Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Creates New Health Plan With Employees

Brattleboro is restructuring the way town employees are compensated for health care. A new program to fill the gaps of higher deductibles might end up saving taxpayers $30,000 a year while continuing to provide a solid level of coverage for employees.

The decision of the recent special Representative Town Meeting to move the police station to Black Mountain Road has been incorporated into the budget to be presented at the regular Representative Town Meeting, Bradley House might be renovated and expanded if a new package of grants is approved, the town will buy new police cars, and Donna Macomber had a final regular meeting with the board. 

Preliminaries

Chair David Gartenstein announced that Kate O’Connor was at a meeting relating to the Citizen’s Advisory on VY, and all votes still required a majority of the board to pass.

He also announced that it was Donna Macomber’s last regular meeting of the selectboard. He thanked her for her “calm, considerate, respectful approach with people and issues,” and said she had been an excellent board member.

Gartenstein commented on the recent special Representative Town Meeting vote, saying that since the rejection of the budget two years ago, the process has been “a perfect example of how government should work,” including having a range of options, respectful discussion, and a vote. He said it made him proud to be part of town government.

Town Manager Peter Elwell had no opening remarks.

Selectboard comments and committee reports focused on the departing Donna Macomber. Fellow board members praised her work, and talked of her calming and soothing nature. Macomber, herself, spoke of her time serving in her first public office as an “amazing experience learning the inner workings of the town.” She thanked everyone and said she wouldn’t forget her time. It’s been wonderful, she closed.

During Public Participation, Dora Bouboulis announced that a petition was being circulated to take the recent decision of Representative Town Meeting to a town wide vote. She said to contact her to help with collecting signatures, as they are due within 10 days of Sunday.

Sharon Couturier said she was dismayed by the finality of last week’s presentation on downtown traffic, and said that she went down to observe the junction for herself. She saw all the light blinking red, and no problems. “It was remarkable,” she told the board. “It looked like a choreographed auto dance.” She asked if the issue could be reexamined.

David Schoales and John Allen agreed, and the issue will come back before the board later in the year as an agenda item.

Liquor Commissioners

Brattleboro Brewer’s Festival received approval for a Festival Permit for their event May 14 from 12 to 4 p.m. Kelli Corbeil explained that 14 Vermont brewers would be a part of the 30 brewer festival. Some of the money raised will go to suport town fireworks and fourth of July activities.

Hermit Thrush Brewery requested and received two more special event permits for events, one at Hooker Dunham on April 2 and one at the brewery on March 24.

Panasian requested and received a First Class Liquor License. The restaurant is under the new management of Johnny Lin, who has been a part owner with his wife and mother-in-law for some time.  Mom would like to retire, and the husband and wife team plan to carry on with family food fare.

Police and Fire Facilities Projects

The Brattleboro Selectboard adjusted the FY17 budget numbers to reflect the decision of the special Representative Town Meeting vote last Saturday, in favor of moving the police station out of the Municipal Center and up to Black Mountain Road. An additional $176,906 will be added to cover the first year debt service on 20 years of borrowing.

They also are calling back into action the Police Fire Facilities Project Committee to advise on the projects about to get underway, and to advise on a possible downtown location for use by residents and police.

John Allen polled fellow board members to see if there was any support for adding back in an additional floor to the Central Fire Station. It wouldn’t cost much now compared to what it could cost in the future, and he felt it was irresponsible to pass up an opportunity to save future residents this money.

His fellow board members didn’t agree, though, that this should now be added back into the project discussion.  Donna Macomber had concerns about raising the community’s anxiety level. David Schoales worried about disrupting the flow of the project. And Gartenstein was adamantly opposed to adding to the cost.

Allen admitted defeat and will not bring the issue up at Representative Town Meeting.

The board also is planning public outreach about what has been approved, to further involve the public in the work that is being done.

Monthly Finance Report with John O’Connor

Finance Director John O’Connor reported to the board on budgets through February of 2016. Two-thirds of the fiscal year (66.7%) is complete.

General Fund expenses are at 66.1% of the budget. Utilities Fund is at 67.3% of its budget. The Parking Fund expenses are at 56.6% of its budget.

Solid Waste Disposal Fund revenues are at 67.9% and expenses are at 65.5%. (Remember that February bag revenue, collection costs and tipping fees get recorded in March.)

Just over $4.1 million has been loaned out, and just over $346,000 available for additional grants and loans.

Brattleboro has 44 active grants and 4 grants in the application process.

Donna Macomber asked if O’Connor dreamt in numbers. O’Connor said that he did.

Audit Services Bid

Batchelder Associates of Barre,VT was given the contract for FY16 audit services, with options to renew in FY17 and FY18.

There was some talk and concern over the low bid, questioning whether the not-to-exceed amount and number of hours estimated were accurate.

Town Manager Elwell explained that a review of the firm and references gave them confidence that, combined with Brattleboro providing good records, the audit should go well.

If there are issues, he said the contract need not be renewed, but that he didn’t expect any issues based on the review they had done.

New Police Cruisers

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved of the purchase and upfit of two new police cruisers, a Ford Taurus Interceptor (sedan) and a Ford Explorer Interceptor (SUV). The cars will together cost $45,859, and to equip them will add another $29,367.  This all comes in at $75,226.13, under the expected budget amount of $84,000.

The upfit includes Code 3 lighting, L3 camera, and more.

Cars will be bought from Formula Ford in Montpelier, and will be equipped by Adamson Industries of Haverill, MA. Trade-in vehicles have been factored into the pricing.

John Allen asked why they were being retired with seemingly low mileage.

Chief Fitzgerald said the cars are in heavy use, with lots of equipment, and are idling for a much greater period of time than normal cars. he said he was surprised at how much was offered for the trade-in, as they usually get much less.

GHS Equipment Grant

Brattleboro Police received $8,000 from a Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant. The money will be used to buy new and replacement equipment, including two handheld radar speed detectors, handheld digital cameras, a computer, and MAIT scene lighting.

VCDP Grants

The board accepted and appropriated $30,000 for Groundworks as part of a Community Development Block Grant from the Agency of Commerce & Community Development. The money will be used for the Housing Support Services planning project for 39 Frost Street.

David Gartenstein noted that the Town provides uncompensated assistance in getting and managing these grants, which should be considered part of why taxes are high, but also that we contribute to work that needs to be done.

….

Bradley House Redevelopment Project (Hilltop House) was subject of a public hearing prior to the authorization of a grant application to the Vermont Community Development Program. The grant, if approved, will bring $457,000 to the effort to renovate the existing building as well as expand the facility, upping the residency from 28 to 35 seniors.

Cindy Jerome and Andy Reichsman represented the Bradley project.

Jerome explained that while Holton Home has gone through a series of gradual improvements over the years, Bradley House is in need of serious and immediate upgrades to meet changing codes, and needs of residents.

The plans is to do a $5 million redevelopment of the current space, and add an addition to the rear of the home to make room for additional facilities. All rooms will get private bathrooms, and some will become more expensive suites. Suites, she explained, helped offset the costs incurred when the facility pays for those who run out of assets.

Patrick Moreland said the project fit well with the town plan and regional plans. “It’s a very strong fit,” he told the board.

In addition to the grant, private funds will be raised, other grants will be applied for, and loans will be taken out.

Jerome said neighbors had just recently received a two page letter about the project, but knew that better outreach needed to be done.

Two nearby residents agreed that more should have been done to involve neighbors to Bradley House.

Dr. Crosby, an abutter to the north, said she first heard of the project when she read the agenda for the meeting online. She said as neighbors to Bradley House, it was their gardens that residents wandered into, and neighbors that helped return residents when they got lost. “To neglect that context was not useful to the planning.”

She said neighbors wanted to know more about what was going on, and that they should have some input into the design process. She planned to submit comments with the application. “Hopefully they’ll be useful.”

Another nearby resident had concerns about noise and traffic implications, and felt it was the neighborly thing and common courtesy to let local people know about a project like this. She said she let her neighbors know when she planned to put up a dog fence. She said the lack of communication had fostered distrust and anxiety.

Town Manager Elwell noted for the record that one of the former board members of Bradley House and a neighborhood resident is his father.

The application won’t be submitted until early April, giving time for some of these issues to potentially be worked out. Jerome said she was sorry, and promised to communicate better. “I do apologize.”

The Brattleboro Selectboard was also asked to approve of a $50,000 grant from Program Income to support the Bradley House Redevelopment Project, contingent on the approval of the VCDP Implementation Grant application at the state level.  They decided to wait and put it on a future agenda to make sure progress was made on reaching out to neighbors.

Gartenstein suggested that the letters neighbors had submitted indicating communication problems could be removed from the public record if the situation improved before the grant application was sent. Elwell advised against removing any part of the public record, instead suggesting that additional materials could be added to offer an update.

GMP Substation at Cotton Mill Hill

Green Mountain Power notified the town that they would like to upgrade the substation and transmission facilities at their site on Cotton Mill Hill Road.

The town has opportunity to comment on the matter, and after review by the Planning Commission, Planning Services Director Rod Francis drafted a letter to Green Mountain Power. The board was able to review the letter at Tuesday meeting, and approved for it to be sent.

In it, Green Mountain Power is being requested to conform to our new Land Use Regulations, including better landscaping and screening of the substation, erosion control, stormwater management, and a spill prevention plan for the cooling oil to be in use on site.

Rod Francis explained that this may be moot. The Public Service Board can ignore local regulations.

“It’s hard to see how the Public Service Board ignoring local concerns is in the public good,” noted Gartenstein.

Windham Regional Commission Report to Selectboard

The Brattleboro Selectboard received their annual report from town representatives to the Windham Regional Commission (WRC).

Rod Francis summarized the report, explaining that their work on committees was the focus.

Our representatives met with legislators to talk of school consolidation, economic development, housing, and youth issues. They worked with the Connecticut River Joint Commission on river quality issues. They reviewed permits for Act 250, and worked with the Community Development Committee on economic development and housing issues.

Town Manager Elwell had another disclosure – his wife represents the community at large on the WRC.

Windham Regional Commission Board Appointments

Elizabeth McCloughlin and Rod Francis have been re-appointed to their positions as representatives to the Windham Regional Commission.

Employee Health Insurance

Brattleboro has revised the health care plan for employees of the town to include a new Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). What is this and why is needed? Glad you asked.

As part of the new plan, employee deductibles are increasing to $2,500 for single coverage and $5,000 for family coverage. The new HRA will pay for the claims between current rates ($1,500/$3,000) and the new, higher rates. In exchange for the town taking on additional risk, insurance rates should go down allowing for taxpayer savings.

This came about as part of an effort to avoid a new Federal excise tax (Cadillac Tax) adopted as part of the Affordable Care Act. It was expected this tax might coast taxpayers as much as $80,000 a year. Employees and management set out to avoid this tax, and worked together to find ways to alter the health care plan to everyone’s satisfaction.

The excise tax has been postponed to at least January of 2020, beyond the scope of current contracts, but the Town decided to go ahead with ways to lower current costs immediately. The Cadillac Tax problem will be addressed later.

The increase in deductibles coupled with the new HRA “layer” should result in an estimated $30,000 a year.

The HRA will pay the difference for the higher deductibles, and employees will see no change to how they receive or pay for health care. The Town will pay for claims between the old and new deductibles. The Town saves on premiums paid to Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, and the insurance company isn’t tapped until the higher deductible level is reached.

All four of the employee unions have approved the changes. It is expected to save taxpayers $30,000 in the first year.

David Gartenstein said that Patrick Moreland first suggested this approach to savings while serving as Interim Town Manager.

Representative Town Meeting Motion Assignments

Every year, Selectboard members determine in advance of Representative Town Meeting who will read each article at the meeting. This is a bit like musical chairs, going around and around and trying not to be caught with the responsibility of reading the long list of social service allocations.

Donna Macomber will be reading the long article.

Selectboard Organizational Meeting

There will be a special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard on March 30 at 5:30 p.m. to swear in the recently elected and to assign board positions.  Donna Macomber is departing and someone else is joining the board.