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Vernon council approves consent agenda: senior-center bus grant application, accessibility grant, bottle-recycling contract and police bargaining authorization
Summary
The council approved consent-agenda items including authorization to apply for a $151,000 CT DOT grant to replace a senior-center small bus (20–25 seats, 20% match), a $15,000 AARP accessibility grant application, a one-year renewal of the NIP bottle program contract, and authorization to enter a collective bargaining agreement with the Vernon Police Association for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2030.
The Vernon Town Council approved its consent agenda, authorizing the mayor to pursue several grants and contract renewals and authorizing entry into a multi-year police collective bargaining agreement.
On a consent-item motion, the council authorized Mayor Daniel A. Champagne to apply for Connecticut Department of Transportation funds to replace the Burton Senior Center small bus with a vehicle estimated at $151,000. Staff said the existing small bus has no available replacement parts, that the smaller vehicle seats about 20–25 people and that it is expected to include wheelchair access; the grant requires a roughly 20% town cost share. Councilors asked for usage data for the vehicle and whether it is ever used by other departments; staff said the senior-center driver operates it and noted the town has two buses in the fleet.
The council also authorized the mayor to apply for a $15,000 AARP Community Challenge flagship grant to support purchase of a handicapped-accessible vehicle. Council members clarified that the vehicle would primarily serve senior-center activities and the town does not rent the buses; the application deadline was stated as the end of March.
In separate consent action the council approved a one-year renewal of the town’s NIP bottle program contract with Opportunity Works and Scout Troop 2020 (April 1, 2026–March 31, 2027). Councilors described the program as a source of modest revenue (10 cents per NIP bottle) that supports downtown cleanup and provides funds to local youth programs; the contract is with the local troop rather than the national organization. A council member raised a question about whether a similar model could be used to provide work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness; staff noted insurance and liability constraints.
After an executive session on contract negotiations, the council authorized Mayor Champagne or his designate to enter into the negotiated collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Vernon and the Vernon Police Association covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. The council cited Connecticut General Statutes in moving to executive session to discuss the negotiation.
Where vote tallies were not stated in the public transcript, the meeting record shows each consent motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; the transcript does not contain detailed roll-call tallies.
