News

Single Family Housing Repair Grants—Flood Disaster Relief

To help more Vermonters whose homes were damaged by the July floods, the USDA Single Family Housing Repair Grant program has revised the required economic designation to include ‘low income’ households. Previously, only ‘very low income’ households could apply for this grant funding.

Included below is a link to the program pre-qualification form, and the revised eligible income levels.

Single Family Housing Repair Grants—Flood Disaster Relief

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Selectboard Meeting Agenda 19 September 2023

Tuesday, 19 September 2023
6:30 PM Chelsea Town Hall

  1. Call meeting to order
  2. Conflict of interest disclosure
  3. Additions to the agenda
  4. Public Comments
  5. Town Treasurer – Cargill contract
  6. Mike Whipple
    a. Update
    b. Dept of Environment Conservation Service Line Assistance
  7. Two Rivers – Ottauquechee
    a. Congressional grant for wastewater
    b. Funding to update town by-laws
    c. Town plan questions
  8. Highway Dept – Road damage update
  9. Student Transportation of Vermont – school bus fueling issue
  10. Parks and Forest Commission
  11. Planning Commission
  12. Transfer Station Fees
  13. FEMA Update
  14. Liquor Licenses – Tim Ward
  15. Approve orders
  16. Executive Session – personnel
  17.  Adjourn

Links to join the Selectboard Meeting

https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq

https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams

Heat Advisory

Good Afternoon,

This week is going to be a hot one. Heat index values are forecast in the upper 80s to mid 90s on Tuesday, low to upper 90s on Wednesday, and the mid 80s to mid 90s on Thursday.  For much of the area Wednesday will be the hottest day.  Low temperatures will only drop into the mid 60s to low 70s for a few hours each night, which may not be sufficient to effectively cool a home or other structures, allowing for heat impacts to accumulate each day.

If you are working in the field this week, remember to pack extra drinking water and take frequent cooling breaks in air conditioned vehicles or shade to combat the effects of heat stress.

Be on the lookout for signs of heat stress in yourself and folks that you work with, as well as familiar with basic heat stress first aid.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death if the person does not receive emergency treatment.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

  • Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
  • Loss of consciousness (coma)
  • Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
  • Seizures
  • Very high body temperature
  • Fatal if treatment delayed

Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke:

  • Call 911 for emergency medical care.
  • Stay with the worker until emergency medical services arrive.
  • Move the worker to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing.
  • Cool the worker quickly, using the following methods:
  • With a cold water or ice bath, if possible
  • Wet the skin
  • Place cold wet cloths on the skin
  • Soak clothing with cool water
  • Circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling.
  • Place a cold wet cloth or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Heat exhaustion is most likely to affect:

  • The elderly
  • People with high blood pressure
  • Those working in a hot environment

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Irritability
  • Thirst
  • Heavy sweating
  • Elevated body temperature
  • Decreased urine output

Treat a worker who has heat exhaustion by doing the following:

  • Take worker to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment.
  • Call 911 if medical care is unavailable.
  • Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
  • Remove the worker from the hot area and give liquids to drink.
  • Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks.
  • Cool the worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face, and neck with cold water.
  • Encourage frequent sips of cool water.

The CDC also recommends using the  OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App | NIOSH | CDC to monitor conditions in your immediate location to bring about awareness of heat stress conditions.

Take care and stay safe out there!

Chelsea Selectboard Agenda, September 5, 2023

Tuesday, September 5, 2023,
6:30 PM , Chelsea Town Hall

  1. Call meeting to order.
  2. Conflict of interest disclosure
  3. Additions to the agenda
  4. Public Comments
  5. WRV IREC – Nicole Cyr
  6. Planning Commission
  7. Amber Tree Service Contract
  8. Transfer Station Fees
  9. Flood Damaged Roads
  10. Approve Minutes – July and August
  11. Approve Orders
  12. Future Agenda Items
  13. Executive Session (as necessary)
  14. Adjourn

Links to join the Selectboard Meeting
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq
https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams

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Chelsea Selectboard Meeting Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 6:30pm Chelsea Town Hall Edited

Chelsea Selectboard Meeting Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 6:30pm Chelsea Town Hall
Edited

Board Attendance: Jesse Kay, Kelly Lyford, Kevin Marshia, Leyna Hoyt,
William (Billy) Lyon, Patty Swahn, Board Administrative Assistant
Other Attendees: Gayle Durkee, Rick Ackerman, Kasey Peterson, Flo Smith, Bernard “Snook” Downing

Meeting –
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Kevin.
Conflict of Interest – Jesse to recuse herself from bids on Maple Ave and Jenkins Brook Road due to conflict of interest.
Additions to the agenda – Sidewalk Project update

Public Comments – Flo Smith asked if any members of the Board had been involved with 4 Maple Street regarding property damage from the July flood Kelly and Leyna walked down Maple Street to introduce themselves, possibly Tracy Simon or Geoff Clayton may have made contact.

Amber Tree Service – Pete Amber Contract
Leyna moves to revisit the contract of Pete Amber’s of the North Common until September 5 meeting, Bill second. All in favor, “aye”, no one opposed, all approved.

Budget and Treasurer Overview – We are 67% through the calendar year, property tax payments are coming in steady. The credit card machine has arrived and is set up.

Transfer Station – Gayle ordered a dumpster cover for the construction dumpster.
Jesse started the discussion on the research she has been doing on Transfer station fees among neighboring towns and similarly sized Vermont towns with transfer stations.
40% recycling and 60% trash is what comes into the Transfer Station each week, the town spent $22,718 in recycling and $3,577 in food scrap during 2022, which are both free services to residents.
A discussion on Transfer Station fee increase was had, Jesse, Bill and Snook will draft a proposal outlining a policy for punch card use for waste disposal, windshield stickers for recycling and food waste services and outline an update transfer station fee pricing sheet.
The Selectboard will add public discussion regarding transfer station fees and payment options as an agenda item at a future meeting to warn residents.inquired

Bids for storm damaged roads; Jenkins Brook/Maple Ave, Brook/Hook/Pent
Jesse recused herself from the bids for Maple Ave and Jenkins Brook Road
Kasey inquired whether three bids are needed with competitive bidding.
The Board can reject a bid and request new bids.
Two bids were received for Maple Avenue and Jenkins Brook Road, with review of both bids and a small discussion, Leyna moved to award Galfetti Excavation, who submitted the lowest bid price for Maple Avenue and Jenkins Brook Road, Bill Second. All in favor “aye”, no further discussion, the Board approved to award the bid to Galfetti Excavation.

There was one bid for Brook Road/Hook Road/Pent Road.
The Board discussed the 3 things they could do.
1) Award the bid
2) Call contractor to see if there is any room to negotiate
3) Reject the bid
Kelly moved to reject the bid for Brook Road/Hook Road/Pent Road, Bill second, discussion on reason to reject the bid. No other discussion was had, all in favor “aye”, no one opposed, the Board approved to reject the bid.
The Board discussed having Rick complete some of the work on this bid with the potential to repost bids for smaller portions of the work required at these sites.
FEMA to be in town on Wednesday to tour the flood damaged roads.

Permits –
Jesse moved to accept the amendment for the use of the Town Commons by the Chelsea Farmers Market to extend the Market dates until October 13, Bill seconded All in favor “aye”, no discussion was had, all approved for the Market to extend its season until October 13.

Jesse moved to accept the use of Roberts-Gould Field for First Branch School 5/6 grade soccer practices and games. Leyna second, all in favor ‘aye”, no discussion was had, all approved the permit for the use of the Roberts-Gould Field.

Sidewalk Update –
Avery Excavation’s contract to include the 30 feet of sidewalk by Arnold Preston’s.
Kelly moves to accept the $45,239.50 contract of Avery Excavation, Bill second.
All in favor “aye”, no discussion was had, all approved Avery Excavation contract for $45,239.50.

Approval of Orders – Jesse motioned to approve all Orders of the night, Bill second. All approve – “aye”, so moved, all orders of the night were approved by all.

Future Agendas –
Invite Planning Commission
Transfer Station fee increase
Flood damaged roads
Approval of meeting minutes

Executive Session – No Executive Session

Adjourn – Jesse motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:38 PM, Bill second. All in favor, “aye”, motioned to adjourn was approved.

Invitation to Bid – Storm Damage Jenkins Brook Rd/Maple Ave.

The Town of Chelsea invites the submission of project bids to repair storm damage to

TH #73 Jenkins Brook and TH#44 Maple Road

Project Scope:

The contractor will be responsible for three sites which includes the removal and diposal of debris, and the purchasing and hauling of materials unless otherwise indicated. 

Jenkins Brook Road

Site 1 – 43-58-38 lat 72-26-50 long – by Jenkins Brook. Stone around bridge wingwall, fix scour at road edge. 135ft x 20ft. Add 15 CY each Stone Fill Type I and Stone Fill Type IV at bridge abutment. Replace Culvert. Town to provide culvert and will resurface roadway.  

Site 2 – 43-58-29 lat 72-26-38 long – between Metcalf’s and Hall Road – various locations. Repair sections of ditches and road shoulder. Install two new culverts. 2000ft x 6ft. Excavate 444 CY and replace with similar amount Stone Fill Type I and 222 CY 1 – 1/2” crushed stone. Materials and culvert provided and hauled by town.

Maple Road – 44-59-21 lat 72-26-55 long – Stone work at bridge and road resurfacing. 50ft x 20ft  5 CY Stone Fill Type I and 3 tons paving material.

The project completion date is October 15, 2023, unless any unforeseen problem warrants a time extension.

This project may be subject to provisions of VT Stream Alterations General Permits; and is subject to the “Low Risk Site Handbook for Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control”, and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  The contractor is responsible for understanding and complying with all of these permits and documents.

The municipality must ensure all participating contractors have the prerequisite experience, therefore contractors wishing to bid must submit at least one construction reference from a successful project similar in scale to this one for review.  This reference must be included with the project bid packet.

Bidders should note that a preconstruction meeting with the Stream Alterations Engineer may be required prior to the start of work. The Stream Alterations Engineer for this project is Jaron Borg. Jaron may be reached at (802) 371-8342, or Jaron.Borg@vermont.gov.

Bids will be received at the Chelsea Town Office or by email (grants@chelseavt.org) until 12 noon on Tuesday, 29 August. The town plans to issue a Notice of Award and Notice to proceed as soon as possible, once the bids have been properly evaluated during a Regular Selectboard Meeting to be held at 6:30 on Tuesday, 29 August 2023.

The Town of Chelsea Selectboard reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to accept any bid deemed to be in the best interests of the Town of Chelsea. Incomplete bid packages will not be considered. Please be sure to use the form provided on the Town of Chelsea website. Further information, including fact sheets and technical drawings can be found on the Town of Chelsea website. If you have any further questions regarding this project, please email Kasey Peterson at Grants@chelseavt.org. Questions will be received until 12 Noon on Wednesday, 23 August so that needed clarifications can be transmitted to all bidders in a timely manner prior to the bid deadline.

Update to Bid proposals

Addendum 1

The Upper Village Road Invitation to Bid and the South Washington/Edwards Road Invitation to Bid have been updated to include the following:

Please Note: The contractor is responsible for debris removal and disposal, and the purchasing and hauling of materials for these projects uless otherwise indicated.”

Also – the heading on the fact sheet for Upper Village Road Site 2 is incorrect. It states Site 1. Site 2 is correct. This will be remedied ASAP.

FEMA Town Hall August 17th 6:30pm

FEMA is hosting a Town Hall meeting on Thursday 17 August at 6:30 PM at the Chelsea Town Hall. This is an informational meeting. Come learn about the Disaster Recovery Process and get questions answered. Please share with your family and friends. Neighboring communities are invited. Share!