| Selectboard Meeting Minutes |
| April 1st, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library |
| Call to Order |
| Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm. SELECTBOARD Gregg Herrin (Present) Curtis Chase (Present) Paul Libby (Present) Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present until 8:30 pm) Kevin Marshia (Absent) TOWN EMPLOYEES Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) |
| Additions to the Agenda |
| Community Nursing: Paul Libby had spoken with a representative for the Health Center regarding expected contribution for the community nurse contract. Tierney Farago stated that the approved budget for the Town’s contribution was up to $20,000. The Town and the Health Center will need to discuss cost sharing further while the draft contract is written, as well as how both parties expect to invoice/be invoiced for those fees. The Town Administrator will follow up with the Health Center while writing the contract for services. |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None |
| Public Comments |
| Tim Courts attended the meeting to ask questions regarding the water and wastewater system. Some of his questions included how the system is funded and how it is beneficial to users and non-users. The Selectboard will gather answers to his questions so they can be addressed during the April 15th meeting where the fee increase will be discussed in further detail. |
| Approve Minutes from March 6, 2025 and March 18, 2025 |
| Carre Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minutes from March 6th and March 18th; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| Current Events and Updates |
| A. Highway Update |
| Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that he received some additional quotes for transmission work for the truck that is in the shop, which would be closer to $10,000 rather than the original $17,000. After some discussion regarding repairing the truck, the Selectboard agreed to have Rick work with the auto shops and have the truck repaired as needed. Paul Libby made a motion to make repairs to the truck not to exceed $18,000; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. Rick Ackerman and Paul Libby also brought up the new timeline for the new truck that the Selectboard previously approved. The truck was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2025, but the truck is now delayed and expected to be completed by May of 2026. The Selectboard will reassess the selection and see if the truck is necessary before winter 2025. |
| B. Town Administrator Update |
| The Town Administrator informed the Selectboard that reimbursements for several FEMA projects have been released to the treasurer. The remaining projects are being reviewed by FEMA. |
| C. Forest and Parks Commission Grant Announcements |
| The Town Administrator announced that the Forest and Parks Commission received another grant; the commission now has two grants, one for the removal of trees and one for the planting of replacement trees. The Selectboard greatly appreciates their hard work and is very excited to see the project completed. |
| Action Items |
| A. Water and Sewer Rate Increase |
| The Selectboard reviewed the draft notice of the proposed water/sewer fees that will be included in this quarter’s bills. They agreed to have an informational session regarding the topic of changing fees during the April 15th Selectboard meeting. This item will be advertised to the public to drive resident engagement to determine the final fee increase. No motion required. |
| B. Transfer Station Construction Trailers |
| The Selectboard discussed the construction trailer that is usually ordered to the transfer station during spring. Currently, Myers charges the Town $60 dollars for each large item in the trailer like couches, recliners, and mattresses in addition to the normal price charge per ton. The current prices charged at the transfer station for these items do not cover that extra surcharge, causing a deficiency in transfer station funds since the change was implemented last summer. The Selectboard considered increasing the prices charged for those items to at least balance what the Town is being charged for by Myers. The Selectboard gave permission for staff to order the trailer to be delivered. Gregg Herrin made a motion to increase the price for these large items to $65; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| C. Jonathan Maier Highway Permit |
| The Selectboard reviewed additional information regarding Mr. Maier’s right-of-way permit and determined that it is able to be approved. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the right-of-way permit; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| D. VTrans Grant Application for Signatures |
| Signatures for the submission of the 2026 VTrans grant were required from the Selectboard. Rick Ackerman will be submitting a paving grant request for Upper Village Rd. Paul Libby made a motion to sign the grant application once Rick Ackerman completes the paperwork; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| E. VTrans East Randolph Rd Grant Agreement |
| A grant agreement needed to be signed for work that has already been completed for East Randolph Rd. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to allow Tierney Farago to sign the grant agreement; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| F. Free Verse Farm Liquor License |
| The Town Clerk had a pending liquor license renewal for the Free Verse Farm Store. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the renewal of the license; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| G. Approve Orders |
| Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the orders; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| Executive Session If Necessary |
| Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session for a personnel item, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:57 pm. Paul Libby made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Executive session ended at 9:12 pm. Personnel was discussed and no action was taken. |
| Adjournment |
| Curtis Chase made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 pm. |