DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes May 19, 2026
Present:
Curtis Chase
Charles Peel
Paul Libby
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (attending remotely)
Rick Ackerman – Road Foremen
Kasey Peterson – Interim Town Administrator
Jen Chase – Town Clerk
Gayle Durkee – Town Treasurer
Nick DeFriez – Chair of the Library Board of Trustees
Bob Aicher
Terry MacNeish
Curtis Chase called the meeting to order at 6:31
Additions to Agenda –
Kasey Peterson added the procedure by which Use of Village Green Requests are
approved.
Charles Peel added an item to the tractor financing discussion
Conflict of Interest Disclosure - none
Public Comments - none
Approval of May 5, 2026 meeting was tabled
Approval of May 14, 2026 Paul Libby made a motion to approve the May 14, 2026 meeting minutes. Charles Peel seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0
Current Events and Updates
Highway Update - Rick Ackerman told the Board he has rented an excavator for four thousand dollars ($4,000) for one month. The Road Crew will be doing some work on Bobbinshop, Pent, and Dodge roads.
The crew is also catching up on grading. A resident on Riverside drive asked Rick not to grade a portion of the road in front of his property. Rick explained that he was simply doing his job and the resident would need to discuss the request with the Selectboard. Later other residents on the road called to complain that said resident had altered the pitch of the road in front of his property. Rick has re-graded that portion of Riverside drive. There was discussion regarding any further response from the Selectboard. No action was taken at this time.
Rick provided pricing on International and Freightliner trucks. Both trucks have seven (7) year warranties. The Freightliner is priced at two hundred twenty one thousand and ten dollars ($221,010) with the easy track hydraulic front end. The International is two hundred, twenty three thousand five hundred and forty dollars ($231,540). This body would take three or four months and would hopefully be ready in October. There was further discussion regarding the prices and timelines of these two trucks and the truck that has already been ordered. No action was taken at this time. The matter was tabled to be discussed at the June 2, 2026 meeting.
The discussion moved to the mower-tractor purchase. Gayle Durkee found alternate funding for the tractor through the Vermont Municipal Equipment Loan Fund at a 2% interest rate. The limit on a loan from this fund is one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Her plan is to use the town equipment fund to pay off the tractor in full and pay back the equipment fund with the loan from the state, thereby saving the town 2.7% in interest payments over the life of the loan. The discussion included an acknowledgment that a loan from Mascoma would still be an option if the loan from the Vermont Municipal Equipment Loan Fund was denied.
Paul Libby made a motion to pursue financing through the Vermont Municipal Equipment Loan Fund for seventy five percent (75%) of the purchase price of tractor – being one hundred and one thousand, nine hundred and twenty five dollars ($101,925) at two percent (2%) as long as the loan comes to us within six months to replenish the town’s equipment fund. If this plan is not feasible the town will revert to the Mascoma Bank loan at four point seven percent (4.7%). Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0
Rick Ackerman – left the meeting at this time.
Grants Update – Kasey Peterson reported on the Municipal Energy Resilience Grant.
At the town hall the south fire exit door has been returned. It has been painted on the outside. The Town Hall lighting project is going very well. Kasey will reach out to Scott Electric to make some clarifications and changes to the scope of work and to see if the old fans in the town hall can be replaced.
Administrative Update – Kasey Peterson reported that things are going well at the Town Administrator desk. There was a brief discussion regarding the much-improved communication between the Board and the administrator.
Library Update – Nick Defriez reported that the library is doing great. The Library Board of Trustees and the library patrons are happy with Kate MacLean as Library Director. Both circulation and patron numbers are increasing. There is also a wide range of events going on at the library for both adults and children.
The balcony chairs are finished being refurbished; many of the old and broken seats have been removed. And the space is now in accordance with fire safety guidelines. There are parts of the old chairs still up in the balcony area along with old theatre sets which Mr. Defriez would like to remove. The sets in the balcony are not the historic sets which are stored on the stage. Mr. Defriez also inquired about more space for library books and supplies. The basement was considered as an appropriate place for additional storage.
Mr. DeFriez also asked about the transfer station fee for disposal of the unsold books from the annual Book Sale. It seemed strange to him that the library should have to pay the town the transfer station fee as the library is part of the town.
Curtis Chase asked if the library visitor count included people that attend events or only those who use the library during operating hours. Mr. DeFriez said that the count referred to patrons using the library during open hours.
There was no action taken at this time.
Action Items
Chelsea United Church wastewater issue – Charles Peel began by clarifying that the discussion would be confined to the estimate for fixing the wastewater issue at the current connection point and proposed the discussion be limited to fifteen (15) minutes.
Bob Aicher reported that the project is moving forward with compromises. Mr. Aicher agreed with earlier Selectboard assertions that connecting into the main line is not safe. The latest proposal includes a six (6) foot excavation with a trench box into the west bound lane to gain pitch to a lateral line.
Mr. Aicher had an on-site meeting with Catamount Consulting and a surveyor to get precise elevation information. It was recommended to go to a 6 inch pipe, requiring less pitch.
The estimate from Mangan Excavation for connecting to the lateral line is eighteen thousand seven hundred and forty two dollars ($18,742). And the work itself will be done on United Church of Chelsea property.
Mr. Aicher also remarked that the church now has a committee to seek grant funding.
The State of Vermont will require an amendment to their 1111 permit once the final design is complete.
The Selectboard asked the church to finalize an estimate for the connection that splits costs at the right of way prior to any further presentation to the Board.
No action was taken at this time.
Mr. Aicher left the meeting at this time.
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo left the meeting at 7:53
Budget YTD Review – This item was tabled until the June 2, 2026
Transfer Station Compliance Progress and Oil Tank Enclosure –
The next step in resolving the oil tank issue is to empty the tank. Gayle Durkee informed the Board that it should be done later this week. No action was taken.
Edwards and Doyle Road FEMA Projects –
Stantec Engineering has requested to rearrange the budgets for these projects within the scope of the existing contract. This is an administrative decision not requiring Selectboard action as no additional money will be spent.
Horseshoe Pit Lighting – Curtis Chase explained that he and Charles Peel have met with Rich Gilman at the horseshoe pits. The horseshoe league would like to replace the electrical pole that is there and add another electric pole with lights. The wiring will be buried and connected to a generator at the picnic pavilion. Dig Safe has cleared the project for safety and there will be no tie-in to town power. Charles Peel made a motion to allow the horseshoe league to install two electric poles with direct bury wiring and a plug at the pavilion. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion 3-0-0
Windsor County Sheriff’s Office Contract Renewal – There was discussion about quarterly reports from the sheriff’s office which extended to how Animal Control Officer, Leyna Hoyt’s, requests for aid add to the hours. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department contract as written for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 term and authorize Curtis Chase as signatory as Vice-Chair. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0
Two Rivers MERP Update – Harry Falconer from Two-Rivers has provided a One Drive file has all the contracts but lacks the required financial information. Charles Peel will respond by asking, once again, for the actual financials. No action at this time.
Appointment of Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District Board Member – Terry MacNeish was present to express interest in being the representative of the Town of Chelsea to the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD). There was discussion of Mr. MacNeish’s knowledge base and what the Waste Management District is looking for.
Charles Peel made a motion to appoint Terry MacNeish to the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District for one year term. Mr. MacNeish’s appointment will be reviewed by the Board at the 2027 Selectboard organizational meeting. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 4-0-0.
Appointment of Alternate Authorized Representative for State Water Revolving Fund
Charles Peel made a motion to replace former Town Administrator, Tierney Farago, with current Interim Administrator, Kasey Peterson as an alternate town contact for the State Water Revolving Fund. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0
Contracts and Selectboard Approvals
Dufresne Amendment – Wastewater Plant upgrade preliminary engineering contract needs adjustment to account for design modifications. Charles explained the changes that were made to the plans and acknowledged that this is work that needed to be done. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the Dufresne amendment for an additional thirteen thousand nine hundred and ten ($13,910) to finalize the preliminary planning at the wastewater station and remove redundancies as recommended by Mike Whipple. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0
Sue Wilmot Contract – Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract for painting the office in the Town Garage for one thousand five hundred fifty six dollars and ninety four cents ($1556.94) and have the payment deducted from the Garage Repair budget line item. Charles peel seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0
Line of Credit Agreement with Mascoma - No action taken
MERP Town Hall Lighting Contract – no action taken
Procedure for Village Greens Requests – There was a brief discussion about being mindful of scheduling conflicts. Charles Peel made a motion to allow Kasey Peterson to approve Village Green requests with Town Clerk, Jen Chase, acting as a back-up; and to allow Jen Chase to approve Town Hall requests with Kasey Peterson acting as back-up. Paul Libby seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0.
Approve Orders – Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders. Charles Peel seconded. There was no further discussion. 3-0-0
Executive Session if Necessary – At 8:56 Charles Peel moved to enter executive session for personnel discussion. Paul Libby seconded. 3-0-0
At 9:08 Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session. Paul Libby seconded. 3-0-0. During the session two personnel issues were discussed. No actions were taken.
At 9:09 Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn. Charles Peel seconded. 3-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Kasey Peterson