Meeting Minutes

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    DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – February 3, 2026

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    February 3, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    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)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Additions to the Agenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
    Public Comments
    Andy Pomerantz attended the meeting to ask the Selectboard if they were interested in posting official town business on the Chelsea Listserv page. Andy mentioned that the Selectboard agreed to use the platform during a meeting back in 2023, however, it did not take off as originally expected. He wanted to know if the Town was still interested in using it as a platform for official town news. The Selectboard has no issue with adding regular updates to the Listserv as they are updated on other sites, but will make sure the Town and the library have access to the same platforms so that all Town news is consistent on social media for residents to view.

    Nick DeFriez attended the meeting to confirm that the Selectboard gave him permission to begin repairing the balcony chairs in Town Hall. They confirmed that he may move forward with the project and reach out if he needs help or places to store parts.
    Approve Minutes from January 6, January 9, and January 20, 2026
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the January 6th meeting minutes; Charles Peel seconded the motion. motion passed unanimously. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the January 9th special meeting minutes; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Paul Libby abstained due to being absent during the meeting. Motion passed. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the January 20th meeting minutes; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Updates
    Truck body availability
    Next equipment order
    Salt and sand status
    Equipment inventory and planning

    Rick reached out to Tenco, another truck body company to see if they have a faster turnaround, but unfortunately the timeline is the same as Viking which is now expected to be done in the 3rd quarter of 2026. The other company would also be $20k more expensive. The Selectboard decided to continue waiting for Viking to finish the body of the truck since it was already previously approved. Rick stated that he was able to have 33.44 tons of salt trucked in from New Hampshire. He feels confident in how much salt and sand is currently left in the inventory. The Selectboard will look into ways to better store sand so the highway crew is not losing so much material to the elements when the top layer freezes. The Selectboard also discussed equipment prioritization and planning for future equipment purchases. Rick has been looking into used trucks to replace the aging chlorine truck, as it will be needed in the summer. The Selectboard agree it would be helpful to pre-approve an amount for Rick in case he comes across a truck that he has to purchase in between Selectboard meetings. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the purchase of a replacement chlorine truck for up to $25,000; Paul Libby seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously. 
    B. Town Administrator Update
    The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard that all reports have been sent to the printer, and proof of the Town Report is expected soon. She will update the Selectboard when the proof is received for final edits and review. The Town will notify residents when the reports have been received and given to the post office for distribution. A digital copy of the Town Report will be available on the Town’s website so residents can view it ahead of the informational meeting.
    Action Items
    A. Community Nurse Quarterly Report
    Jodi Hoyt presented a quarterly report update on the community nurse program. Jodi began working as the community nurse on October 1st, 2025, but not performing home visits until November 1st as she was obtaining the required insurance, and has been working on establishing the program and gaining clients. She stated that she has 22 active clients, and more than a dozen inactive (one time visit only) clients. She has been getting referrals through various hospitals as well as word of mouth from other residents. The nurse has also been coordinating through the Chelsea Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. A community nurse board has been created and accepts volunteers to help with administrative duties, donations, fundraising, and more. She has held two cardiovascular clinics and a vaccination clinic that brought in numerous residents and non-residents alike. She plans on organizing another clinic on Town Meeting Day (March 3rd) in the town library. Further information will be shared before the event. 
     B. Approve Orders
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session if necessary
    Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago and Rick Ackerman; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 8:11 pm. Curtis Chase made a motion to exit executive session; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard exited executive session at 8:28 pm. Gregg Herrin stated that personnel was discussed and entertained a motion from the Selectboard. Paul Libby made a motion to extend the full-time road maintenance worker position to Ruben Hook at his current rate; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Adjournment
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 8:29 pm.
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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 20, 2026

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    January 20, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    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)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Additions to the Agenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the town clerk.
    Public Comments: None
    Approve Minutes from January 6, 2026 and January 9, 2026
    The selectboard was unable to review the minutes in time to approve during the meeting and the item was tabled for the next regular Selectboard meeting.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard on highway business. They’ve had a few issues with one of the trucks but were able to fix it. He mentioned that the truck body from Viking may be pushed out again until September, so he will make a call to see if another company could fulfill the order sooner. He will bring the information back to the Selectboard for the February 3rd meeting.
    B. Town Administrator Update-Informational Hearing Date and Agenda
    The Selectboard discussed setting a date for the informational meeting before Town Meeting Day and settled on the date of February 18th at 6:30pm to present the budget and discuss the articles of the Town Meeting warning with the public.
    Action Items
    A. 2026 Budget Review
    The Selectboard had a final review of the budget to fill in remaining numbers from Gayle, and to clear up any flagged items. They agreed on the final numbers, and entertained a motion to recommend the budget to the voters at Town Meeting day. Charles Peel made a motion to include an article to see if the voters will approve the total fund expenditure of $1,776,417 of which $1,328,833 shall be raised by taxes and $447,584 by non-tax revenue; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.   
    B. 2026 Town Meeting Warning
    After approving the budget to be presented to the voters, the Selectboard reviewed the Town Meeting Warning and made adjustments as necessary with the final budget and appropriation numbers. A complete petition to change the Social Service Appropriation Petition Policy was received from Marianne McCann, and the Selectboard discussed including it on the Town Meeting warning. After seeking legal advice from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Selectboard concluded that the petition could not be warned as a binding petition by Australian Ballot because the voters lack statutory authority over this aspect of Town government.  So, the Selectboard determined that it could either warn it as a non-binding advisory petition to be voted on from the floor of Town Meeting or exclude it from the warning altogether.  The Selectboard was concerned that if the nonbinding advisory petition was included in the warning, voters might object to further revision by the Board following passage. Ultimately, the Selectboard decided that, in accordance with its original intent conveyed when this issue was presented by Marianne McCann at a November meeting, that it would take the issue up at a February 2026 meeting in hopes of developing a process to encourage public participation on the policy amendment and thereby avoiding any confusion which may arise from an advisory petition.  

    Paul Libby made a motion to exclude the petition from the Town Meeting warning and take up the Social Service Appropriation Policy as a Board; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  

    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the 2026 Town Meeting Warning; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    C. First Branch Ambulance Contract Renewal
    The Selectboard reviewed the three-year contract to continue ambulance services with First Branch Ambulance. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Approve Orders
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session If Necessary: None
    Adjournment
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:17 pm.
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    Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2026

    ByTierney Farago
    Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    January 9, 2026 7:00 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Call to Order
    Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.  
    SELECTBOARD    
    Gregg Herrin (Present) 
    Curtis Chase (Present)
    Paul Libby (Present)
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Additions to the Agenda
    Jen Chase asked to have an executive session added for a time sensitive personnel matter.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Charles Peel disclosed that he is on the DRB.
    Public Comments: None
    Action Items
    A. Zoning Bylaw Adoption
    Charles Peel made a motion to adopt the zoning bylaws as written, with additional spelling and grammar checks; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session (PERSONNEL PURSUANT TO 1 V.S.A. § 313(A))
    Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago and Jen Chase; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 7:06 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 7:24 pm. Gregg Herrin summarized that the Selectboard discussed a personnel matter, but no action was taken.
    Adjournment
    Charles Peel made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
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    Zoning Bylaw Hearing Minutes – January 9, 2026

    ByTierney Farago
    Zoning Bylaw Hearing
    January 9, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    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)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    PARTICIPANTS
    Bryan Kovalick (Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission)
    Marianne McCann
    Bob Brennan
    Tom Stearns
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Charles Peel disclosed that he is on the DRB.
    Public Comments
    Gregg Herrin opened the floor to any questions regarding the zoning bylaw update. Marianne McCann had questions regarding the purpose of the bylaw update, and asked for clarification of several areas including the definition of “affordable housing” and the expanded conservation areas. She also pointed out a formatting issue in the document that the Selectboard will fix before final publication. Bob Brennan (chair of the planning commission) and Bryan Kovalick (representative from the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission) have been working on drafting the zoning bylaw update and offered additional information when needed. No other members of the public had questions or comments for the Selectboard.
    Adjournment
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:57 pm.
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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 6, 2026

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Agenda
    January 6, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    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 (Absent)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Additions to the Agenda
    Charles Peel added an item to the agenda regarding the use of Town Hall for Town business. He wanted to ensure that Town commissions and committees had preference on their scheduled days to avoid conflicts with residents that may reserve the Town Hall. The Town Clerk and Town Administrator will ensure that the Town gets preference on all future reservations to avoid displacing the committee members during meetings.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the Town Clerk.
    Public Comments
    Marianne McCann made a public comment that she is running for the three-year Selectboard term.
    Approve Minutes from December 16, 2025 and December 22, 2025
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the December 16th and December 22nd meeting minutes; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that the crew has been busy with the intermittent snowstorms and weather, which has caused them to use up additional sand and salt. He has had some minor truck issues that were able to be fixed in-house. The Selectboard let Rick know that they had factored in additional money in the budget to begin covering the cost of road equipment upgrades in the future.
    B. Town Administrator Update-Town Report Review and Drafting
    Tierney Farago discussed the timeline of the Town Report with the Selectboard. The Selectboard will need to wrap up the budget and make final edits to the various reports at the next regular Selectboard meeting on January 20th so the Town Meeting warning can be completed and signed by the board. The Selectboard will put in their final comments and get answers for any questions they may have regarding the reports before January 16th.
    Action Items
    A. 2026 Budget Review
    The Selectboard continued their review of the 2026 budget, beginning with the transfer station to discuss if there was a way to make up the deficit in the department. After adjusting some of the numbers and reviewing possible ways to make up the difference and balance out revenues and expenses, the Selectboard agreed to continue working on the issues as the year progresses.  They proceeded to make minor adjustments to various areas of the budget, leaving a handful of flagged items to return to in the next regular meeting where the final budget numbers and the Town Meeting warning will be determined.
    B. 2025 Auditor RFP
    The Selectboard reviewed two auditor proposals that were previously opened on December 16th. Gayle Durkee discussed the pros and cons of each proposal, and ultimately recommended that the Town choose Sullivan, Powers & Company for the 2025 audit as they will be in person and conduct the audit on a cash basis rather than a modified accrual. This matches the system that the Town operates on.

    Final Proposal Pricing
    Batchelder Associates PC: $20,250
    Sullivan, Powers & Company: $22,000

    Curtis Chase made a motion to accept the proposal from Sullivan, Powers & Co; Charles Peel seconded the motion. The motion was amended to include the proposal price of $22,000. Motion passed unanimously.
    C. MERP Contracts: Interior Storm Windows, Building Envelope, and Window Repairs
    The Selectboard reviewed three contracts for the MERP grant that included interior storm windows, sealing building envelope, and window repairs in the Town Hall. There was some discussion regarding the contract lengths and if it’s possible to extend contracts in the event that a vendor is unable to finish the work before the contract deadline. This would be possible if needed. Charles Peel made a motion to approve and sign all three contracts; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Avery Work Contract
    The Selectboard reviewed a contract from Avery Excavation LLC for sand hauling completed in November for $5,500. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the contract; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    E. Approve Orders
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the orders; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Curtis Chase did have a question regarding an invoice for sewer line work at a residence, and the Selectboard determined that the Town was liable to pay for the work due to the sewer ordinance. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session if Necessary: None
    Adjournment
    Charles Peel made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:32 pm.
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    Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes – December 22, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    December 22, 2025 5:00 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)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Additions to the Agenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Charles Peel disclosed that he is on the Development Review Board, and Gregg Herrin disclosed that he is on the Planning Commission.
    Public Comments
    Kate Willard, Ben Canonica, and Zeb Allen attended the meeting to discuss ash trees with the Selectboard. An inventory of the trees was sent to the Town to begin discussing a potential plan to remove the trees. According to Ben, other towns like Strafford and Corinth have made efforts to remove ash trees that have been affected by the emerald ash borer, which destroys the trees and presents a potential hazard near roadways and right of ways. The Selectboard inquired if there are any grants to help towns pay for the removal of these trees, but the group was unsure. The Selectboard will keep the information in mind as they move into the new year and can dedicate more time to assessing the issue.
    Action Items
    A. Zoning Bylaw Review
    The Selectboard reviewed the draft of the zoning bylaws as written by the planning commission with the help of Two Rivers-Ottaquechee Regional Commission. They discussed several comments and edits they wanted to propose, including many spelling, grammar, and formatting changes as well as some content changes. Those changes mainly related to the consistency of wording (ex. “zoning permit” vs “administrative permit”) and the types of permits allowed in zoning areas like the conservation area. The Selectboard agreed to limit additional uses in the conservation area in the interest of preserving the Town’s limited zoning area. There were various discussions regarding the permitting process and the Development Review Board’s (DRB) role in certain uses and types of construction. After reviewing the content of the bylaws, the Selectboard accepted the changes discussed to create the updated draft, which will be the version highlighted at the upcoming zoning bylaw hearing.

    -Charles Peel made a motion to approve the Selectboard’s edits of the bylaws as discussed, pending minor font and header changes; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    -Charles Peel made a motion to approve the draft of the zoning map; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    The Selectboard discussed the date of the zoning bylaw hearing, which is required so the article can be included in the Town Meeting Warning so the public can vote on the adopted bylaws. . The hearing will be held on January 9th, 2026, at 6:30 pm. A special Selectboard meeting will be held directly after the hearing at 7:00 pm to move to approve or deny the draft zoning bylaws. Copies of the Selectboard’s draft of the zoning bylaws will be available online on the Town’s website, as well as at the Town Clerk’s office for the public to request.
    Executive Session If Necessary: None
    Adjournment
    Curtis Chase made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 8:19 pm.

    Zoning Bylaws Draft – Planning Commission Version (12/8/2025)

    DRAFT_CHELSEA-ZONING-BYLAW_Transmittal CopyDownload
    DRAFT_CHELSEA-ZONING-MAP_Transmittal CopyDownload
    Planning Commission Report_Chelsea Zoning Bylaws_2025Download

    Zoning Bylaw Draft – Selectboard Version (12/22/2025)

    DRAFT_CHELSEA-ZONING-BYLAW_Public Hearing Copy Approved 12.22.25Download
    DRAFT_CHELSEA-ZONING-MAP_Transmittal CopyDownload
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    DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – December 16, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    ​​Selectboard Meeting Minutes​  
    December 16, 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)   
    Charles Peel (Present)   
    TOWN EMPLOYEES    
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)   
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)   
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) 
    Additions to the Agenda 
    -Cargill Salt: The Town Administrator presented a salt quote letter from Cargill to the Selectboard. The price of salt recently went up, so the informal quote lists salt at $108.75 per ton. Cargill needs to deliver salt before the end of the year, and the estimated tonnage was 275. Paul Libby made a motion to not exceed $30,000 in salt for this delivery; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  
    -Audit RFP Opening: Two proposals were received for the 2025 audit. Gregg Herrin opened them and read the following amounts for the contracts: Batchelder Associates, P.C proposed a contract for a total of $20,250, and Sullivan, Powers & Company proposed a contract of $22,000. The Selectboard requested that they have additional time to review the full proposal packets and would look to Gyle Durkee to make an official recommendation at the next regular Selectboard meeting on January 6th, 2026. No motion made.  
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure 
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the Town Clerk. Charles Peel disclosed that he is a member of the Development Review Board.  
    Public Comments: None 
    Approve minutes from november 18, 2025 and december 9, 2025 
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the November 18th meeting minutes; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the December 9th meeting minutes; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  
    Current Events and Updates 
    A. Highway Update 
    Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that he had been having additional troubles with his truck but had taken it to be looked over. He also informed them that the gravel pit will close for the winter on Friday.  
    B. Town Administrator Update 
    The Selectboard and Town Administrator review the Town Report status and the timelines for submittals to get the report finalized and published.  
    Action Items 
    A. 2026 Budget Review 
    The Selectboard continued their review of the 2026 budget, covering all departments and making adjustments to line items as needed. The budget is nearly complete, with potential final YTD numbers and revisions anticipated for the January 6th meeting. During the budget conversation, the Selectboard determined that an increase in the price of recycling tickets would be required to begin making up for the deficit currently present in the transfer station budget. Curtis Chase made a motion to increase the price of recycle tickets to $50 for 2026; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. This price increase will begin on January 1st, 2026.  
    B. Zoning Bylaw Review 
    Tabled.  
    C. MERP Contracts: Interior Storm Windows, Building Envelope, and Window Repairs 
    Tabled. 
    D. Avery Work Contract 
    Tabled. 
    E. Kingsbury Work Contract 
    A $4,000 contract for sewer line cleanout was presented for signatures. No motion required.  
    F. Approve Orders 
    Curtis Chase 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 and Rick Ackerman; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 6:48 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 7:10 pm. Gregg Herrin summarized that the Selectboard discussed personnel and no motion was made. 

    -Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to enter executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:23 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 10:04 pm.  
    The Selectboard made the following motions:  
    1. Curtis Chase made a motion to adjust the 2026 compensations which will be reflected in the budget; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 
    2. Charles Peel made a motion to approve and immediately distribute the 2025 holiday bonuses; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  
    Adjournment​ 
    Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 10:26 pm.  

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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    ​​Selectboard Meeting Agenda​  
    December 9, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall 
     ​Call to Order​ 
    Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:37 pm. 
    SELECTBOARD   
    Gregg Herrin (Present)   
    Curtis Chase (Present)  
    Paul Libby (Present)   
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)  
    Charles Peel (Present)  
    TOWN EMPLOYEES   
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator, Virtual)  
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)  
    Additions to the Agenda: None 
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure 
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the Town Clerk.  
    Public Comments 
    Tim Courts attended the meeting to ask questions regarding the transfer station budget. The item was discussed in the Budget Review portion of the meeting.  
    Action Items 
    A. 2026 Budget Review 
    The Selectboard continued to review the 2026 budget. The Chelsea Public Library Board reduced their appropriation by $15,000.00 to account for surplus remaining from prior years.  The Selectboard reflected the reduction to $50,000.00 in the draft budget. The transfer station was also discussed, as expenses are still outweighing revenue. The Selectboard considered several different options including a new sticker system for bags, as well as increasing tickets and recycling sticker fees to get closer to breaking even for the department. The board agreed that they would proceed with the budget with the agreement that revenue should support the expense of the Transfer Station and aims to zero out the budget.  The Board acknowledged that this would be a difficult undertaking and would require adjustments throughout the 2026 calendar year to balance the Transfer Station budget. The board then reviewed the overall budget and made some adjustments in several categories based on information from the treasurer. The board will continue to review the proposed budget at the next Selectboard meeting on December 16th.    
    Executive Session if necessary 
    -Curtis Chase made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago and Gayle Durkee; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:41 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 9:54 pm. Gregg Herrin summarized that the Selectboard discussed a Roberts Poor Fund request presented at the December 2, 2025 meeting, and approved the provided financial specifics unanimously.  
    -Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:55 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 10:18 pm. Gregg Herrin stated that the Selectboard discussed and approved 2026 salary increases but will confirm with Gayle what taxes are associated to give a final number to be included in the budget. The Selectboard also discussed yearly bonuses for Town employees. Charles Peel made a motion to allocate the previously appropriated 2025 salary increase funds to be used for salary bonuses not to exceed the previously approved amount; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 
    Adjournment​ 
    Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 10:20 pm. 

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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – December 2, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    ​​Selectboard Meeting Agenda​  
    December 2, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall 
     ​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) 
    Charles Peel (Present) 
    TOWN EMPLOYEES  
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator, Virtual) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer) 
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk) 
    Additions to the Agenda: None 
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure 
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the Town Clerk and would recuse himself from any motions regarding the Town Clerk’s office or salary compensation.  
     Public Comments 
    -Bob Harrington attended the meeting to request special accommodation to use an ATV on the class 4 road section of Jenkins Brook Rd. He is handicapped and would like touse the road to get to a hunting area that he is currently unable to access using his truck. The Selectboard will work with the Town Administrator to understand any legal requirements and revisit this topic once more information is known.  
    -Marianne McCann had commentary regarding the wording of the minutes from the previous meeting in which the Selectboard discussed her suggestions for an amendment to the social service appropriations policy. The Selectboard will review the draft minutes and the recording to ensure the minutes accurately reflect the content of the meeting.  
     Approve Minutes from November 18, 2025 
    This item was tabled for further review until the next regular Selectboard meeting pending review of Marianne McCann’s concerns. 
    Current Events and Updates 
    A. Highway Update 
    The highway crew was out plowing during the meeting due to heavy snowfall. The Town Administrator informed the Selectboard that the seasonal crew hire was drug tested and should be ready to begin working soon.    
    B. Town Administrator Update 
    Tierney Farago outlined the timeline for sending the Town Report to the printer and suggested that we have preliminary drafts of budget reports submitted by December 12th so that we could review them at the next meeting. 
    Action Items 
    A. First Branch Ambulance Budget and Community Nurse 
    Chase Ackerman discussed the community nurse MOU draft with the Selectboard. He will remove the clause citing 10 hours maximum and instead agree to “not exceed $20,000” as previously agreed upon. The Chelsea Health Center will submit $5,000 each quarter to help pay for the community nurse services. The Town of Chelsea will submit its portion, also $5000, of the payment for the community nurse  on the same quarterly schedule as the Health Center. He also mentioned that the contract for First Branch is expiring soon and would bring a new 3 year contract soon. He informed the Selectboard that the pricing will increase from $42 per capita to $47 per capita; this will be reflected in the new contract for services. He also inquired about using Town space to store a new ambulance; the Selectboard will work with Rick Ackerman to find a suitable spot for storage if possible.  
    B. 2026 Budget Review 
    The Selectboard discussed various budget related items, including capital improvements, organization for the budget, and the timeline and process for the Town Report. No motions made.  
    C. Approve Orders 
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  
    Executive Session If Necessary 
    A. Roberts-Poor Fund Request 
    Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago, Gayle Durkee, and the party making the request; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 7:30 pm. Paul Libby made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, and the Selectboard exited executive session at 8:12 pm. 
    B. Personnel Pursuant To 1 V.S.A. § 313(a) 
    Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 8:15 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, and the Selectboard exited executive session at 11:56 pm. The Selectboard discussed employee salary benchmarks and agreed upon bonus allocations, which will fall within the budgeted amount which was within the approved amount from the 2025 budget.  
     Adjournment​ 
    Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette–De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 11:57 pm. 
  • | |

    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Agenda
    November 18, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    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)
    Charles Peel (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Additions to the Agenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board.
    Public Comments
    -Marianne McCann attended the meeting to follow-up on her proposed amendment to the social service appropriation policy. The Selectboard has reviewed, and Charles Peel mentioned that the proposed amendment defined social services more narrowly than allowed by statute and that the narrowed definition eliminated the ability to fund the TVT bus and farmer’s market.  He also raised concerns regarding the possibility that the policy could be read as discriminatory on its face.  He noted that groups are already collecting signatures on petitions for presentation at Town Meeting and that any amendment would need to take effect following Town Meeting.  He further noted that the board may be open to creating a global appropriations policy but that it would need to be done with an eye toward historic appropriations and with careful review of statutory authority to avoid conflict and ensure that the policy adheres to what is legally required of the Town. The Town will continue to review the policy and make edits, though any changes which may be made will occur after the 2026 Town Meeting. 
    -Marianne McCann inquired about the status of the Creamery Road drainage issues; Curtis Chase informed her that the Town was still waiting for a survey to be conducted. 
    -Kate Mclean introduced herself as the new Chelsea correspondent for The Herald. 
    Approve Minutes from November 4, 2025
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minutes from November 4th; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard on the status of sand; he is stockpiling as much sand as he can and will likely use some of his gravel funds on sand to ensure the Town has enough to spare for the winter. He also mentioned the quotes he obtained for front end repairs to his truck; they quotes were between $19,000 to $22,000. In order to use the shop which provided the lower quote, the Town would have to pay to reassemble and tow the truck which would likely negate any savings.  Paul Libby made a motion to approve repairs for $22,000; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    B. Town Administrator Update
    The Town Administrator has been in contact with a company called Text My Gov, which provides text-based services to keep residents informed of any Town business. The service can be used to communicate emergencies including weather-related issues, water main breaks, service outages, etc. with the public via text messages. The annual price for the service is estimated to be between $2,000 and $2,500. The Selectboard discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the service and prepared a few questions to ask the representative for further information.
    Action Items
    A. Two Rivers Capital Budgeting   
    Item was tabled, as the Selectboard liaisons would like to discuss capital budgeting with Two Rivers separately and bring the information back to the full Selectboard.
    B. 2026 Budget Review
    The Selectboard reviewed the highway budget while Rick Ackerman was in attendance. Rick and Gayle were able to answer questions on certain line items and explained what those items included. Overall, there was mostly discussion on preparing for capital planning and accounting for the replacement of equipment in the coming years. The Selectboard will continue to review the budget in preparation for the remaining Selectboard meetings for the year.
    C. Library Budget Presentation
    Kate McLean and Nick DeFriez attended the meeting to present an end of year review of the library and their budget for 2026. They shared data on attendance and the events and programs they hosted for the public in the last year. The library will ask for $65,000 in appropriations from the Town overall and will fund the rest of their budget in the coming year.  Their appropriation request and overall budget are level funded from 2025. 
    D. Town Hall Facilities Agreement Draft Follow-Up
    Item was tabled due to time constraints and moved to the next Selectboard meeting. No motion made.
    E. Highway Permit: Kennedy Dr
    Item was tabled, as more information is needed. No motion made.
    F. Signage at Old Town Garage
    Paul Libby had previously talked to Marty Gratz about her concern regarding folks parking near the Old Town Garage and subsequently blocking her driveway. Her suggested course of action was to install signage that discourages drivers from parking in front of the driveway. The Selectboard agreed that this was an easy fix; the Town Administrator will look at possible signs and order them. Rick Ackerman said the road crew can put up the posts for the signs.
    G. Community Nurse MOU
    The Selectboard discussed the drafted memorandum of understanding with First Branch Ambulance for the community nursing services. The Selectboard will finish their final draft of the MOU by the end of the week so it can be sent back to First Branch. No motion made.
     H. 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)
    Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:55 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 10:04 pm. Personnel was discussed and Charles Peel made a motion to hire Reuben Hook as a temporary seasonal road crew member at a pay rate within the presently-posted hiring range; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  
    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 10:05 pm.