MINUTES

TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

January 16, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 7:00. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, and on the front door of the town hall.

Present: Chairman, Steven Cowan; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie (arrived at 7:03), Bill Hanson, David Dybdahl and Mark Sherven; Clerk Marc Robertson.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion to approve the agenda, subject to switching the order of items (3) and (4) as originally posted, was made by Mark Sherven, seconded by Dave Dybdahl and passed unanimously.

DISCUSSION OF HIRING TOWN ATTORNEY

Attorney Kay Millonzi was introduced by Steve Cowan. A motion was made by Dave Dybdahl and seconded by Mark Sherven to retain Ms. Millonzi for several purposes, including assistance with the preparation of the Town’s comprehensive plan, the drafting of new ordinances and review of the Town’s assessment maintenance contract. After discussion of the particular issues that might be faced in the short term, Barbara Grenlie called the question. It was unanimously voted that Ms. Millonzi be retained as the Town of Vermont attorney for the present time. Mark Sherven noted that an attempt should be made to operate within the 2006 amount budgeted for attorney services.

It was subsequently decided that the chairman should oversee contact with the attorney so as to provide control of expenditures, with Barbara Grenlie and Mark Sherven delegated to address the issue of citizen requests for the recovery of illegal taxes.

DISCUSSION OF REQUESTING BIDS FOR 2006 ASSESSMENT MAINTENANCE

The chairman has received comments and recommendations concerning assessment practices, as well as recommendations concerning the contents of an assessor contract. After discussion of general assessment practices, Mark Sherven moved that the clerk provide the board with previously submitted bids for 2006 assessment maintenance, at which point the clerk noted that no such records remain in the files. Barbara Grenlie seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. After a determination that a search of the town records would not likely be productive, Mark Sherven withdrew his motion.

It was determined that Board members would attempt to determine the details of previously received bids for assessment maintenance from their personal files.

Mark Sherven volunteered to determine the status of any existing 2006 maintenance agreement with Charlotte Johnson.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Mark Sherven and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:34.