Special Selectboard Meeting 3/26/25

Printable version

Special Selectboard Minutes 03-26-25v2 106 KB

Web version

Town of Richmond
Special Selectboard Meeting
Minutes of March 26, 2025

Members Present: Bard Hill, Jay Furr, David Sander, Caitlin Filkins, Adam Wood
 

Absent: None

Staff Present: Town ManagerJosh Arneson;Assistant to the Town ManagerDuncan Wardwell, Police Officer Matt Cohen (and Duke), Town Clerk Linda Parent.

Others Present: MMCTV Erin Wagg, Hinesburg Selectboard members Michael Loner, Dennis Place, Paul Lamberson, Merily Lovell, Assistant Town Manager to Hinesburg Joy Dubin Grossman; Interim Police Chief in Hinesburg Frank Bryan; Jamie Valyou, Erin Farr, Frank Koss, Sarah Toscano, Natacha Liuzzi, Tony St. Hilaire, John Kingston, Tyler Sparks, Ruchel St. Hilaire, Jeanne Adams, Kathy Giroux, Matthew Cohen, Will MacKinnon, Joanne, Richard Bigue, Brittany Spence, Sarah and David, Kelsey Pasteris, Pam, Amy Cambridge, Joel and Laura, Adriana, mbrow, Catherine Moller, Noa, Paige Kaleita, Donna, Catherine Goldsmith, Donne, Connie Van Eeghen, Pete O’Neil, Brendan Filkins, Darren Kennedy, Mary’s iPad, Judy McVickar, Kathleen Newton.

MMCTV Video: Recorded by MMCTV by Erin Wagg
https://youtu.be/aZxE7L7R67I?si=8nHfKuVX7TGYDRAN

Call to Order: 7:00 p.m.
 

Welcome by: 

Lovell welcomed everyone and stated that a change to the agenda would be an action item to appoint 2 members from each Selectboard to a task force in the search for a new shared Chief of Police.

Public Comment:

Toscano stated that her husband works in Law Enforcement and that former Chief Cambridge was well liked and that he was the victim of a smear campaign and should be reinstated. Liuzzi mentioned that former Chief Cambridge would like to meet with both Town’s respective Selectboards and neither has responded to his request for such a meeting. Lovell responded that all communication with former Chief Cambridge has to go through his lawyer presently, which is causing a delay. Furr responded that the case regarding hiring Cambridge as Chief of Police is closed and not open for further discussion, and the Richmond Selectboard is only interested in discussing what lays ahead. Valyou emphasized that he thinks finding a Chief of Police is paramount to effective emergency services. Furr ended with adding the aforementioned action item to the agenda.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Discussion of current agreements for shared police and police chief services

Timestamp: 0:07

People who participated in discussion:  Furr, Wood, Hill, Arneson, Lovell, Place, Lamberson, Farr, Bryan, Cohen, Sander, Valyou

Arneson explained that joint Police services between the two Towns started in 2023, when Richmond was losing police officers and needed help with coverage, as well as a Chief. Lovell stated that at the last Hinesburg Selectboard meeting it was unanimously voted to keep joint police services between the two Towns. Furr concurred that financially it is wise to continue with joint services. He asked that others chime in with their thoughts. Hill added that he feels shared policing will lower costs and add quality and access to police services for both Towns. Lamberson dittoed by saying he is grateful that the two Towns are willing to work together like this. Furr stated that the previous arrangement made a lot of sense because Hinesburg has a sally port and larger headquarters, which Lovell agreed with, saying that’s why it makes sense to have the headquarters in Hinesburg. Place queried how long this arrangement is intended to last, since Richmond continues to look for its own police officers. Arneson added the idea always was for Richmond to continue to hire get to a fully staffed department. But we are at a new staring point now with some experience so it is a good topic to discuss as we look to the future; ideally both Towns would collectively have 8-9 officers to cover both. Hill added that Richmond is in a bit of a pickle due to the collective bargaining agreement. Wood said he hopes both Towns find a comfortable number of officers budget-wise, so that there is a balance of the number of officers hired in each Town versus the way it is now. Farr asked what the ideal number of officers for each Town would be?  Hill stated it's more important to keep in mind how many officers each Town budgeted for in the next year. Furr added that a one-year contract is insufficient. Bryan doesn’t think the Towns have reached an ideal working relationship yet, in terms of shared police governance. Cohen agreed that optimal conditions and maximum benefits have not been achieved because there is only one police officer (and his dog) in Richmond. Both officers feel an ideal should be decided on and worked toward. Lamberson noted that it was still not possible to fully staff both Towns despite the previous collaboration agreement. Sander added that it is hard to hire young officers and attract them to small Towns such as Richmond and Hinesburg because the options for upward movement in the department is lacking, compared to other larger Towns. Hill said that quality of life for a Police officer in Hinesburg and Richmond is better than other places. Valyou feels the items being discussed is something a qualified Chief of Police should take care of, not individual Selectboard members.

Discussion of options for structure of shared police and police chief services going forward

Timestamp: 0:29

People who participated in discussion:  Furr, Koss, Cohen, Arneson, Filkins, Lamberson, St. Hilaire, Wood, Hill, Valyou

Koss feels that a plan for moving forward is lacking, even if a Chief is hired there is no clear path. Cohen gave a comprehensive presentation summarizing what he has seen while being a corporal in the Richmond Police Department, as well as suggestions and ideas for moving forward. He showed that the Towns are closely matched in terms of sizes and budgets. He pointed out that contracts, trainings, pay and paid days off are not aligned between the two Towns, which he feels could lead to jealousy or indifference in governance. Filkins asked if such jealousy has occurred under the previous shared policing arrangement, which Cohen replied he has not seen this, but he wanted to present it as a possible pitfall. Arneson added that Richmond police are unionized and the pay is a bit higher, where Hinesburg is not unionized. Cohen thinks one larger department might be more logical. Hill and Wood think that would create a separate governance body, dissolving one Town’s police force. Lamberson said he does not want the two Town’s Police departments to develop into the currently dysfunctional Burlington Police. St. Hilaire, who has experience in negotiating contracts for Police officers, concurred with previous statements regarding young Police officers going to larger districts to advance their careers, adding that they go where the money and better benefits are. Cohen continued stating that for full-time coverage in both Towns a total of 15 officers would be needed. Farr asked what the predicted growth of Hinesburg might be in terms of residents, in comparison to Richmond’s growth which is considerably slower. Cohen responded that he thinks both Towns are growing toward an eventual need for 24/7 policing. Wood thinks the disparity between the Towns may widen, with Hinesburg seeing more rapid growth. Cohen pointed out that in terms of population Hinesburg has 53% and Richmond 47%. Lovell mentioned that under the previous contract a goal had been to create a Grand Unified Municipal District, akin to what the Chittenden County Waste District is doing, something she no longer is keen to pursue. Wood wonders if the end goal needs to be decided first, then figure out how to reach that goal. Hill said figuring out what both Towns want looking ahead, say in 2027 may be wise, keeping in mind that the legislature may change before that time. Furr and Wood gave kudos to Cohen for creating such a presentation and thinking forward. Cohen feels the Towns need to determine how do the two Town’s want to be policed and then work toward that. Filkins concurred. Valyou strongly feels that many of the things discussed and decided on by the Selectboard should fall to the future Chief of Police who will be a professional adept at answering many of these questions; similarly, a committee should be created encompassing people who are knowledgeable regarding hiring practices for Police departments. Lovell pushed back and stated that the Selectboards’ collectively are governing bodies and can make such decisions, and she likes the idea of creating a vision of what sort of policing both Town’s want. Koss strongly feels that both Towns need to make some decisions and move forward with purpose.

Discussion of hiring a police chief to serve for both Richmond and Hinesburg
Timestamp: 1:32

People who participated in discussion: Furr, Lamberson, Cohen, Lovell, Bryan, Kingston, Farr, Arneson, Sparks, Loner, Hill

Lamberson feels the current arrangement with an interim Chief and five officers for both Towns is working. Wood added that finding a “perfect” Chief is more important than expediency. Lovell hopes the members of the new hiring committee will create a process with which to hire an appropriate chief. Cohen added that stability is key right now after the recent upheaval. Bryan said it’s hard to hire officers if they don’t know what job they are going to do and if it will be there for them after a year. He desperately needs more officers in uniform heading into the busy spring and summer seasons. Kingston feels the basic structure of the shared Policing agreement is an important determination to make. Farr said she hears expedience as an overarching theme for both Towns. Arneson pointed out that the previous job description included the idea of moving toward shared Police services with Hinesburg, now two years later the vision of shared Policing is clearer and that would drive the job description. Valyou suggested in the short term to have an acting Chief in each Town’s police department who work together. Sparks suggested having just one department and having officers on-call for the Town that doesn’t have a Police department. Loner emphasized the importance of hiring a chief that understands he will be working with both Town’s and to make that clear from the start. Hill emphasized the importance of keeping in mind short-term versus long-term needs and goals.

David Sander and Bard Hill were previously voted to be on the special hiring committee.

Lovell moved to appoint Mike Loner and Dennis Place to be part of the special hiring committee to explore collaboration in policing. Lamberson seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Lovell, Loner, Place, Lamberson,Dubin Grossman in favor. Motion approved.

St. Hilaire (Ruchel) feels the Town’s culture in Hinesburg should be looked at.

Arneson described that the committee would encompass two Selectboard members from each Town, the Town Managers from each Town, also Former Chief of Police in Hinesburg Frank Koss.

Sander moved to add Corporal Matt Cohen to the hiring committee. Filkins seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Furr, Hill, Filkins, Sander, Wood in favor. Motion approved.

Lovell moved to add Matt Bryan acting Chief in Hinesburg to the committee. Lamberson seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Lovell, Loner, Place, Lamberson, Dubin Grossman in favor. Motion approved.

The Town Managers will set up a time to meet for the new committee members. Lamberson wanted to give kudos to the officers who are working for the two Towns presently. Filkins, Furr and Lovell seconded those kudos.

Adjourn

Sander moved to adjourn. Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Furr abstain. Hill, Miller, Sander, Furr, Wood in favor. Motion approved.

Lovell moved to adjourn. Lamberson  seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Lovell, Loner, Place, Lamberson, Dubin Grossman in favor. Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 8:53 p.m.

Chat file from Zoom:

Catherine Goldsmith

01:14:36

Hinesburg is looking towards 400 dwelling units not houses. This includes units within group senior housing.

Catherine Goldsmith

01:33:02

Fyi- the Deborah Rawson Library serves Jericho and Underhill and is also a municipal taxing unit.