| Selectboard Meeting Minutes |
| June 17th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Link to recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf45VhLLpqY |
| 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) Kevin Marshia (Present) TOWN EMPLOYEES Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer) Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) Jen Chase (Town Clerk) Susan Elder (Lister) |
| Additions to the Agenda |
| Tierney Farago asked to add an addendum to the current zoning administrator contract to the agenda. The update to the contract came in the morning of June 17th . This addendum extends the current contract from June 27th until August 29th . This contract amendment brings the total threshold of the contract to $10,057.00. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract addendum to extend the zoning administrator contract to August 29th; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure: none |
| Public Comments: none |
| Approve Minutes from June 3, 2025 |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minute from June 3rd; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Current Events and Updates |
| A. Highway Update |
| Rick Ackerman reported on the state of the roads during the recent rains. He is also waiting for a quote from Pike Industries for work on Upper Village Rd for shoulder work. Rick is meeting with ATG on Thursday (6/19) to make sure the Town has a secure spot in the queue for the Town truck. The Selectboard would like to see a finalized inventory of town assets and a possible “wish list” of equipment the highway crew might need during the next meeting. Rick also asked the Selectboard if any movement had been made around Robert Button’s Creamery property-the Selectboard would still like to explore all options and understand the responsibility shared between the Town, the school, and Mr. Button. Curtis Chase and Paul Libby will work with the Town Administrator to get more information. |
| B. Town Administrator Update -Pedestrian Bridge Update: Stantec has produced an H&H study, however, the Town has asked them to make some edits in the report to help better show ANR that the planned replacement of the pedestrian bridge is acceptable from an engineering point of view. Once that report has been edited, the Town Administrator will submit the permitting documents to ANR and work with the zoning administrator and Design Review Board for Chelsea to secure local permitting as well. -Draft Language for Water/Sewer Fee Increase: the Town Administrator will distribute draft language of fee increases for the notification that will be included in the next round of water and sewer bills in July. The fee increase will take effect beginning July 1st and will be reflected in the Q3 bills in September. |
| Action Items |
| A. Basement Waterproofing Bid |
| The Selectboard discussed the basement waterproofing bid again, and the possibility of having the vendor subcontract the electrical panel work that will be needed to extend capacity for the pumps and dehumidifiers or getting the information to get quotes from electricians for the work. The Town Administrator will reach out to the contact and discuss this further, including Curts and Paul in discussions. No motion made. |
| B. Tree Planting and Tree Maintenance Bid Opening |
| The Selectboard opened three bids: two for tree maintenance and removal services, and one for tree planting services. These proposals are for services for two grants that were awarded to the Town via the Forest and Parks Commission. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo read out the background information, scope of work, and total price for all bids. The Selectboard thanked both parties for their submissions and briefly discussed the proposals, asking a few clarifying questions of Mr. Nola from Woodsman’s Tree Service. Members from the Forest and Parks Commission were in attendance to confirm that the scopes of work adhere to the requirements of the associated grants. After some deliberation, they agreed to accept both proposals from Amber Tree Service. Tree Maintenance and Removal Amber Tree Service total: $16,650 Woodsman’s Tree Service total: $31,421 Tree Planting Amber Tree Service total: $8,800 Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal for tree maintenance and removal services from Amber Tree Service; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal for tree planting service from Amber Tree Service; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Kevin Marshia also wanted to express gratitude to the Ambers for all their hard work and dedication to Chelsea over the years. The Selectboard greatly appreciates all their time spent helping make Chelsea a great place to live. |
| C. Town Line of Credit |
| Gayle Durkee presented a resolution to approve a $325,000 line of credit for the Selectboard to review. This line of credit can be used in emergency situations as an alternative to using surplus funds, and carries a 5.65% interest rate. The line of credit expires on December 31st, 2025. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the resolution for a $325,000 line of credit for the Town; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| D. Lou Maraget Green Request |
| This request was originally meant to be on the 6/3 agenda, however, due to clerical error it was not brought up during the meeting. The Town Administrator gave permission to the school to use the North Common on June 16th for their eight-grade graduation, as there were no conflicts in the reservation schedule. Paul Libby made a motion to retroactively approve the request for the Greens; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| E. Ben Canonica East Randolph Road Work Contract |
| This contract was for work on East Randolph Rd that was completed at the end of May. The contract did not require a motion for approval, just signatures from the Selectboard. No official motion made, but the Selectboard signed the contract for services rendered. |
| F. Chelsea Senior Center Greens Request |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the Senior Center’s request to use the Greens for croquet for the listed dates; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Dates: 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, /21, 8/28, 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9 Times: 10:00 am- 12:00 pm *Rainy days will be switched from Thursday to Tuesday if necessary. Changes will be posted to the Town website calendar in advance of any changes. |
| G. Will’s Store Tobacco License Renewal |
| Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the tobacco license renewal for Will’s General Store; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| H. Approve Orders |
| Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the orders; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Executive Session If Necessary |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:43 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:15 pm. The Selectboard discussed personnel and no action was taken. |
| Adjournment |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 pm. |