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Stockbridge council approves amended employee handbook, selects BCBS Platinum plan and adopts multiple financial policies
Summary
At its July 17 meeting the Village of Stockbridge council unanimously approved an amended employee handbook, selected the BCBS Platinum employee health plan, adopted an ACH resolution and several finance policies, and authorized payments totaling $172,401.65 (bills plus a $7,500 invoice).
The Village of Stockbridge council on July 17 unanimously approved an amended employee handbook, selected the BCBS Platinum employee health plan and adopted an ACH and Electronic Fund Transfer resolution, while also adopting a package of financial policies and authorizing payments.
The approvals came during the regular meeting at 118 N. Center Street. Motions to approve the handbook and each policy were made and seconded by councilmembers, and roll-call votes recorded ayes from the four members present (Cattell, Morehouse, Howlett and President Ogden); absent members were Good, Fairbotham and Powers-Taylor.
Councilmember Cattell moved to approve the amended employee handbook; Councilmember Howlett supported the motion and it passed with all members present voting in favor. In a separate motion, the council adopted the BCBS Platinum Plan for employee health insurance after Cattell moved and Howlett supported the motion; the roll call again showed unanimous support among those present.
The council also adopted a Resolution approving the ACH and Electronic Fund Transfer Policy (motion by Howlett, supported by Cattell) and approved a slate of finance and administrative policies including the Cash Receipt Retention Policy, Grant Policy, Cash Handling Policy, Coin Acceptance Policy, Invoice Payment Policy, Fund Balance Policy, Credit and Debit Card Acceptance Policy and Credit Card Use Policy. Each policy motion was recorded as passed 'All in favor.'
On fiscal matters, the council voted to pay bills totaling $164,901.65 (motion by Howlett, supported by Cattell) and authorized payment of $7,500 to MVH Consulting, LLC (motion by President Ogden, supported by Cattell). Both payments were approved by roll call with ayes from the members present.
During council member comments, Councilmember Howlett spoke about prior employee experiences and work completed without raises; Councilmember Morehouse said he prefers caution on approving expenses; and Councilmember Cattell warned that deferred infrastructure maintenance, coupled with new state requirements, could lead to state intervention if the village does not keep up work. Under Attorney Comments, Gormley said the water and sewer issues are widespread and that "it wasn’t just a kicking of the can; the loaded requirements from the state are also a contributing factor." The minutes do not specify further legal citations or the detailed content of Chief Bartus’s strategic plan presentation, which was noted on the agenda.
All motions recorded in the minutes show the majority of votes as unanimous among members present. The meeting adjourned in the evening after scheduling upcoming meetings; a subsequent motion recorded in the minutes designated Heather Armstrong as Interim Clerk.
Next steps noted in the minutes include committee and commission meeting dates in August and the next regular council meeting on Aug. 21, 2025.
