Meeting Minutes

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 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 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.

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.

Selectboard Meeting Minutes

April 1st, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library

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 until 8:30 pm) Kevin Marshia (Absent) TOWN EMPLOYEES  Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)  Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)

Additions to the Agenda

Community Nursing: Paul Libby had spoken with a representative for the Health Center regarding expected contribution for the community nurse contract. Tierney Farago stated that the approved budget for the Town’s contribution was up to $20,000. The Town and the Health Center will need to discuss cost sharing further while the draft contract is written, as well as how both parties expect to invoice/be invoiced for those fees. The Town Administrator will follow up with the Health Center while writing the contract for services.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None

Public Comments

Tim Courts attended the meeting to ask questions regarding the water and wastewater system. Some of his questions included how the system is funded and how it is beneficial to users and non-users. The Selectboard will gather answers to his questions so they can be addressed during the April 15th meeting where the fee increase will be discussed in further detail.

Approve Minutes from March 6, 2025 and March 18, 2025

Carre Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the minutes from March 6th and March 18th; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Current Events and Updates

A. Highway Update

Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that he received some additional quotes for transmission work for the truck that is in the shop, which would be closer to $10,000 rather than the original $17,000. After some discussion regarding repairing the truck, the Selectboard agreed to have Rick work with the auto shops and have the truck repaired as needed. Paul Libby made a motion to make repairs to the truck not to exceed $18,000; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. Rick Ackerman and Paul Libby also brought up the new timeline for the new truck that the Selectboard previously approved. The truck was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2025, but the truck is now delayed and expected to be completed by May of 2026. The Selectboard will reassess the selection and see if the truck is necessary before winter 2025.

B. Town Administrator Update

The Town Administrator informed the Selectboard that reimbursements for several FEMA projects have been released to the treasurer. The remaining projects are being reviewed by FEMA.

C. Forest and Parks Commission Grant Announcements

The Town Administrator announced that the Forest and Parks Commission received another grant; the commission now has two grants, one for the removal of trees and one for the planting of replacement trees. The Selectboard greatly appreciates their hard work and is very excited to see the project completed.

Action Items

A. Water and Sewer Rate Increase

The Selectboard reviewed the draft notice of the proposed water/sewer fees that will be included in this quarter’s bills. They agreed to have an informational session regarding the topic of changing fees during the April 15th Selectboard meeting. This item will be advertised to the public to drive resident engagement to determine the final fee increase. No motion required.

B. Transfer Station Construction Trailers

The Selectboard discussed the construction trailer that is usually ordered to the transfer station during spring. Currently, Myers charges the Town $60 dollars for each large item in the trailer like couches, recliners, and mattresses in addition to the normal price charge per ton. The current prices charged at the transfer station for these items do not cover that extra surcharge, causing a deficiency in transfer station funds since the change was implemented last summer. The Selectboard considered increasing the prices charged for those items to at least balance what the Town is being charged for by Myers. The Selectboard gave permission for staff to order the trailer to be delivered. Gregg Herrin made a motion to increase the price for these large items to $65; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

C. Jonathan Maier Highway Permit

The Selectboard reviewed additional information regarding Mr. Maier’s right-of-way permit and determined that it is able to be approved. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the right-of-way permit; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

D. VTrans Grant Application for Signatures

Signatures for the submission of the 2026 VTrans grant were required from the Selectboard. Rick Ackerman will be submitting a paving grant request for Upper Village Rd. Paul Libby made a motion to sign the grant application once Rick Ackerman completes the paperwork; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

E. VTrans East Randolph Rd Grant Agreement

A grant agreement needed to be signed for work that has already been completed for East Randolph Rd. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to allow Tierney Farago to sign the grant agreement; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

F. Free Verse Farm Liquor License

The Town Clerk had a pending liquor license renewal for the Free Verse Farm Store. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the renewal of the license; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

G. Approve Orders

Curtis Chase 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 for a personnel item, inviting Tierney Farago; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:57 pm. Paul Libby made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Executive session ended at 9:12 pm. Personnel was discussed and no action was taken.

Adjournment

Curtis Chase made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 pm.

​​Selectboard Meeting Minutes​

March 18th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library

​Call to order​

Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm.   SELECTBOARD   Gregg Herrin (Present)   Kevin Marshia (Present, Left at 8:18pm)   Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)   Paul Libby (Present)  Curtis Chase (Present)  TOWN EMPLOYEES   Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)   Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)   Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)

Additions to the Agenda

Gayle Durkee asked to add a secondary signer to the Town’s accounts, namely her assistant treasurer Kasey Peterson. This will ensure there is always a secondary check for all of the town’s finances. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to add Kasey Peterson as a secondary signer on the Town’s bank account; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Carrie Caouette-De Lallo let the Selectboard know that she is the applicant for the Village Greens request and would be abstaining from a vote. Gregg Herrin also mentioned that he is acquaintances with Mr. Maier, so he would be abstaining from a vote as well.

Public Comments

A public comment was read during the community nursing item.

Approve Minutes from March 6, 2025

The selectboard was unable to review the minutes. This item was tabled until the next meeting.

Current Events and Updates

A. Highway Update

Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard on a truck that was sent for repairs; the early assessment is that it may need a new transmission, and he was quoted $17,000 for it excluding labor. Rick will reach out for additional quotes to see if that may decrease the estimated price and will bring them to the next Selectboard meeting.

B. Town Administrator Update: None

C. Vacant Town Positions Interest

This guest was not in attendance.

Action Items

A. Susan Elder: Forest and Parks Commission Grant and Forest Management Plan Next Steps

Susan Elder and Kate Willard attended the meeting to discuss how to best notify residents of the grant the Forest and Parks Commission was recently awarded. Tierney will work with Susan to create a press release to post on social media and send to the Herald for publication.  Kate Willard brought up the need to take the next steps to adhere to the adopted Forest Management Plan. The selectboard agreed that it was best to reach out to the Orange County Forester to get on their books for a timber sale, expected to begin in 2027. Kevin Marshia made a motion to work with the Orange County Forester; Carrie Caouettte-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

B. Kate McLean: Library Grant Contractors

Kate McLean attended virtually to present the vendor information the library has gathered to move forward with installing an ADA accessible automatic door mechanism at Town Hall. This work is funded by a grant the library received to help upgrade the library to be ADA accessible. A mechanical box will be installed above the current right-hand entrance door at Town Hall, and two wireless buttons will be installed, inside and outside, to access the door. Because this is grant funded, this work would not be at the expense of the town and can be scheduled as soon as the Selectboard approves the work. Kate will notify the Town Administrator when the work can occur so residents can be informed. Kevin Marshia made a motion to approve the automatic doors; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

C. Water and Sewer Rate Increase

Gregg Herrin presented some of the price increase options he created based on the need to bring the water/sewer system out of a deficit. After some discussion of the history of the topic, the Selectboard felt that it was necessary to give additional time to notify residents of the coming increase in water and sewer fees, to be determined at a future Selectboard meeting. Inserts will be included in the bills that will go out in April, with the anticipated increase taking effect in the third quarter bills. No motion was made.

D. Community Nurse Request for Proposal

Before beginning, Gregg Herrin asked Tierney Farago to read a public comment regarding this item, as it was received the same day as the meeting. Carol Hall submitted a comment urging the Selectboard to consider all options before hiring a community nurse. The Selectboard considered the input.  The new Selectboard members were updated by Gregg Herrin on some of the history of the proposal for background so they can accurately vote on the topic. The Selectboard agreed to accept the proposal and begin writing an official contract for final signature at an upcoming Selectboard meeting.   Kevin Marshia made a motion to accept the proposal; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

E. Chelsea Arts Collective Village Green Request

The Cheslea Arts Collective would like to hold their Chelsea Arts on the Green Festival on August 30th from 10 am-3 pm. There were no previously scheduled conflicts for that day. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the Chelsea Arts on the Green Festival for August 30th from 10 am-3 pm; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo abstained, as she was the applicant. Motion passed.

F. Jonathan Maier Highway Permit

This item was tabled, as the Selectboard had additional questions on the scope of work being performed. No motion was made.

G. Tad Boardman Contract for Excavation Work at Garage

The Selectboard discussed the process of receiving and signing off on contracts for work that has already been done. This is generally done for contracts that were under the purchasing policy threshold and were done in between Selectboard meetings. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract for Tad Boardman; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

H. Larry Pickett Contract for Hauling Sand

Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the contract for Larry Pickett; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

I. Approve Orders

Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session If Necessary

Paul Libby mentioned that he had a personnel item for executive session. Gregg Herrin made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago to the conversation; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 9:39pm. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chases seconded the motion. Executive session was ended at 10:11 pm. Gregg Herrin summarized that the Selectboard discussed personnel and no motions were made.

​Adjournment​

Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 pm.

Organizational Selectboard Meeting Minutes

March 6th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall

Call to Order

Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm.  SELECTBOARD  Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)  Gregg Herrin (Present)  Curtis Chase (Present)  Kevin Marshia (Present) Paul Libby (Present, Virtual) TOWN EMPLOYEES  Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)  Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)

Additions to the Agenda

The Town Administrator added the approval of orders to the agenda.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: none

Public Comments

Tom Caffery attended the meeting virtually to express his interest in being appointed to the vacant Town Constable position and possibly the Health Officer and Animal Control Officer. He recounted his professional background in law enforcement, firefighting, animal control, and more. Kevin Marshia mentioned that they had spoken previously and would like to discuss Tom’s interest in more detail during the next regular Selectboard meeting on March 18th.

Approve Minutes from February 21st

Approval of minutes was tabled until the next meeting to allow the new Selectboard ample time to review.

Agenda Items

A. Appointments for any Elected Vacancies

No candidates were appointed to any vacant positions at this time.

B. Select Chair and Vice Chair

The Selectboard discussed and agreed that having the two most senior members of the Selectboard as the Chair and Vice-Chair would be the best course of action. Kevin Marshia made a motion to appoint Gregg Herrin to the Selectboard Chair position; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to appoint Kevin Marshia to the Selectboard Vice-Chair position; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

C. Determine Meeting Rules of Procedure

Kevin Marshia made a motion to continue using Robert’s Rules of Order as a template for rules of procedure; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed.

D. Designate Meeting Dates, Times, and Location for Regular Meetings

The Selectboard discussed possibly moving the Selectboard meetings to every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, however, there would likely be conflicts with other meetings including the Library meetings. Kevin Marshia originally made a motion to accept the new meeting days, but withdrew the motion due to the conflict. They decided continuing with the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, eliminating the 5th Tuesday meetings, would be sufficient. Kevin Marshia made a motion to hold the Selectboard meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Library or Town Hall when applicable; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

E. Designate Locations for Meeting Notices

The Selectboard found no reason to change the current posting locations for the agenda (post office bulletin board, Town Hall bulletin board, Will’s Store bulletin board, and online). Kevin Marshia made a motion to continue posting meeting notices to those locations; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

F. Determine Process for Calling Special and Emergency Meetings

The Selectboard briefly discussed the current process of following the VLCT protocols for calling special and emergency meetings. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to continue adhering to these protocols; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

G. Select Newspaper of Record for Public Notice

Kevin Marshia made a motion to continue using The Herald as the newspaper of record.; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed.

H. Determine Selectboard Organizational Processes for the Following 1. Designate member or members to sign orders/warrant on off-weeks: After some discussion on availability, Carrie volunteered to be the primary contact to sign orders, while Curtis will be secondary in the event that she is unable to sign. Kevin made a motion to have Carrie as the primary and Curtis as the secondary contact for orders; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. 2. Determine agenda content and coordination: Kevin made a motion to continue the current process of having Tierney collect agenda items and minutes and send to the Selectboard for review; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed. 3. Approval of Village Greens Requests: Kevin Marshia made a motion to continue the current process of approving Village Greens requests; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. 4. Approval of Roberts Gould Field Requests: Kevin Marshia made a motion to continue the current process of approving Roberts Gould Field requests; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed. 5. Designate whether Selectboard members want to have liaison appointments for Town Departments: Gregg Herrin proposed new streamlined liaison categories to help cut down on confusion and redundancy in the previous liaison appointments. After discussing what each category entailed, the Selectboard agreed on the primary and secondary liaisons for each field. Liaisons are as follows: -Executive & Admin: 1st Gregg Herrin, 2nd Kevin Marshia -Planning & Zoning: 1st Carrie Caouette-De Lallo, 2nd Gregg Herrin -Health & Safety: 1st Carrie Caouette-De Lallo, 2nd Kevin Marshia -Public Lands & Facilities: 1st Curtis Chase, 2nd Paul Libby -Highway: 1st Paul Libby, 2nd Curtis Chase -Transfer Station: 1st Paul Libby, 2nd Curtis Chase -Water & Wastewater: 1st Kevin Marshia, 2nd Gregg Herrin No motion required.

I. Approve Orders

Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the orders; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Adjournment

Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 pm.

Selectboard Meeting Agenda

February 18th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library

Call to Order

Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm.  SELECTBOARD  Kelly Lyford (Present)  Gregg Herrin (Present)  Leyna Hoyt (Present)  William Lyon (Present) Kevin Marshia (Present) TOWN EMPLOYEES  Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)  Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)  Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)

Additions to the Agenda

The Town Administrator included an item related to a possible reimbursement for water/sewer for a resident. Their water was turned off mid-December but they were charged for the remainder of the month. The Selectboard discussed that if the water was turned off and the Town wasn’t notified, it would be the owner’s responsibility to pay the fees. If the water was turned off by the Town, however, it would make sense to reimburse them. Gayle will reach out to Mike Whipple to see if the Town shut off the water for the owner, and if he did, then their bill can be reimbursed.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None

Public Comments: None

Approve Minutes from February 4, 2025

Kelly Lyford made a motion to approve the minutes from February 4th; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Current Events and Updates

A. Highway Update

Rick Ackerman gave an update on the highway department; sand is a little lower than he would like, but they’ve had to use significantly more sand due to the unseasonable winter weather. They’ve used quite a bit more than they have in recent years with the amount of snow and ice Chelsea has been experiencing. Larry Pickett will also scale back his work, so the Town Administrator will post the road crew position again to hopefully get additional help. The Selectboard also discussed the possibility of hiring if the candidate will be willing to train for the CDL license if they do not already have one.

B. Town Administrator Update

The Town Administrator gave updates on several items:1. Security Cameras: Green Mountain Security has been setting up security cameras at Town Hall and the Town Garage recently. They should be wrapped up within the next few weeks. Kevin suggested notifying the public of why the cameras are being set up while also making it clear that they will be recorded while on the premises. The Town Administrator will post on social media so the public is aware, and signs will also be posted on the property for transparency. 2. Several remaining FEMA cases have been obligated, and the Town is now just waiting for the state to draw those funds down to the accounts. The last cases that will stay open are tied to the engineering projects for Edwards Rd, Doyle Rd, and the Maple Ave bridge.

Action Items

A. Water and Sewer Rate Increase

Gregg Herrin gave an update on where he was at regarding the numbers for the water and sewer rate increase proposal. He has been working with Gayle to figure out some missing information and they are waiting to get some answers regarding funds in/out. Once they have the remaining information, they will be able to present accurate rate increase proposals for the Selectboard to deliberate. No motion was made.

B. Community Nurse Request for Proposal Opening

The Selectboard opened a sealed bid for the community nurse contract. The bid was from Jodi Hoyt proposing a year long contract for community nurse services for 12 hours weekly, totaling $30,576, not including mileage and supplies. The Selectboard had questions regarding how the mileage is calculated, what supplies would be required, and how much the community nurse grant might cover, among other questions. Further information from Jodi was needed for clarity before a decision is made, so the Town Administrator will reach out with the written questions and come back to the Selectboard with answers and further discussion. No motion was made.

C. Susan Knapp: Free Library Donation for Village Greens

Susan Knapp attended the meeting to pitch a free little library to the Selectboard. She would like to create and fund a little library to install at one of the village greens so that residents can take and leave books as they would like. The Selectboard has questions pertaining to what it would look like and who would maintain it; Susan said she would work with a handyman to build the structure, and she would maintain the library. The Selectboard wants to check with several other entities including the Forest and Parks commission, the Town library, and the zoning administrator to make sure that it would be possible to do. The Town Administrator will reach out to everyone and see if there are any possible issues with accepting this generous donation. No motion was made.

D. Approve Orders

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session If Necessary: None

Adjournment

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion Passed. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Selectboard Meeting Agenda

February 4th, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library

Call to Order

Kelly Lyford called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm.  SELECTBOARD  Kelly Lyford (Present)  Gregg Herrin (Present)  Leyna Hoyt (Present)  William Lyon (Present) Kevin Marshia (Absent) TOWN EMPLOYEES  Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)  Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)

Additions to the Agenda: None

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None

Public Comments: None

Approve Minutes from January 21, 2025 and January 25, 2025

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the minutes from January 21st and January 25th; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Current Events and Updates

A. Highway Update

There were no significant highway updates.

B. Town Administrator Update

There were no significant Town Administrator updates.

Action Items

A. Interim Zoning Administrator Services TRORC

Kyle Katz from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission attended the meeting to discuss a potential contract for interim zoning administrator services. His colleague, Kyle Hansen, has availability to serve as a temporary zoning administrator to help with permitting until a ZA can be hired. This would likely be remote work for 5-7 hours weekly, depending on the needs of the Town. The price of this contract, expected to last until May 2, is not to exceed $4,420. Gregg Herrin made a motion to accept this contract and nominate Kyle Hansen as the interim zoning administrator; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.

B. Water and Sewer Rate Increase

This item was tabled until February 18th to give ample time to prepare numbers and statistics.

C. Law Enforcement Requests for Proposal Opening

The Selectboard opened two bids for Law Enforcement services. The first was from Orange County for 6 hours of day and night weekly coverage for a total of $22,000 for a year. The second was for Windsor County for 14 hours of day, night, and weekend coverage for a total of $56,784 for a year. The Selectboard discussed their opinions on Window County’s current law enforcement services and agreed that they would like to continue using them for the upcoming year, having already made arrangements for the budget in case they chose to proceed with them again. They wanted to double-check that weekend coverage was still included, but overall chose Windsor County’s proposal. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to accept Windsor County’s proposal for law enforcement; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed.

D. Community Nurse Request for Proposal Opening

This item was tabled to February 18th to give proper time to open proposals.

E. Cleopatra Griffin Village Greens Request

Cleopatra Griffin requested to use the village greens on Saturday, June 7th from 11 am- 4 pm for the SafeArt Spring Carnival. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve this request; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

F. Chelsea Annual Flea Market Village Greens Request

The Annual Flea Market would like to use the village greens on July 12th from 6 am- 4 pm for the event, and on July 10th and 11th for set-up. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the request; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

G. Chelsea Farmer’s Market Village Greens Request

The Farmer’s Market requested the use of the village greens on Fridays from 2 pm- 7 pm May 23-October 10. There was a concern that this might affect the Flea Market’s request on July 11th, so the Town Administrator will work with both groups to ensure that they can both operate at the same time. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve this request; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.

H. Approve Orders

Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the orders; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session If Necessary: none

Adjournment

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.

Special Selectboard Meeting Agenda

January 25th, 2025 8:00 am Chelsea Town Hall Library

Call to Order

Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 8:05 am.  SELECTBOARD  Kevin Marshia (Present)  Kelly Lyford (Present)  Gregg Herrin (Present)  Leyna Hoyt (Present)  William Lyon (Present) TOWN EMPLOYEES  Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)  Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)

Additions to the Agenda

Leyna Hoyt had an addition to the agenda; Rick took his truck in for maintenance and found out it needed parts for the manifold and the work was estimated to be between $4,500-$6,500. He wanted to get the Selectboard’s approval in the event the work is over the $5,000 purchasing limit and he needs the work done as soon as possible to get the truck up and running. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve work on the truck up to $6,500; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None

Public Comments: None

Approve Minutes from January 21, 2025

The Selectboard did not have the opportunity to review the minutes; the item was tabled until the February 4th meeting. No motion was made.

Action Items

A. Budget Amendment

There was a mistake on the previously approved budget; an appropriation petition for the Central Vermont Center on Aging was incorrectly listed at $1,000 instead of the requested $1,250. This affected the overall budget and the Town Meeting Warning.  To remedy this, the budget was adjusted for the additional $250, resulting in a general budget of $1,751,244, $1,144,192 of which will be raised by taxes and $607,052 by non-tax revenue. The Selectboard double-checked the numbers and added them into the final budget spreadsheet. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the budget of $1,751,244 of which $1,144,192 shall be raised by taxes and $607,052 by non-tax revenue; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.

B. Town Meeting Warning

The Town Meeting Warning also had to be amended to reflect the appropriation amount, as well as editing the petition for the Chelsea Health Center to reflect the exact language written in their official petition. Article 7 was also added: To transact any other lawful business to properly come before the voters. One last review was made before the Selectboard agreed to approve the Warning. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the edited Warning as written; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session If Necessary: None

Adjournment

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 am.