| 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. |