| Selectboard meeting minutes |
| April 7, 2026, 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall |
| Call To Order |
| Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. SELECTBOARD Gregg Herrin (Present) Curtis Chase (Present) Paul Libby (Present) Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present) Charles Peel (Present) TOWN EMPLOYEES/OFFICIALS Tierney Farago (Town Administrator) Jen Chase (Town Clerk) Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer) Kasey Peterson (Grants Manager) Bernard “Snook” Downing (Transfer Station Attendant) PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE Frank Keene Russell Noel Rosemary Noel Bob Aicher Tom Swahn Attorney Mascoma (not identified by name and not on camera) |
| Additions To The Agenda |
| -Wastewater Loan Agreement: Tabled to April 21, 2026, Selectboard meeting to allow time for thorough review of the full suite of project documentation prior to committing to borrowing funds. |
| Conflict Of Interest Disclosure: None |
| Public Comments: -Frank Keene asked if the Selectboard had any ability to assist with a right-of-way dispute between he and a neighbor. The Selectboard explained that the Town cannot become involved in property disputes between neighbors. -Bob Aicher arrived mid-meeting with more documentation about his proposal for the Chelsea Congregational Church’s sewer line work. He gave the Town Administrator a copy of the documents and provided Charles Peel with his contact information so that they could discuss the project in advance of warning the project for another Selectboard meeting. |
| Approve Minutes from March 17, 2026 |
| Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the March 17, 2026, meeting minutes. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. |
| Current Events And Updates |
| Highway Update |
| Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard, stating that mud season has been ok so far. We have a new source of gravel that is high quality but takes in excess of an hour round trip to truck. Diesel is very expensive right now so we are hoping that McCullough’s is going to crush soon. Rick noted that he saw a crusher delivered before the meeting. Rick and Gayle have been working on interest rates for a tractor loan and Rick has identified a tractor with mower attachments sufficient for our needs in Kentucky that he would like to investigate further. If we opted to purchase it, payments would be approximately $24,000.00 per year. We presently pay approximately $18,000.00 per year to rent a tractor for mowing. Rick has been discussing the possibility of sharing equipment with Washington and indicated that Washington may purchase an excavator and would be open to exchanging equipment during the summer to avoid both towns renting or buying both pieces of equipment. The Selectboard asked Rick to investigate the tractor in Kentucky and advised that it would be warned for the upcoming meeting if it looked promising. Rick also informed the Selectboard that he has found a promising replacement for the chloride truck but would like to find out more information about its reserve price before bidding and tying up the funds allocated by the Board. |
| Town Administrator Update No update provided. |
| Grants Manager Update |
| Maple Avenue Bride Engineering Grant – This grant is in progress but must be completed before December 31st. In order to complete the preliminary engineering, the Board needs to select a temporary bridge for access to the West side of the First Branch during bridge construction. In prior meetings, the Board discussed the possibility of routing the bridge to the South along the West side of the First Branch. This would require easements/permission from landowners. In order to complete the preliminary engineering, Stantec needs the Town to pick any solution. The chosen solution doesn’t bind the Town in the future and if the Board chose to move forward with engineering based on a temporary bridge, the Town could pursue the less costly road option should the project move forward in the future. Nothing is preventing the Town from discussing the easement possibilities with landowners now. Municipal Energy Resilience Project (MERP) Grants – Kasey is concerned that there are too many projects in process and waiting to start for there to be any possibility of finishing the projects before the grant deadline on June 30th.Hi Unsure if extensions are available but will inquire with BGS rather than TRORC. Items which remain uninitiated include: ADA ramp at Town Hall, heat pumps, solar panels at the Town Garage. The Selectboard clarified that the Town does not plan to pursue heat pumps or solar panels. Kasey will reach out to be sure that progress is being made on the ramp. The Board asked if there were updates on the interior storm window bid process. The Town Administrator had no update. Kasey agreed to reach out on this as well. FEMA Highway Grant – The Town has to have easements to complete the work on Doyle and Edwards roads in order to get permits to complete the work. Kasey agreed to work with Paul and Chuck to get clarity on the process. We can start conversations about the easements with landowners in anticipation that we will have clarity to draft easements soon. Engineering costs are very different between Stantec and FEMA. Kasey is unsure how we will close the gap. |
| Action Items |
| 8 Riverside Drive Water Pressure |
| Russell Noel attended the meeting to discuss ongoing but worsening water pressure issues at his home on Riverside Drive. He informed the Board that the house has had low water pressure for years but that the situation has worsened to the point that he cannot use the washing machine and other water sources simultaneously. Russell requested that the Town put a curb stop on his property and the Board informed him that the Water and Sewer Ordinance does not allow the Town to install additional curb stops deeper into owner’s land. The Board explained that the Ordinance provides that the Town is responsible for repairs from the curb stop to the main and that homeowners are responsible from the curb stop to their homes. Russell refused to allow an excavator to dig up the water line and stated that he would dig up the water line this evening. The Board informed him that Mike Whipple needed to be present for work on the water system and that if he caused damage that he would be liable for the repair. No motions were made. |
| Coordination with State of Vermont on 250th Independence Day Events |
| The State of Vermont asked the Town several months ago to name a delegate to the 250th Anniversary Commission. The request never made it onto a warned agenda. Will Gilman has been spearheading our local events. Curtis Chase made a motion to appoint Will Gilman to the State of Vermont 250th Commission. Paul Libby seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. |
| Transfer Station Hours of Operation Snook Downing attended the meeting to discuss closing procedures at the Transfer Station. The posted hours of operation on the gate are 8:00 AM to 1:45 PM. Snook is paid to work at the Transfer Station until 2:00 PM but uses the last 15 minutes of the day to clean up the station and compact trash and recycling for hauling. Because it takes several cycles of compacting to ensure that the haulers do not leave a mess, Snook closes the gate at 1:45. The Board acknowledged the need for closing time during the budgeted hours of operation and asked the Town Administrator to ensure that all posted times match those posted on the gate. Social Service Appropriation Petition Policy The Board revisited the draft policy and discussed the wording of the Clerk’s review timeline. The Board edited the policy to be clear that petitions are accepted/received by the Clerk during her posted business hours. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adopt the revised Social Service Appropriation Petition Policy. Curtis Chase seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously without further discussion. Development Review Board Appointments Curtis Chase asked what the process is for making appointments to Town boards. The Board agreed to revisit but suggested that appointments to boards should become part of the organizational meeting lineup in future years. Charles Peel made a motion to appoint Johanna Welch to a three-year term, Patty Swahn to a two-year term, Ed Kuban to a three-year term, and Carrie Caouette-De Lallo to a lifetime position as an alternate member of the DRB. Curtis Chase seconded. The motion passed unanimously without further discussion. |
| Contracts And Selectboard Approvals |
| Approve Orders The Board reviewed the orders throughout the meeting individually. Charles Peel made a motion to approve orders. Paul Libby seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously without further discussion. Mowing Bid Review |
| The Board opened the sealed bids for mowing in Chelsea. There was one bid from RonJohn’s Mowing. Absent further bids to consider after completing the required RFP process, Curtis Chase moved to approve the bid received. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously without further discussion. |
| Executive Session If Necessary |
| Paul Libby made a motion to enter executive session, inviting the Town Administrator, to discuss personnel pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(A). Charles Peel seconded the motion. Charles Peel abstained and the motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 9:26 PM. Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to exit executive session. Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 10:45 PM. |
| Personnel Pursuant To 1 V.S.A. § 313(a) |
| Gregg Herrin summarized that one personnel issue was discussed, with no motion made. The Town Administrator resigned her position effective immediately and departed the meeting prior to its conclusion. Prior to her departure, the Town Administrator closed the computer that was recording the meeting, causing the recording to stop. As a result, there are two recordings of this meeting. The Selectboard accepted her resignation. No motion was made. |
| Adjournment |
| Paul Libby made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting ended at 10:45 pm. |