Selectboard signs another VSP contract
GUILFORD — GUILFORD - The Selectboard unanimously voted to sign a new contract with the Vermont State Police at the Dec. 12 Board meeting - but this is the second contract the town signed with the VSP this year.
Board Chair Sheila Morse told her colleagues that although earlier in the year they negotiated a 12-month contract with the VSP, which began on July 1, “they changed it to a six-month contract,” which was set to expire on Dec. 31, she said.
Thus, if the town wanted to continue receiving law-enforcement services from the VSP until the end of fiscal year 2017 on June 30, they had to sign another contract.
Morse noted the fees and terms remained the same; only the length of the contract changed. Morse said the VSP offered no explanation for the new time limit.
Identity theft fears prompt changes to Town Report
GUILFORD - In response to concerns about identity theft, the Selectboard opted to change some of the vital statistics details in this year's town report.
According to Town Administrator Peder Rude, during his meeting with Town Auditor Neil Quinn and Selectboard Chair Sheila Morse to begin work on the 2017 Town Report, Quinn expressed concern about online criminals and noted some towns recently began removing vital statistics from the annual document.
Rude told the Selectboard at their Dec. 12 regular meeting that he contacted the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and they advised him the Selectboard has discretion over whether - and which - vital statistics are included in a town report. There is no state mandate on this information.
Although the vital statistics, such as births, deaths, and marriages, are public information, publishing the dates and names online in a downloadable document on the town's website can provide criminals easy access with little work, Rude said, and he advised leaving some data out.
“But that's the best part of the town report!” Board member Dick Clark said.
Board Chair Sheila Morse suggested the 2017 Town Report include names and events but not dates, and Clark made a motion to that effect, to which the Selectboard unanimously voted in favor.