VERMONT LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday, December 16, 2021
MINUTES
Members Present (In Person): President Jessie Baker, Bill Fraser, Charlie Hancock, Joe Major, George Putnam, (by Zoom): Mary Ann Goulette, Julie Hance, Lucas Herring, Delsie Hoyt, Ken Linsley, Miro Weinberger, Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, and Lucrecia Wonsor. Members Absent: None
VLCT Staff Present (In Person): Executive Director Ted Brady, Seth Abbene, Joe Damiata, Jessi Hill, Karen Horn, and; (by Zoom): Katie Buckley, Elena Esteban, Abby Friedman, Linda Mahns, and Gwynn Zakov
Others Present (by Zoom): Racial Equity Co-Chair Elaine Wang.
Agenda Item #1: Call to order by the President
President Jessie Baker called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.
Agenda Item #2: Additions and Deletions to the Agenda
Charlie Hancock moved to accept the agenda as is. Joe Major seconded the motion. The agenda was adopted unanimously.
Agenda Item #3: Consent Agenda Items
George Putnam moved to accept the consent agenda as proposed, including approval of the November 4, 2021, meeting minutes, acceptance of the personnel report, adopting 2022 VLCT Board meeting dates and amended 2022 budget for increased salary expense related to cost-of-living increases, and VLCT’s Q3 financials. The motion was seconded by Lucas Herring. The consent agenda was adopted unanimously.
Agenda Item #4: Equity Committee Draft Charter
Co-Chair Elaine Wang provided summary on the Equity Committee Draft Charter as it was approved by the Equity Committee and asked for the VLCT Board to consider adopting it. Questions and comments occurred including the request to revisit this charter in a year for possible future revisions. Lucas Herring initiated a motion to adopt the Equity Committee Charter with the removal of the word “justice” from the first paragraph and addition of Lucrecia Wonsor as a member of the committee. Mary Ann Goulette seconded. Approved by majority. Roll call is as follows: Ayes: Bill Fraser, Lucrecia Wonsor, Jessie Baker, Lucas Herring, Joe Major, Mayor Miro Weinberger, Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Mary Ann Goulette, Charlie Hancock, Delsie Hoyt, Ken Linsley; Nays: Julie Hance and George Putnam.
Agenda Item #5: Organizational Update
Ted Brady provided updates on Municipal Mask Mandates, Vaccine Requirements/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard, Municipal Assistance Center, Risk Management Services (RMS), ARPA Assistance and Coordination Program, Municipal State Energy Management Program Extension Pilot, Office Space, Local Investment Effort, Law Enforcement Recruitment, Sanders Infrastructure Meeting, UVM TIF Study, and VLCT News Highlights.
Action item: Please add Investment Policy to the next board meeting agenda.
Agenda Item #6: Legislative Priorities with Speaker Jill Krowinski and Preview
Speaker Krowinski was unable to attend today. Karen Horn and Gwynn Zakov gave a summary report on prospective issues the Legislature hopes to address in 2022 including: Climate Action Plan, Pupil Weighting Task Force Report and Education Funding, Housing Crisis and Zoning/Land Use, Diversity, Equity and Social Justice, Building Upon Economic Recovery Efforts, ARPA, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Build Back Better, Local Governance/Town Meeting 2022/Remote Meetings/Ordinance Authority, Cannabis Control Board Recommendations, and Tax Increment Financing, and a potential Statewide Land Records office including digitization and modernization requirements.
Action item: Karen Horn will email the August 2020 Police Reform report to VLCT Board members which addressed accountability, reporting, training, and qualified unity and asked the Board to review and update with the Public Safety Committee and at a future VLCT Board meeting.
Agenda Item #7: VLCT Strategic Planning Update
Ted Brady gave a summary of what staff worked on at their last strategic planning session. A copy of the draft planning session notes and outline can be requested. Jessie Baker asked the VLCT Board for their buy in for this plan and if anything was missing or if any Board member had a request for additional information. The Board will consider adopting the strategic plan at its January meeting.
Action items: The Board requested for an action plan that included a timeline and budget for this 5-year strategic plan. The Board wishes to review/re-evaluate the plan yearly to make recommendations/adjustments accordingly.
Agenda Item #8: VLCT Dues
Ted Brady gave an overview of 2023 VLCT proposed dues with the changes recommended based on the updated 2020 census and asked the Board to adopt the Dues schedule as proposed. Bill Fraser made a motion to adopt the 2023 VLCT Dues as proposed. George Putnam seconded. Approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #9: Discussion about Municipal Mask Mandates
The Board went around the room comparing the mask mandates that were adopted in their towns and communities and the feedback that has occurred thus far.
Agenda Item #10: VMERS Contribution Increases
Ted Brady gave a summary of these contribution increases and asked the Board to make a motion to approve VLCT’s recommendation for the next four years, that any necessary contribution increases to the VMERS retirement system be split evenly between the employee and employer. Bill Fraser made a motion to support the contribution as outlined above with the condition that the labor unions remain part of the agreement. If not, the Executive Director should advocate on behalf of the municipalities. Joe Major seconded the motion. Approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #11: Other Business
President Jessie Baker called to adjourn the meeting. Georgette Wolf-Ludwig moved to adjourn, Julie Hance seconded this motion. The meeting adjourned at 3:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Mahns
Executive Administrative Assistant