that the intent of seeking these accounts was not to blame any existing operations, but to have the people closest to the operation who know where improvements could be made to point them out. Earl suggested that she was willing to work with dispatchers to make 4 to 6 “generic” accounts of problem areas that would be real life examples of the need for change. These problem statements could be a test of the Authority’s ability to manage, and be a sort of score card for performance. The Board consensus was the Paco and Cheney would work with Earl on developing those statements. Preparation of the Warning: After discussion of the language needed for the public warning a motion was made by Smith seconded by Prevost the Board approved a warning for the March vote to request an appropriation of $60,000: $31,800 from Barre and $28,200 from Montpelier. Executive Session Motion made by Smith seconded by Prevost that premature public general knowledge of an employment issue relating to the executive director would place the Board and the employee in a position of disadvantage in keeping with 1 V.S.A. Sec 313 (1). A motion was then made at 7:10 P.M by Bate seconded by Prevost go into executive session to discuss an employee issue in keeping with T. 1 Sec. 313 (A) and (B). The Board then voted to come out of executive session when Smith moved and Bate seconded a motion to go out of executive session which occurred at 8:02 PM No action was taken because of the executive session. Moved to adjourn by Prevost seconded by Smith and voted to adjourn at 8:15