MINUTES OF THE

SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

Of October26, 2009

 

Supervisor Christine Webb called the Special Town Board Meeting to order at 4:40PM. (Chair Lu Peet arrived at 4:45PM. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Agenda

 

1)                2010 Budget – The Board will continue to discuss and put together the budget for 2010.

2)                Discussion on charging for fire calls

3)                Approval of Liberty Tire Services Contract for pick up of tires at the Transfer Site

4)                Approval of request by Conservation Club to pay to upgrade their electrical service at their garage on town property

5)                Discussion and approval for vacation and sick leave policy addendum for 1st year employees

6)                Closed session: The Town Board of the Town of Barnes will meet in regular session to go into a closed session pursuant to State Statute 19.85(c)  “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.  The board will reconvene to the regular session immediately after the closed session.

 

Webb asked for a motion to amend the agenda to move the budget portion down to the bottom and move the charging for fire calls discussion up to the number 1 position.  It was decided to keep the closed session last.

Motion (Meinke/Porter )to amend the agenda to move the #2 item to the #1 position and #1 down to the #5 position.    Motion carried.

 

Fire Chief Tom Renz said he had put together a policy for this several years ago, but couldn’t find the paperwork.  Basically it would be to charge $500.00 per fire call, as that is what insurance companies will pay.  If someone has no insurance they can petition the Town Board or Fire Chief to waive the fee.  For accidents on a state road they will pay $500.00, and on a County road they will pay $250.00.  Webb asked who will do the billing, Renz said he would.  For false alarms they would charge after the 3rd alarm in a year.  Webb said to get a document together and present it to the Board at the next Board meeting.   The Clerk-Treasurer will check about an ordinance for billing out fire calls.

 

Clerk-Treasurer Brustad explained the contract for tire removal by Liberty Tire Services was talked about at the last regular Town Board meeting but not acted on as it wasn’t on the agenda.  The contract actually will charge less than the previous vendor who hasn’t done anything for 2 years. 

Motion (Webb/Meinke) to approve the contract by Liberty Tire Services for removal of tires at the transfer site.  Roll call vote was taken with all responding yes.

 

Regarding the request by the Conservation Club to upgrade their electrical service at their building on the Town’s property, the club will pay all costs associated with the upgrade.  McGee asked if they could pull from the pump house instead of the Quonset hut.  Jerry Witt said that was a good idea and he would talk with them about doing that. 

Motion )Porter/McGee) to let the Conservation Club pay to upgrade their electrical service in their garage on the town’s property.  Motion carried.

Brustad said the policies for vacation and sick pay didn’t address the first year since we use the calendar year for accruing vacation and sick pay.  Dave Schiess’ one year anniversary was October 1st, and the Board would need to change the policy to address vacation and sick pay for the rest of this year for him.  She presented a few ideas on how to do it.  The board decided on prorating his hours for the 1st year and to change the policy now in effect to reflect this for the first year for new employees.  For Dave Schiess’ hours, it will amount to 10 hours vacation pay and 10 hours sick pay through the end of this year. 

Motion( McGee/Meinke) to prorate Dave’s hours for vacation and sick pay for this year.  Roll call vote taken and all responded yes.  Motion carried.

 

Brustad presented the finalized budget draft for the Board to look at.  Basically after the last meeting, the Board wanted to use excess cash instead of increasing the levy amount.  Thirty thousand extra was taken from cash reserves and the levy was lowered so the percentage of change was a decrease of 3%.  The board also decided to pay two payments on the fire truck this year.  Brustad will post and publish the budget notice within the week.  Webb mentioned she thought a few figures on the last page didn’t add up.  Brustad will double check that before it goes out. 

 

Motion(Porter/Meinke) to go into closed session per the above statute.  Roll call vote taken and all responded yes.  Motion carried.  The Board adjourned to closed session at 5:30PM/

 

Motion (Webb/Porter) to return to the Open Session.  Motion carried.   No action was taken during the closed session and discussion was limited to the above statute only.  The Board returned to open session at 5:45PM. 

 

Motion (Porter/McGee) to adjourn the Special Town Board meeting of October 26, 2009.  Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 5:50PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Elaine J. Brustad,

Clerk-Treasurer

Dated this 27th day of October, 2009