Council Plans for Annual Budget, Adds New Face to Board, Says Goodbye to Others

May and June were busy months for the Town, as was evident by the agenda of the June 17th Town Council meeting held at the Whitehall Town Hall. With a consent agenda nearly a page long, the Town’s boards were inundated with requests, resignations, appointments, and more.

The largest news item brought to the meeting may have larger repercussions than most realize. Stephen Antonioli resigned from his position on the Pool Board. Antonioli, Glenna Waltee, and Helen McCarthy took out a loan to cover the pool’s creation and installation nearly twenty years ago while also creating the Whitehall Pool Pals group. Only recently was the loan paid off.

Audience member Maxine Samuelson spoke during public comment on the importance of volunteers and how much Antonioli and others have done for the pool, and that his resignation, after nearly two decades of volunteering, should be addressed and he should be thanked by the Town. The Whitehall Community Pool is slated to open on Thursday, June 20th, and remain open until August 10th. The Ledger will have more on Antonioli's resignation next week.

Councilman Bill Lanes addressed the concern that remote work is offered to one employee but not to all and may open the Town up to lawsuits. Lanes noted that a remote work policy already exists in the Town’s handbook, though no one has ever requested to use it. He also noted that other towns base the request for remote work on the job description and whether it works for the particular position. Town Treasurer Kennedy Kleinsasser’s request to work remotely was tabled for now.

CONSENT AGENDA:

• Water, Sewer, and Garbage (WSG), Streets, Alleys, and Sidewalks (SAS): Pati McLaughlin resigned from her positions on the WSG and SAS boards. The sewer hayfield fence will cost $4,700. Main Street from Legion to the alley will be closed for the Enchanted Faire on Saturday, June 22nd.

• Planning Board: Will Austin's greenhouse was approved. Will Bowen's four tiny house projects on West Olive were tabled. Laurie Rathe was appointed to the Planning Board.

• TIFF Grants Approved: Whitehall Baseball (storage container) $4,580; Freedom Floral (facade painting) $3,445; Whitehall Rodeo Board (two ticket stands, one at each entrance) $5,000.

• Rec Board: PRCA Rodeo July 19-20, Bulls Broncs and Barrels July 26-27, and Barrel Racing series will be held every Tuesday.

• Business Licenses Approved: Intermountain Infrastructure Group LLC, Rocky Mountain Contractors Inc, Hong Kong Harry Fireworks, and Summit Valley Contracting LLC.

• HIRES: Margaret Prosek was hired as a Utility Billing Clerk. Lifeguards hired include Maddy Seccomb, Zach Christensen, Payton DuBois, Ezekiel Lyons, Emma Bray, Kendyl Korst, Rob Anderson, and Kelley Seccomb.

OTHER NEWS:

• The Town’s budget workshop will be held on June 27 at 1 PM at the Town Hall.

• The Council approved a quote from Pine Cove to install a camera security system. A total of 16 cameras will be placed throughout the town in locations such as the Rec Complex, Town Hall, Public Works, swimming pool, Legion Park, skate park, sewer lagoon, and well houses. The cost is estimated at $56,000.

• Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh thanked Barbara Lien for spearheading the new planters in Legion Park.

• The next meeting of the Whitehall Town Council will be held Monday, July 15, at 7 PM in the Town Hall.