What Was Said at Tuesday's Special Council Meeting

The Town Council on Tuesday clarified a policy on mayoral compensation.

All compensation must now be approved specifically by the council, except for out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties.

Though he was not formally asked to return any compensation, former Mayor Jason McCoy returned a check issued to him in November for emergency response pay during the fall snowstorm. Vernon's mayor makes about $20,000 per year in salary. McCoy received $8,211 for the long hours working two snow emergencies and a hurricane and gave back $3,802. The council had considered demanding the funds back, but wound up making no such request.

The council passed a resolution outlining the policy in a special meeting attended by about 30 members of the public.

Here are some highlights of what was said during the citizens forum:

Bill Dauphin, vice chairman, Democratic Town Committee - "Whether former Mayor McCoy returns the money or not … I hope the Town Council acts on it.

"People who run for mayor should know what the job takes … any compensation  to any mayor should have special approval from the council."

•

Allen Sheriden, former deputy emergency management director - "I am not a fan of former Mayor McCoy, but what he has been paid, he deserves.

"At the Emergency Operations Center, he made CL&P get on the stick … To compare what former Mayor McCoy makes to other mayors is a false comparison."

•

Former council member James Krupienski - "I was at the EOC and saw former Mayor McCoy working … I support the payments he received, but question how they were approved … If the issue needs to be addressed, perhaps we should look at a charter revision."

•

Harold "Hal" Cummings, town attorney and Republican Town Committee chairman, proclaiming to speak as a private citizen - "As i have advised my private practice clients for many years, never start a legal action unless you are  prepared to carry it out and see it through to the bitter end. Once a legal action is commenced (and under Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices, sending of a demand letter is, in fact, initiation of a collection action), then a chain of events begins which could take the matter out of the control of this council.

"If you pass the resolution as worded and do not follow through with further action, then this council will look foolish and your letter will be seen as nothing more than spiteful revenge based on political motives. If you do pass it as written, you should do so only if you are prepared to expend significant legal and accounting fees in prosecution of the action and additional costs in defending any counterclaim which could be filed (understanding that any such counterclaim could result in not only additional legal and accounting fees to the town but also, potentially, monetary compensation for civil damages including, but not limited to,  libel and slander). 

"The Vernon Charter, like both our state and federal constitutions, is not a detailed road map with specific instructions, but rather a statement of general principles and organization which are then clarified and defined through use and practice. There has been, and there always will be, some tension between a mayor and the council over their respective authorities and responsibilities. What we really have here tonight, is a purely political issue over the proper role and responsibility of the council in emergency situations similar to the three that we coped with in  2011."

•

William Nicholson, school board member - "He has to pay his bills."