Meeting Minutes

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    DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – August 19, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    August 19th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnwXQeRtlJ4
    Call to Order
    Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm.
    SELECTBOARD 
    Gregg Herrin (Present) 
    Curtis Chase (Present)
    Paul Libby (Present) 
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Absent)
    Kevin Marshia (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Additions to the Agenda
    Men’s Horseshoe League Electrical: The horseshoe league would like to see if the Selectboard would allow them to run a locked electrical box from the wastewater plant to the ramada by the river so they can have lighting. The electricity would only be used by the league. The Selectboard discussed and will see if the league falls under the recreation committee, and if this is something the Town could offer.
    Employee Compensation Benchmarks: Gregg Herrin mentioned employee benchmarks during open meeting. He has been accumulating data from other towns in an effort to come up with a comprehensive database so the Town can compare salary rates and adjust accordingly. He will reach out to Gayle Durkee to confirm some of the information he currently has.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
    Public Comments
    Frank Keene attended the meeting to discuss a pedestrian bridge update from Paul Libby. The permit currently being reviewed by ANR has an additional 30 day comment period that was previously unknown. Paul assured Frank that the Town is working to get the final approval so the Town can go to the DRB to get the local permit as well. The Town Administrator will reach out to the DRB to see if it’s possible to tentatively get on their schedule.
    Approve Minutes from August 5, 2025 and August 7, 2025
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the minutes from August 5th, 2025; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The minutes from August 7th will be tabled until the next Selectboard meeting.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that the excavator was rented for the month and the crew has begun ditching as needed. He asked that the Town continue working on advertising for the open road crew position. The Selectboard discussed additional ways to get the word out about the vacancy, including newspaper ads, social media, and other job search websites.
    B. Town Administrator Update: None
    Action Items
    A. 13 VT Rte 113 Sewer Connection Issue
    Charles Peel attended the meeting to discuss a sewer issue he and his family have been experiencing in the last year or two, that has now made it impossible to use their bathroom. He believes the issue was exacerbated when VT Rte 113 was repaved, possibly detaching the sewer connection in the road and sidewalk. Charles has attempted to reach out to the vendor for the paving to see if their insurance will cover this issue, but they have denied him as of now. He is unable to have the sewer line repaired without digging into pavement and sidewalk. The health of their family is a concern, so the Selectboard conversed with Charles and determined that the Town will assist with the cost of repair as it is within the Town’s right-of-way. Kevin Marshia made the following motion: in lieu of an update town sewer ordinance, in this instance the town will take on replacement costs for this project, not to exceed $12,000; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    B. Community Nurse and First Branch Update
    The Town Administrator briefly updated the Selectboard that the community nurse and First Branch have worked out an agreement for the nurse to be an employee under First Branch. Unfortunately, they were not in attendance, so the Administrator will invite them to another meeting to work out payment logistics and scheduling. No motion was made.
    C. Sealed Bid: Upper Village Rd Paving
    Two sealed bids for leveling and paving services of Upper Village Rd were received:
    Pike Industries: 1.5” paving $51,244.00 (460 tons, $111.40 unit price), and 2” paving $67,281.00 (615 tons, $109.40 unit price)
    Blaktop: 1.5” paving $68,901.04 (683 tons, $100.88 unit price) and 2” paving $82,563.38 (857 tons, $96.34 unit price)
    The Selectboard deliberated and consulted with the Road Foreman. Paul Libby made a motion to accept the proposal from Blaktop for 2” shim and overlay on Upper Village Rd; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Sealed Bid: Bobbinshop and Baraw Culvert Work
    One sealed bid was received for culvert work on Bobbinshop Rd and Baraw Hill Rd. The proposal for services was read for Lyon Excavation. The scope of work includes the replacement of 6 culverts in total and 2716 feet of stone lined ditching. The total for the services is $21,600.00. Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    E. Google/Teams Virtual Meeting Options and Discussion
    Curtis Chase brought up a concern with the increased frequency of “Zoombombing” during municipal meetings, where individuals join virtual meeting options and share inappropriate content during the meeting. He suggested moving forward with virtual Teams meetings instead of livestreaming the Selectboard meetings on YouTube. The meetings will still be recorded and posted, but residents must request a link to the virtual meeting if they want to join and are not present in person. VLCT advised that this still meets Open Meeting Law requirements. The rest of the Selectboard agreed with his concerns and the Town Administrator will work on transitioning the virtual meeting options over to Microsoft Teams. A notice will be posted to the public letting them know if this change. No motion was required.
    F. Outline Objectives for Water/Sewer Ordinance
    The Selectboard discussed the overall goal of transparency and additional detail for the water and sewer ordinance update. The current sewer section of the ordinance does not clearly define the responsibility of the Town and the residents; therefore it must be updated to provide a baseline for sewer-related issues in the village. Gregg Herrin will continue editing and collaborating on the ordinance so a draft can be prepared and eventually go to Town Meeting.
    G. Personnel Policy Review
    Due to a clerical error, the personnel policy introduced on June 20, 2023 was not properly motioned and signed during the meeting. The Town Administrator suggested adopting the current policy and approving as-is for filing purposes. The Selectboard can still amend the policy as needed in the future if they see fit. Paul Libby made a motion to adopt the personnel policy as written; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
     H. Approve Orders
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve orders; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session If Necessary
    Personnel pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a): Curtis Chase made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The Selectboard entered executive session at 9:03 pm. Paul Libby made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:24 pm. Personnel was discussed and no action was taken.
    Adjournment
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 pm.
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    DRAFT Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Special Selectboard Meeting Agenda
    August 7th, 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 (Absent) 
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
    Kevin Marshia (Absent)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
    Action Items
    A. Approve CORRECTED 2025 Tax Rate
    Due to an update to the Grand List, the Treasurer needed to adjust the approved tax rate of 0.8148 (approved during the August 5th Selectboard meeting) to 0.8331. Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the updated tax rate of 0.8331; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo 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. The meeting adjourned at 6:35pm.
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    DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – August 5, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    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.
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    DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – July 15, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    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
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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – July 1, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    July 1st, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohpt-Mh52qQ
    Call to order
    Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
    SELECTBOARD 
    Gregg Herrin (Present) 
    Curtis Chase (Absent)
    Paul Libby (Present) 
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
    Kevin Marshia (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Additions to the Agenda
    Tierney Farago had an addition to the agenda; New Creation Fellowship Church requested the use of the Greens on July 6th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm for a Patriotic Service. Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the request; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Paul Libby abstained. Motion passed.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Paul Libby abstained from voting during the Greens request from New Creation Fellowship Church, as he is a member of their congregation.
    Public Comments
    Jennie Martin attended the meeting to inform the Selectboard that the Farmer’s Market had to allow vendors to park on the Greens during their event, as there was no street parking available due to a large event being held at the Town Hall.  The Selectboard discussed the issue and possible ways to avoid congestion. It is believed to be an isolated event; however, the Town will try to avoid further mishaps in the future, so residents are not impacted by the traffic issues. This may include asking for the number of expected participants on rental forms, and advising them to not park on the common if there is an event planned on the North Common.
    Approve Minutes from June 17, 2025
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minutes from June 17th; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    The Selectboard discussed the highway equipment inventory that Rick Ackerman put together for review. The overall age, condition, and replacement of equipment was considered, and the Selectboard was able to begin mapping out the early stages of a capital improvement plan for the equipment for future budgeting purposes. Rick is also waiting for a final estimate of paving costs of Upper Village Rd.
    B. Town Administrator Update-Finalize Draft Language for Water/Sewer Fee Increase
    The Selectboard discussed the draft language for the notice that will be sent out with the next water and sewer bills regarding the increase in fees, effective July 1st and reflected in the bills that will be sent out in October. The language was finalized and will accompany the bills.
    Action Items
    A. Basement Waterproofing Bid
    Twin State Basements submitted an update proposal, including the electrical upgrades needed to complete the basement waterproofing project linked to the MERP grant. The Selectboard agreed to accept the proposal with the caveat that Curtis Chase reviews and verifies the electrical requirements due to his previous experience. Paul Libby made a motion to accept the proposal on the condition that Curtis confirms the electrical requirements needed for the project; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    B. Button Creamery Rd Drainage Issue
    Marianne McCann attended the meeting along with Robert Button to present the history of the drainage issue at Mr. Button’s property on Creamery Rd. She gave an overview of the research and work that had been previously done when she worked for the Town and stressed the importance of addressing the issue. The Selectboard thanked her for the additional information and reviewed the current information they have about the property and ownership situation. The liaisons will continue to work with the Town Administrator to research the property boundaries and see what kind of programs the Town is eligible for in terms of funding to redirect the flow of water away from Mr. Button’s property.  
    C. Roberts-Gould Field Request: Chelsea Flea Market Parking
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the Chelsea Flea Market Parking request for Roberts-Gould Field; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Farquharson Brothers Construction LLC Contract: Upper Village Rd Shoulder Work
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the shoulder work contract for Farquharson Brothers Construction LLC; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    E. Farnham Lawn Care LLC Contract: Roberts-Gould Field Mowing
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the mowing contract for Farnham Lawn Care LLC; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    F. Quick Stop Liquor and Tobacco License Renewal
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the Quick Stop Liquor and Tobacco License renewal; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    G. Hubbleshire Farms Liquor License Renewal
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the Hubbleshire Liquor License renewal; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    H. 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
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Gayle Durkee and Tierney Farago; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:03 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion. Motion passed and the Selectboard exited executive session at 9:48 pm. They discussed personnel. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to increase the transfer station attendant’s pay from $16.50 to $18.00; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Adjournment
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to adjourn; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The selectboard meeting ended at 9:49 pm.
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    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – June 17, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    June 17th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf45VhLLpqY
    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)
    Kevin Marshia (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Susan Elder (Lister)
    Additions to the Agenda
    Tierney Farago asked to add an addendum to the current zoning administrator contract to the agenda. The update to the contract came in the morning of June 17th  . This addendum extends the current contract from June 27th until August 29th . This contract amendment brings the total threshold of the contract to $10,057.00. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract addendum to extend the zoning administrator contract to August 29th; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure: none
    Public Comments: none
    Approve Minutes from June 3, 2025
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minute from June 3rd; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman reported on the state of the roads during the recent rains. He is also waiting for a quote from Pike Industries for work on Upper Village Rd for shoulder work. Rick is meeting with ATG on Thursday (6/19) to make sure the Town has a secure spot in the queue for the Town truck. The Selectboard would like to see a finalized inventory of town assets and a possible “wish list” of equipment the highway crew might need during the next meeting. Rick also asked the Selectboard if any movement had been made around Robert Button’s Creamery property-the Selectboard would still like to explore all options and understand the responsibility shared between the Town, the school, and Mr. Button. Curtis Chase and Paul Libby will work with the Town Administrator to get more information.
    B. Town Administrator Update
    -Pedestrian Bridge Update: Stantec has produced an H&H study, however, the Town has asked them to make some edits in the report to help better show ANR that the planned replacement of the pedestrian bridge is acceptable from an engineering point of view. Once that report has been edited, the Town Administrator will submit the permitting documents to ANR and work with the zoning administrator and Design Review Board for Chelsea to secure local permitting as well.
    -Draft Language for Water/Sewer Fee Increase: the Town Administrator will distribute draft language of fee increases for the notification that will be included in the next round of water and sewer bills in July. The fee increase will take effect beginning July 1st and will be reflected in the Q3 bills in September.
    Action Items
    A. Basement Waterproofing Bid
    The Selectboard discussed the basement waterproofing bid again, and the possibility of having the vendor subcontract the electrical panel work that will be needed to extend capacity for the pumps and dehumidifiers or getting the information to get quotes from electricians for the work. The Town Administrator will reach out to the contact and discuss this further, including Curts and Paul in discussions. No motion made.
    B. Tree Planting and Tree Maintenance Bid Opening
    The Selectboard opened three bids: two for tree maintenance and removal services, and one for tree planting services. These proposals are for services for two grants that were awarded to the Town via the Forest and Parks Commission. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo read out the background information, scope of work, and total price for all bids. The Selectboard thanked both parties for their submissions and briefly discussed the proposals, asking a few clarifying questions of Mr. Nola from Woodsman’s Tree Service. Members from the Forest and Parks Commission were in attendance to confirm that the scopes of work adhere to the requirements of the associated grants. After some deliberation, they agreed to accept both proposals from Amber Tree Service.

    Tree Maintenance and Removal
    Amber Tree Service total: $16,650
    Woodsman’s Tree Service total: $31,421

    Tree Planting
    Amber Tree Service total: $8,800

    Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal for tree maintenance and removal services from Amber Tree Service; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal for tree planting service from Amber Tree Service; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Kevin Marshia also wanted to express gratitude to the Ambers for all their hard work and dedication to Chelsea over the years. The Selectboard greatly appreciates all their time spent helping make Chelsea a great place to live.
    C. Town Line of Credit
    Gayle Durkee presented a resolution to approve a $325,000 line of credit for the Selectboard to review. This line of credit can be used in emergency situations as an alternative to using surplus funds, and carries a 5.65% interest rate. The line of credit expires on December 31st, 2025. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the resolution for a $325,000 line of credit for the Town; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Lou Maraget Green Request
    This request was originally meant to be on the 6/3 agenda, however, due to clerical error it was not brought up during the meeting. The Town Administrator gave permission to the school to use the North Common on June 16th for their eight-grade graduation, as there were no conflicts in the reservation schedule. Paul Libby made a motion to retroactively approve the request for the Greens; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    E. Ben Canonica East Randolph Road Work Contract
    This contract was for work on East Randolph Rd that was completed at the end of May. The contract did not require a motion for approval, just signatures from the Selectboard. No official motion made, but the Selectboard signed the contract for services rendered.
    F. Chelsea Senior Center Greens Request
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the Senior Center’s request to use the Greens for croquet for the listed dates; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Dates: 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, /21, 8/28, 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9
    Times: 10:00 am- 12:00 pm
    *Rainy days will be switched from Thursday to Tuesday if necessary. Changes will be posted to the Town website calendar in advance of any changes.
    G. Will’s Store Tobacco License Renewal
    Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the tobacco license renewal for Will’s General Store; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    H. Approve Orders
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the orders; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Executive Session If Necessary
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:43 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:15 pm. The Selectboard discussed personnel and no action was taken.
    Adjournment
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 pm.
  • | |

    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – June 3, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    June 3rd, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy3o_xruPaE
    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 (Present)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Tracy Simon (Emergency Management Director)
    Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
    Snook Downing (Transfer Station Attendant)
    Tom Swahn (Transfer Station Attendant)
    Additions to the Agenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
    Public Comments
    Snook Downing and Tom Swahn attended the meeting to talk to the Selectboard about a pay raise     for Tom. He believes that this is necessary, as Tom’s presence at the transfer station has greatly helped him, and he worries that not paying him more will make him less likely to continue working at the transfer station. Gregg Herrin appreciated both Snook and Tom for bringing this up and let them know that the Selectboard is working on salary increases for all Town employees to ensure that employees are being paid fairly to state and local standards. They will continue to gather data on the salary in comparable towns and bring that information to future meetings for deliberation.
    Approve Minutes from May 20, 2025
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the May 20th meeting minutes; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update-Town Truck Purchase
    Rick Ackerman brought back numbers for turnkey trucks; there are several models to choose from, ranging from about $310,000 to $315,000 with warranty. The truck order currently in place with ATG/Viking Cives is for a total of $274,444. The Selectboard deliberated on the pros and cons of possibly getting a turnkey truck with Rick. Ultimately, the Selectboard agreed that if Rick is comfortable moving forward, they would continue to wait for the current truck and have him service the old truck as needed for Winter 2025. Since this order is already in place, no action was needed. Rick gave several updates, including the chervil mowing that has begun and looking ahead to possibly buying more sand to stock up on for the winter. He is also waiting for Pike to send over an estimate on how much repaving Upper Village Rd would cost.
    B. Town Administrator Update
    The Town Administrator is working with the Grants Administrator for a sidewalk grant from VTrans and wanted to know if the Selectboard members had any specific areas of sidewalk that need to be repaired, or even new sidewalk that they think might be beneficial to the Town. Paul Libby suggested asking Rita Seto from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission if they already have a listed of priority areas. The Town Administrator will work with her to figure out the best areas of improvement.
    Action Items
    A. Basement Waterproofing Bid
    The Selectboard reviewed the proposal for basement waterproofing services for Town Hall, but had additional questions regarding the electrical work and drainage before they felt comfortable enough to accept the proposal. The Town Administrator will set up a meeting with the vendor, Curtis Chase, and Paul Libby so they can discuss these questions. The item will be postponed until the next meeting. No motion made.
    B. Adoption of 2025 Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP)
    Tracy Simon attended the meeting to discuss the 2025 Local Emergency Management Plan with the Selectboard. This plan lists all notable contacts for the town and is submitted to the Vermont Emergency Management team. The plan also aids in decreasing local matches for FEMA, as it shows the Town has made efforts to be prepared for disasters. Tracy worked with the board to make any corrections needed on the forms. Kevin Marshia made a motion to adopt the 2025 Local Emergency Management Plan, with corrections as noted; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    C. Water and Sewer Fee Change Decision
    The Selectboard felt comfortable to decide on the fee increase for water and sewer billing. There have been numerous discussions regarding the changes and received feedback from the public regarding the changes. Notifications for residents will be included in the next water/sewer bills sent out in July.
    Water: Kevin Marshia made a motion to increase the water usage fee by 12%, bringing the total to $92.69 per quarter starting July 1st, 2025, and continuing for three years; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Sewer: Kevin Marshia made a motion to increase the sewer usage fee by 25%, bringing the total to $152.18 per quarter starting July 1st, 2025, and continuing for three years; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Overage: Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to increase the water overage fee from 0.4 to 0.8 per gallon; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    D. Wastewater Plant Contract and Funding Application
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the final engineering contract and funding application for the sum of $44,400; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    E. 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
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to move to executive session, inviting Tierney Farago and Gayle Durkee; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:57 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Paul Libby seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited the session at 9:43 pm. The Selectboard discussed personnel and no action was taken.  
    Adjournment
    Curtis Chase made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously at 9:44 pm.
  • | |

    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – May 20, 2024

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    May 20th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meeting
    Call to Order
    Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:39 pm.
    SELECTBOARD 
    Gregg Herrin (Absent) 
    Curtis Chase (Present)
    Paul Libby (Present) 
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
    Kevin Marshia (Present Until 7:30 pm)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Additions to the Agenda
    A request for the use of the Robert-Gould Field was added to the agenda. Later in the night, the Selectboard reviewed the request for the June Jubilee Dance scheduled for June 7th from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the request for the Roberts-Gould field; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Kevin Marshia disclosed that the person who submitted the request for the Roberts-Gould Field was his wife, Emily Marshia, so he would abstain from voting. Paul Libby disclosed that Emily is his sister, but it would not influence his decision on the topic.
    Public Comments: None
    Approve Minutes from May 6, 2025
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the May 6th minutes; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman discussed several items relating to the highway. The Town truck is back from the shop and he is still negotiating the price of the work done on it. The Selectboard discussed the status of the new Town truck and if it might be more beneficial for the road crew to get a turnkey truck instead due to the delay in receiving the truck previously agreed upon. Rick will solicit prices for turnkey trucks so the Selectboard has a better idea of budget and will have those prices ready for the next meeting to discuss if the Town should continue with the current new truck order, or possibly change routes and choose a turnkey truck so the Town has the new truck available for the winter. They also discussed the mowing of chervil; Rick will reach out to Vershire per usual to ask about using their mower for cutting the weeds again this year.
    B. Town Administrator Update
    The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard that Stantec is beginning to wrap up their studies and plans for the FEMA projects in town. Permitting for the pedestrian bridge is being prepped, just waiting on the H&H study to submit permitting to ANR. The Town will also be posting up RFPs for the tree planting and tree removal/maintenance grants that the Forest and Parks Commission received by the end of the week.
    C. Water and Sewer Rate Increase Public Discussion
    The Selectboard discussed a question brought up during the last meeting regarding the charge for turning meters on and off. Gayle Durkee pointed out a section of the water and sewer ordinance, Article XIII, Section 12: “When requested by the customer, 24 hours notice shall be required for letting on or off water to any service, and such service shall take place only during the regular business hours of the Water System. There is no charge for this service for one turn off/on per calendar year. Regular charge for added service of $75.00 for turn off/on service. (Amended December 29, 2020). Effective February 27, 2021.” The Selectboard feels comfortable with the water and sewer service fee information that has been discussed over many Selectboard meetings. Their decision will be on the June 3rd meeting agenda.
    Action Items
    A. Library Board Appointment
    Nick DeFriez attended to represent the library’s Board of Directors. The board wanted to nominate Chris Byrne to be appointed by the Selectboard to the Board of Directors per bylaw, as they now have a vacancy. Nick spoke highly of Chris and the other members of the board believe he would be a great fit. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to appoint Chris Byrne to the Library’s Board of Directors; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    B. Basement Waterproofing Bid Opening
    The Selectboard opened a bid that was received for waterproofing the Town Hall basement, which is covered under the umbrella of the MERP grant. The request for proposals asked for proposals to finish the Town Hall basement flooring, provide a waterproof barrier, and a sump pump system for water that might be taken on in the basement. The bid was from Twin State Basement Services and the price for these services was $67,492. This is within the allotted amount provided by the grant. The Selectboard discussed this and requested additional time to review the proposal and ask follow-up questions. Questions will be sent to the company contact, and the proposal will be added to the June 3rd meeting agenda for further consideration. No motion made.
    C. Will’s Store Liquor License Renewal
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the renewal of the liquor license for Will’s General Store; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    D. Carminati Cemetery Mowing Contract
    Curtis Chase made a motion to approve and sign the contract for mowing services for Highland Cemetery; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    E. RonJon Mowing Contract
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the contract for RonJon’s Lawn and Landscape; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    F. Wastewater Plant Contract and Funding Application
    This item was tabled until the next meeting for further review. No motion made.
    G. Approve Orders
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders, with the exception of an item regarding the delinquent tax collector fee; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    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. The Selectboard entered executive session at 7:56 pm. Curtis Chase made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 8:25 pm. Paul Libby stated they discussed personnel and no action was taken.
    Adjournment
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.
  • | |

    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – May 6, 2025

    ByTierney Farago
    Selectboard Meeting Minutes
    May 6th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
    Link to recorded meeting
    Call to Order
    Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:42 pm.
    SELECTBOARD 
    Gregg Herrin (Present) 
    Curtis Chase (Present Until 8:30 Pm)
    Paul Libby (Present) 
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
    Kevin Marshia (Present, Virtual)
    TOWN EMPLOYEES 
    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) 
    Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
    Additions to theAgenda: None
    Conflict of Interest Disclosure
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo has a conflict for the pedestrian bridge item, as she is an abutting property owner. Gregg Herrin had a conflict for the greens request, as the requestor is his spouse. Both abstain from votes on those items.
    Public Comments: None
    Approve Minutes from April 15, 2025
    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the April 15th meeting minutes; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    Current Events and Updates
    A. Highway Update
    Rick Ackerman reported that the truck that was in the shop for repairs has been completed. He is currently working with the auto shop to see if there is any possibility to reduce the labor cost, as it was increased from his original discussion with them. The total cost of the repairs was $13,600. He will also be attending a municipal show in Barre on May 6th and will be asking attendees about turnkey truck options.
    B. Town Administrator Update: None
    C. Water and Sewer Rate Increase Public Discussion
    Gregg Herrin presented projections for how the restructured fees for the water and sewer could work. The Selectboard discussed different approaches to the fee increase. The PowerPoint presentation and a spreadsheet for the fees is available at the bottom of these minutes. The fees discussed in the presentation and spreadsheet are not finalized, just possible options for the Selectboard to choose.
    Action Items
    A. Mowing Bid Opening
    Two mowing bids were received for the mowing season. Thresher and Sons Property Care total: $16,700RonJon’s Lawn and Landscape total: $17,600After reviewing the services and consideration for price, services offered, reputation, and past work, Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to accept the proposal from RonJon; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    B. Planning Commission Member Reduction
    The planning commission has had trouble maintaining a quorum during their recent meetings. A representative from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission suggested that the commission reduce their members from 7 to 5 to have a better chance of having a quorum. The Selectboard was in agreement, but did request that the Town Administrator verify that this is within the Selectboard’s power. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to reduce the planning commission to 5 members, contingent upon verifying this process with VLCT; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    C. ARPA Fund: Ratification of Minutes
    Gayle Durkee was recently reporting ARPA funds to the state and was notified that the Selectboard would have to ratify the minutes from September 3, 2024 in order to keep $1,294 that was left over from the security camera project. Carre Caouette-De Lallo read the motion as follows to adhere to all requirements: “Resolved, that the Selectboard does here by ratify and affirm that the decision made by the Selectboard on September 3,2024, regarding the amount of ARPA money obligated to salaries be adjusted by $1294, making the amount obligated to salaries $106,931.55.” Paul made a motion to ratify the minutes as read; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    D. Stantec Pedestrian Bridge H&H Study Contract
    John Little from Stantec submitted a contract proposal for an H&H study for the cemetery pedestrian bridge. This study is necessary for the permitting for the Agency of Natural Resources. The contract for the study is $5,000. Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept this proposal with the caveat that it must be completed by the end of May; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo abstained. Motion passed.
    E. Wastewater Funding Application and Contract
    This item was tabled until the May 20th meeting for further review of the report and contract.
    F. Zoning Administrator Contract Extension
    The interim zoning administrator contract currently in place with Kyle Hansen from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission expired on May 2nd. An addendum to the contract to extend it to June 27th was submitted. The contract would change from $4,420.00 to $6,466.00 (not to exceed this amount). Paul Libby made a motion to approve this contract addendum; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    G. VTrans Letter of Intent to Participate in Grants in Aid (FY26)
    A letter of intent to participate in the annual Grants in Aid grant from VTrans was presented to the Selectboard. This letter is required to qualify to participate in the grant program. Tierney Farago would sign the letter with the Selectboard’s permission, as she would be the primary contact for the project. Kevin Marshia made a motion to sign the letter of intent; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    H. Carminati Contract: Cemetery Mowing
    This item was tabled until the May 20th meeting.
    I. Green’s Request: Mother’s Day Plant Sale
    A Greens Request was received for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale on May 10th from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the Greens Request; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    J. Approve Orders
    Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.
    Executive Session If Necessary
    Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session, Inviting Tierney Farago; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 9:01 pm. Paul Libby made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The Eelectboard exited executive session at 9:27 pm. The Selectboard discussed personnel and no action was taken.
    Adjournment
    Kevin Marshia moved to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 pm.
    2025 05 06 Water Fee DiscussionDownload
    2025 05 06 Water Fee ModelingDownload
  • | |

    Selectboard Meeting Minutes – April 15, 2024

    ByTierney Farago

    SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

    April 15th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall

    I. 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 (Present)

    TOWN EMPLOYEES

    Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)

    Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)

    II. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

    Mowing for Town properties was added to the agenda under Town Administrator updates.

    III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo informed the selectboard that she would abstain from anything to do with the pedestrian bridge due to her relationship with Tim Courts who has been assisting with the work and because she is an abutting neighbor. Paul Libby informed the Selectboard of his volunteer work with the New Creation Fellowship church and would abstain from voting during their request to use the greens.

    IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS

    Taylor, the owner of Free Verse Farm Shop, attended the meeting to discuss a break-in at their store that occurred last year. She was concerned about the possibility of more crime and wanted to discuss possible solutions to discourage loitering around the town center. The Selectboard will look into possible solutions and get more public input to help deter any further criminal activity.

    V.APPROVE MINUTES FROM APRIL 1, 2025

    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minutes from April 1st; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    VI. CURRENT EVENTS AND UPDATES

    A. Highway Update

    Rick Ackerman informed the Selectboard that the truck in the shop for repairs is still being worked on currently. Repairs are still to be determined.

    B. Town Administrator Update

    The Town Administrator asked to confirm if the Selectboard would like to go out to bid for mowing services or have a town employee do the mowing for this year. They discussed and agreed that it would be a better option to contract out for the work, as the mowing was already previously budgeted for 2025. Kevin Marshia made a motion to have the Town Administrator to create an RFP for the normal town owned properties and have it posted as soon as possible; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    Separately from the mowing bid, Paul Libby made a motion to request spring cleaning services from Ronald Johnson; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    C. Water and Sewer Rate Increase Public Discussion

    Gregg Herrin presented a slideshow on the history of water and sewer rates in town. Costs associated with running the water and wastewater facilities have increased in recent years, causing a rise in expenditure that has now eclipsed revenue. The goal of increasing fees is to have our revenues cover expenditures, stop draining the sinking funds that are to cover emergency failures, and ensure residents don’t lose services. Gregg presented options: Option A includes one large increase, with small increases over the coming years. Option B is a series of medium increases over several years. Meter replacement in the near future may also help in determining the average usage of users, as the current meters are aging and no longer accurate. The Selectboard took questions after the presentation. The public in attendance all agreed that medium increases would be more palatable than a large increase that users may not be prepared for. The Selectboard will continue to have discussions regarding these increases and are looking to finalize numbers by June 3rd. A copy of the slideshow presentation is available on this post.

    VII. ACTION ITEMS

    A. Pedestrian Bridge

    The Town Administrator gave an update on the required permits for the cemetery pedestrian bridge. The Town will have to get an H&H study to submit a permit for the Agency of Natural Resources. Additionally, there may be some restrictions on when construction can occur that was previously unknown. Paul Libby offered to help assist the Town Administrator in getting these permits. No motion made.

    B. Creamery Rd Drainage Issue

    The Town Administrator brought up an issue a resident, Robert Button, has been having at his property on Creamery Rd. There has been a history of flooding from the drainage the comes off the school’s property and drains to the river. The Selectboard would like to look into this issue more and understand the responsibilities of the town, property owner, and the school. No motion made.

    C. New Creation Fellowship Easter Egg Hunt Greens Request

    A request was submitted for the annual Easter Egg Hunt by New Creation Fellowship. The event will be on April 19th from 9:00 am-11:30 am. Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the request; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Paul Libby abstained. Motion passed.

    D. Chelsea Senior Baseball Roberts Gould Field Request

    A request was submitted to use the Roberts-Gould Field for various senior baseball games. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the request; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    E. Signature: Forest and Parks Commission Grant Acceptance

    Paul Libby made a motion to accept and sign the tree removal and planting grants; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    F. Approve Orders

    Paul Libby made a motion to approve orders: Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

    VIII.EXECUTIVE SESSION IF NECESSARY

    Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:57 pm. Curtis Chase made a motion to exit executive session; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:14 pm. Personnel was discussed and no action was taken.

    IX. ADJOURNMENT

    Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting ended at 9:15 pm.