| Selectboard Meeting Minutes |
| August 5th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall |
| Call to Order |
| Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. SELECTBOARD Gregg Herrin (Present) Curtis Chase (Present) Paul Libby (Present) Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present) Kevin Marshia (Absent) TOWN EMPLOYEES Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer) Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) Frank Keene (Cemetery Commission Chair) |
| Additions to the Agenda |
| A. MERP Grant Draft Scope of Work: The Town Administrator presented the draft scope of work for the MERP energy related projects as written by CX Associates. One concern was that adding heat pumps would make the wood pellet and oil heating redundant. The Selectboard would like to continue to review the scope of work and ask technical questions if possible. B. Pedestrian Bridge: Frank Keene wanted to bring up some issues that he found in the H&H study conducted for the pedestrian bridge. Paul Libby updated the Selectboard that permitting is in place and moving forward. The Town will still have to adhere to the zoning bylaws by going through the Design Review Board process to gain approval once a permit has been issued from ANR. The Town Administrator will check to see if there is a possibility of scheduling the meeting before permitting has been secured. C. Opioid Settlement Opt-In: The Town Administrator presented paperwork to opt-in to funds from the national Opioid Settlement, as the Town accepted the funds last year. The Selectboard would like more information on the funds and how they can be used before deciding by the September 30th deadline. |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None |
| Public Comments |
| Gregg Herrin wanted to acknowledge Rick Ackerman and John Tilton, as he got an email from Bob Frenier regarding their great work on ditching and that he greatly appreciated learning from them. |
| Approve Minutes from July 15, 2025 |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the July 15th meeting minutes; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Current Events and Updates |
| A. Highway Update |
| The Road Foreman updated the Selectboard that the crew has been grading and fixing recent washouts, and mowing has been wrapped up. Rick will be renting an excavator for $4,000 for a month to work on ditching areas that need repair. Rick will send over scope of work information to the Town Administrator so a bid can be put out for culvert work on Bobbinshop and Baraw Hill for Grants in Aid. She will put it out to bid so the Selectboard can choose a vendor during the next meeting. |
| B. Town Administrator Update |
| Town Parking Issues: Carrie Caouette-De Lallo brought up a recent issue regarding the parking of vehicles that seem to be in disrepair in the village center. Vehicles in various conditions have been parked for a day or two and then moved elsewhere in the village. This has brought some concerns from the public, so Carrie wanted to discuss it with the Selectboard. The Selectboard will do research into the ordinances of other towns regarding overnight parking to see if that is something that may benefit the Town. Dilapidated Housing Ordinances: Carrie Caouette-De Lallo also brought up ordinances and assistance related to houses that may be considered a blight in the village. She had concerns over the safety of residents in case of a collapse of a building or a fire. The Selectboard will also be looking into related ordinances for dilapidated homes, in addition to other possible new and amended ordinances. |
| Action Items |
| A. Approve 2025 Tax Rate |
| Gayle Durkee presented information on the municipal tax rate but has not gotten word back from the fire department regarding their tax rate. The Selectboard can still approve the municipal tax rate without this number. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the municipal tax rate of 0.8148; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| B. Treasurer: CD Investments |
| The Treasurer would like to invest some money in CDs while it’s not currently being used. After some discussion with the Selectboard regarding budgeting and availability of other funds in the event of an emergency, they agreed it would be beneficial to invest the funds: $200,000 from the equipment fund, $94,000 from the reappraisal fund, $60,000 from the Roberts-Poor Fund, $25,000 from the Town Hall Renovation fund, and $15,000 from the Record Restoration fund. Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the investments as noted by the Treasurer; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| C. Budget Year to Date Check-In |
| This item was tabled for a future meeting to ensure the Selectboard understands all line items in the budget. |
| D. Town Hall Facilities and Greens Administrative Draft Policy Updates |
| The Town Administrator presented a draft of the Greens and Roberts-Gould Field Request forms, which would no longer require Selectboard approval during an open meeting, but administrative approval by the Town Administrator or Town Clerk. The intent for this draft was to make it easier for the community to access the Greens and Field without needing to wait for the Selectboard to convene. Paul Libby suggested adding a clause that allows for any Selectboard member to approve a request in the event that the Town Administrator and Town Clerk were both unavailable for any reason. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the updated policies as noted; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The Town Clerk presented a draft of the Town Hall facilities agreement policy that expands on several topics, including the cleaning of the facility. The Selectboard would like to continue discussing the rental agreement, as there are several other items that could be amended to be more transparent and beneficial to the community. No motion made. |
| E. Lister’s Grand List Grievance and Corrections Document |
| The Listers sent in paperwork for the Selectboard to approve, including their testament that there are no pending appeals or suits to the grand list, and a correction to the grand list.A correction to the utility rate had to be made as directed by the state. Curtis Chase made a motion to approve and sign the appeals document; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Paul Libby made a motion to approve and sign the corrections to the grand list; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| F. Twin State Basements Project Contract |
| The Town Administrator informed the Selectboard that a contract had been drafted for the MERP grant basement project, which can be signed by the Administrator. The Selectboard previously made a motion to accept the proposal, so they agreed to continue with the project. No motion needed. |
| G. Approve Orders |
| Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Executive Session If Necessary |
| A. Personnel pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a) |
| Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:38 pm. Curtis Chase made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard exited executive session at 10:19 pm. Gregg Herrin stated that personnel was discussed, no motions made. |
| Adjournment |
| Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard adjourned the meeting at 10:20 pm. |