DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
Present:
Gregg Herrin, Carrie Caouette-De Lallo, Charles Peel, Paul Libby, Gayle Durkee (Treasurer), Kasey Peterson (Interim Town Administrator), Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman), Tim Carter, Justina Kenyon
Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:37.
Adjustments to the Agenda – Terry MacNeish will not be available so the Transfer Station conversation will need to be tabled.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure – Paul Libby commented that he works for VTRANS and may need to recuse himself from certain highway decisions
Public Comments - none
Paul Libby moved to approve the July 7, 2026 Meeting Minutes. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0
Transfer Station/Solid Waste Discussion – Tabled
Administrator Update
Kasey Peterson presented a request for the use of the Roberts Gould Field for the Alumni Baseball Game and Cookout. There was no certificate of insurance included with the request. Tim Carter was present to explain that this is the third year this event has taken place and they have not presented a Certificate of Insurance for any of them. There was a discussion of who owns the field – the town or the school – and how the Roberts-Gould Fields funds are managed. There was also concern about acquiring insurance this close to the event. The Selectboard would like to clarify with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns for subsequent events. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the request and waive the requirement for this year’s event. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0.
Paul Libby thanked Tim Carter for keeping the field looking so good.
Water Board
Charles Peel thanked Mike Whipple for managing the leak in the water main on Upper Village Road. Mike managed to handle the situation with no drop in water pressure and also avoided a boil water notice.
Justina Kenyon was present to explain that as of January 2026 the home on 13 Maple Ave no longer has an apartment. The owners would like to adjust the water billing to reflect the change. Charles Peel remarked that the listers and the Zoning Administrator should be advised of the change from a duplex to a single family home for tax purposes. Charles Peel then confirmed that the home is connected to only one water meter. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo further clarified that the Selectboard does have jurisdiction over this decision.
Charles Peel made a motion to consider the building to be one unit as of the second quarter of 2026 going forward. Paul Libby seconded. There was a short conversation regarding the actual process of billing a single water meter for two units. 4-0-0.
Treasurer Update
Gayle Durkee reported the approximately one hundred and one thousand dollars ($101,000) has come in from the Vermont Municipal Equipment Loan Fund and she has used that money to reimburse the Town’s equipment fund.
Gayle is also working on the tax rate.
Gregg Herrin presented the Mid-Year Budget Numbers which look good for this time of year. There was discussion about the Highway Dept which included issues regarding the timing of the new trucks. The Transfer Station income is below expectations by roughly half, but the expenditures are lower by a similar amount. In the Water Dept the income is on target for this time of year and the expenditures are lower than expected. There was further discussion on increasing water and sewer fees and how those increases should be rolled out.
Highway
VTRANS will provide one hundred eighty-three thousand, six hundred and fifty-five dollars ($183,655) for paving Upper Village Road. This grant will include a 20% match by the Town. Paul Libby asked about sending out an RFP and will work with Rick Ackerman and Kasey Peterson to complete that part of the process. Charles Peel made the motion to approve the Vtrans grant with a 20% match to pave a portion of Upper Village Road. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0.
VTRANS has provided a draft agreement for traffic signs and delineators for three sites in Chelsea. This is a state sign project and requires no payment or vendor procurement from the Town. Paul Libby made a motion to accept the VTrans grant for signs that is 100% funded by the state with the caveat that VTrans fixes the typos in the agreement. Charles Peel seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0.
Kasey Peterson presented a letter of intent for a Vtrans Road Erosion Inventory Grant. This project is required to apply for the Municipal General Roads Permit from the State. The inventory identifies roadways that need better water management and provides information for Better Back Road and Grants in Aid programs for road improvement. This form is strictly an acknowledgment that the Town intends to apply, not the application itself. Charles Peel made a motion to sign the letter of intent for the Road Erosion Inventory Grant. Paul Libby Seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0
Paul Libby explained that an extension request will need to be made for the Maple Street Bridge engineering grant as easements and permits must be obtained before Stantec Engineering will deliver plans. That is not likely to happen before the grant deadline of December 31, 2026. No action was taken at this time.
Kasey Peterson presented a quote for winter salt from Cargill at one hundred and sixteen dollars and fifty cents ($116.50). Charles Peel made a motion to accept the Cargill quote at the stated price. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0
Rick Ackerman asked about the last two FEMA projects – Edwards Road and Doyle Road. These projects are also waiting for permitting and property easements. Kasey Peterson will reach out to FEMA to discuss an extension. No action was taken at this time.
Approve Warrants – Paul Libby made a motion to approve the warrants. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded. Chuck had one clerical question regarding the categorization of the Zumba class under library or recreation. 4-0-0
Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel issues, inviting Gayle Durkee and Kasey Peterson. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded. 4-0-0
Executive Session began at 8:11PM.
At 8:51 Charles Peel made a motion to exit Executive Session. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded. 4-0-0.
The executive session covered personnel issues. No actions were taken. No decisions were made.
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn. Charles Peel seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:52PM
Respectfully submitted,
Kasey Peterson