Verbal Sparring Highlights Council Meeting

Even by Vernon's standards, things were a bit testy at Tuesday's Town Council Meeting.

Oh everything listed on the agenda passed.  Appointments were made, including former Mayor Joseph Grabinski to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. Mayor Jason McCoy was given the go-ahead to apply for a state Local Capital Improvement Program grant for $406,640 to help pay for the Main Street bridge project and the River of Life Ministries was granted a tax abatement after paperwork confusion led to a tax bill being sent and paid.

But nothing seemed to pass without an argument. During the course of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, five different people left the room either temporarily or not to return.

A good chunk of the sparring was between council member Marie Herbst, a Democrat, and McCoy, a Republican. Two weeks ago, after the council gave the town the go-ahead to loan the Board of Education $85,000 - at 2 percent interest -  so it could lease-purchase maintenance equipment after bids came in at about  5 percent,  Herbst demanded the school board's capital funds be examined.

Again on Tuesday, Herbst said that if the school board has enough money - especially if it did not buy vehicles it was considering - then the equipment should be paid for.

McCoy said no one knows the exact budgetary numbers yet until the town gets special education reimbursement from the state. The fiscal year concludes at the end of this month.

McCoy told council Democrats that some of the quotations attributed to them regarding the loan were not true.

Any more false statements from you guys about me might make me take legal action,'' McCoy said.

Council Democrat Michael Winkler called the statement "intimidation,'' and Herbst asked McCoy, "You intend to sue?''

''All I'm saying is to stop making false statements. Just check your facts,'' McCoy said,

Winkler and council Republican Daniel Anderson then rose from their chars and started to walk to the rear of the council chambers but not together. Deputy Mayor Brian Motola reminded them that leaving the room would break an already tight quorum and Winkler said without looking back he was staying in the room.

The council then took a recess and McCoy went into his office with some council members to discuss the matter in private.

A while later, during a discussion about compensation and job duties for the mayoral intern, Herbst demanded a list of responsibilities in writing, McCoy said he would deliver a definition of intern, but would not deliver the job duties.

He instead recited them to Herbst.

A short while later, McCoy left the meeting. Mayoral Assistant Diane Wheelock said he had a family matter to attend to. 

Motola closed out the night's business from the chair.

Afterward, council Republican Bill Campbell tried to relate to it all with a shoulder shrug.

Unaffiliated member James Krupienski simply said, "That's Vernon.''