Hi Colleen
Tomorrow is the day that Chip and Chris are coming to Hinesburg
to download the Grand List in the Listers Office.
I shall talk to Chip (he is part owner) about the details
of creating a list serve for just  our group (all of Vt
Clerks & Treasurers) not just those of us in Chittenden
Grand Isle.
By the way did you buy anything at the Town Wide
Garage Sale????
Talk to you soon

Mary Zuber - Hinesburg
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From: Colleen Haag <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: NEMRC user group meeting minutes for 5/6/99
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 1:59 PM

The first meeting of the NEMRC user group was held on May 6, 1999 at the
Grand Isle Town Clerk's office.
Present were:
Mary Zuber               Hinesburg
Karen Richard         Colchester
Cheryl Hubbard       Hinesburg
Susan Lamb            Williston
Shirley Vaux            St. George
Denci Mitchell         Grand Isle
Colleen Haag          Shelburne
Olga Hallock            Huntington
Paulette Lafond      Milton
John Cushing          Milton
Gretchen Kelly        Grand Isle
Sharon Roy             So. Hero

Denci started the meeting by stating she worked in  the medical field
for many years before becoming Town Clerk and that she belonged to a user
group which she found very helpful.  It was the consensus of those present
that the NEMRC user group was a good idea and that by sharing ideas and
information with NEMRC and each other we could improve our offices.

The lack of written documentation or manual for NEMRC programs was a
complaint for most present.  John stated that clerks get together and
create standardized reports for our programs so that NEMRC doesn't have to
customize so many of its reports for each municipality.

The group talked about some of the pluses of the NEMRC programs such as the
bar coding for tax and water/sewer billing, the cash receipts programs, the
automatic due to/due froms so those accounts are always reconciled.  Many
of these saved staff time and made the processes easier to use and
reconcile.

Colleen talked about the ability to customize a report for the dog program
but  not having it print out without putting in a foxpro expression.
Others stated they did not have the time nor the desire to learn the
Fox-Pro computer language.  John stated that he has the ability to download
information from NEMRC's programs into excel, sort information the way he
wants it and print it.  We all agreed that this was the route to go and
many  wanted to learn the process.
There was discussion that Clerks have to become more proficient with Word,
Excel and Access so we could make better use of the information.  Colleen
had looked into taking classes at Essex Educational Center but the cost was
prohibitive for many towns. There needs to be more discussion on this
subject.

Many Clerks present stated that the service and response time  had improved
and that NEMRC had been helpful when setting up new systems in Towns.  Mary
Zuber stated that Hinesburg will be switching over to the NEMRC water/sewer
billing system soon.  Those present from Williston and Milton who have used
the system talked about the pros and cons of this billing system.

John stated he would call  Ernie Saunders to talk about NEMRC setting up a
list serve  for this user group.  Another meeting of the user group will be
set up after the Chittenden-Grand Isle Clerk's meeting( Wednesday,June 9,
1999 in Shelburne).