DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – July 15, 2025
| Selectboard meeting minutes |
| July 15th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Link to recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9rehZpnHCA |
| Call to Order |
| Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 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) |
| Additions to the Agenda |
| -Survey for school property: Paul Libby and Curtis Chase believe that the Town should get a proper boundary survey conducted on the school and Roberts-Gould field. They will help the Town Administrator gather information from the school and reach out to surveyor to get an idea of the costs associated with it. This will help determine the Town’s responsibility on the property and establish an official document to file that the Town is currently lacking. They will gather information for the next meeting. -Pedestrian bridge ANR permit update: ANR responded to the permit submission for the cemetery pedestrian bridge; the Town may need to switch over to an individual permit to meet standards. This permit would require a 30 day comment period. The Town Administrator is working with Stantec to get an updated H&H memo to submit with this new permit. The Selectboard agreed that this is the best course of action to get ANR approval. Paul Libby will communicate this to Frank Keene since he had already left the meeting. -Notice for water/sewer fee increase: Gregg Herrin wanted to have an update on the status of the notifications regarding water and sewer fee increases; Tierney Farago let the Selectboard know the notices were been included with the utility bills sent out on July 9th. |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo disclosed that she is an abutting property owner to the pedestrian bridge. |
| Public Comments |
| Frank Keene attended the selectboard meeting to notify them of road damage at the Highland Cemetery due to the recent storms. Much of the road has washed out and he suggested getting additional material and possibly ditching to help minimize water damage in the future. He will speak with local contractors to see if anyone would be available to help with smaller equipment, as the Town highway equipment would be too large to fit. He will bring back any quotes for the Town’s consideration. |
| Approve Minutes from July 1, 2025 |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the July 1st minutes; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Curtis Chase abstained, as he was not present during the meeting. Motion passed. |
| Current Events and Updates |
| A. Highway Update |
| The Highway crew has been working on repairing minor storm damage on several roads including Densmore, Jenkins Brook, Town Farm, and Vershire Center. Roadside mowing has continued while we have the mower. The Town will be working with Two Rivers-Ottaquechee to update the culvert inventory list. Rick is still waiting to hear back from vendors regarding the repaving of Upper Village Rd. Paul Libby will assist in getting quotes back in a timely manner. |
| B. Town Administrator Update |
| -Community Nurse Status Update: The Town Administrator notified the Selectboard that she is waiting for word back from Jodi Hoyt and First Branch Ambulance on employment contracting. Jodi has been working on a deal with Frist Branch Ambulance to be hired as an employee and then can offer community nurse services through them to help alleviate costs associated with being an independent contractor, which has halted current contract negotiations. The Town will check in with Jodi regularly to ensure forward motion. Another update is expected by the September 2nd meeting, if not sooner. -Maple Ave Bridge Project Update: Paul Libby updated the Selectboard on the Maple Ave bridge; Stantec needs further direction on the intent of the Town in regard to having a possible temporary bridge or possibly completing the bridge on an accelerated timeline. The accelerated timeline would have the bridge completed within a week, however, it would require the residents on Maple Ave to be cut off for several days. There are possible solutions including paying for hotel stays or staging emergency equipment on that side of Maple Ave, but this is a discussion requiring additional public feedback. The liaisons and the Town Administrator will work more with Stantec and see if they can attend a Selectboard meeting to help the public better understand the options of the bridge replacement. |
| Action Items |
| A. Approve 2025 Tax Rate |
| This item was tabled until the August 5th meeting date. |
| B. Budget Year to Date Check-In |
| This item was tabled until the August 5th meeting date. |
| C. Approve Orders |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the orders; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. |
| Executive Session If Necessary |
| Personnel pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a) |
| Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard entered executive session at 8:48 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard exited executive session at 9:23 pm. Gregg Herrin left during the executive session at 9:10 pm. The Selectboard discussed personnel and no action was taken. |
| Adjournment |
| Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:23 pm. |
| Links to join the Selectboard Meeting: https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq https://www.youtube.com/@chelseavtselectboardofficial/streams |