News
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Informational Meeting Prior to Town Meeting Agenda – February 18, 2026
Informational Town Meeting Agenda February 18, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Additions to the Agenda Conflict of Interest Disclosure Agenda Items A. Budget Presentation by the Chelsea Selectboard B. Discussion of Articles 1 and 2 C. Introduction to Candidates D. Any Additional Town Meeting Topics Public Comments Adjournment VIRTUAL OPTION: To join the Selectboard Meeting virtually, please request a link to join from the Town Administrator at town.administrator@chelseavt.us, or by calling 802-625-2023. NOTE: The meeting will be recorded, but please note that it can be difficult to hear with a larger crowd of people. We highly recommend attending in person if possible. If you are a candidate and would like to introduce yourself to the public prior to voting day, please join us at Town Hall.
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Agendas | News | Selectboard
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – February 3, 2026
Selectboard Meeting Agenda February 3, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Additions to the Agenda Conflict of Interest Disclosure Public Comments Approve Minutes from January 6, January 9, and January 20, 2026 Current Events and Updates A. Highway Updates
-Truck body availability
-Next equipment order
-Salt and sand status
-Equipment inventory and planningB. Town Administrator Update Action Items A. Community Nurse Quarterly Report B. Approve Orders Executive Session If Necessary Adjournment VIRTUAL OPTION: To join the Selectboard Meeting virtually, please request a link to join from the Town Administrator at town.administrator@chelseavt.us, or by calling 802-625-2023. -
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Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 20, 2026
Selectboard Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Curtis Chase (Present)
Paul Libby (Present)
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
Charles Peel (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)Additions to the Agenda: None Conflict of Interest Disclosure Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the town clerk. Public Comments: None Approve Minutes from January 6, 2026 and January 9, 2026 The selectboard was unable to review the minutes in time to approve during the meeting and the item was tabled for the next regular Selectboard meeting. Current Events and Updates A. Highway Update Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard on highway business. They’ve had a few issues with one of the trucks but were able to fix it. He mentioned that the truck body from Viking may be pushed out again until September, so he will make a call to see if another company could fulfill the order sooner. He will bring the information back to the Selectboard for the February 3rd meeting. B. Town Administrator Update-Informational Hearing Date and Agenda The Selectboard discussed setting a date for the informational meeting before Town Meeting Day and settled on the date of February 18th at 6:30pm to present the budget and discuss the articles of the Town Meeting warning with the public. Action Items A. 2026 Budget Review The Selectboard had a final review of the budget to fill in remaining numbers from Gayle, and to clear up any flagged items. They agreed on the final numbers, and entertained a motion to recommend the budget to the voters at Town Meeting day. Charles Peel made a motion to include an article to see if the voters will approve the total fund expenditure of $1,776,417 of which $1,328,833 shall be raised by taxes and $447,584 by non-tax revenue; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. B. 2026 Town Meeting Warning After approving the budget to be presented to the voters, the Selectboard reviewed the Town Meeting Warning and made adjustments as necessary with the final budget and appropriation numbers. A complete petition to change the Social Service Appropriation Petition Policy was received from Marianne McCann, and the Selectboard discussed including it on the Town Meeting warning. After seeking legal advice from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Selectboard concluded that the petition could not be warned as a binding petition by Australian Ballot because the voters lack statutory authority over this aspect of Town government. So, the Selectboard determined that it could either warn it as a non-binding advisory petition to be voted on from the floor of Town Meeting or exclude it from the warning altogether. The Selectboard was concerned that if the nonbinding advisory petition was included in the warning, voters might object to further revision by the Board following passage. Ultimately, the Selectboard decided that, in accordance with its original intent conveyed when this issue was presented by Marianne McCann at a November meeting, that it would take the issue up at a February 2026 meeting in hopes of developing a process to encourage public participation on the policy amendment and thereby avoiding any confusion which may arise from an advisory petition.
Paul Libby made a motion to exclude the petition from the Town Meeting warning and take up the Social Service Appropriation Policy as a Board; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to approve the 2026 Town Meeting Warning; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.C. First Branch Ambulance Contract Renewal The Selectboard reviewed the three-year contract to continue ambulance services with First Branch Ambulance. Paul Libby made a motion to approve the contract; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. D. Approve Orders Paul Libby made a motion to approve the orders; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session If Necessary: None Adjournment Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:17 pm. -
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Agendas | News | Selectboard
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – January 20, 2026
Selectboard Meeting Agenda January 20, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Additions to the Agenda Conflict of Interest Disclosure Public Comments Approve Minutes from January 6, 2026 and January 9, 2026 Current Events and Updates A. Highway Update B. Town Administrator Update
-Informational Hearing Date and AgendaAction Items A. 2026 Budget Review B. 2026 Town Meeting Warning C. First Branch Ambulance Contract Renewal D. Approve Orders Executive Session if necessary Adjournment VIRTUAL OPTION: To join the Selectboard Meeting virtually, please request a link to join from the Town Administrator at town.administrator@chelseavt.us, or by calling 802-625-2023. -
Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2026
Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes January 9, 2026 7:00 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Curtis Chase (Present)
Paul Libby (Present)
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
Charles Peel (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Jen Chase (Town Clerk)Additions to the Agenda Jen Chase asked to have an executive session added for a time sensitive personnel matter. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Charles Peel disclosed that he is on the DRB. Public Comments: None Action Items A. Zoning Bylaw Adoption Charles Peel made a motion to adopt the zoning bylaws as written, with additional spelling and grammar checks; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session (PERSONNEL PURSUANT TO 1 V.S.A. § 313(A)) Charles Peel made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago and Jen Chase; Carrie Caouette-De Lallo seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard entered executive session at 7:06 pm. Charles Peel made a motion to exit executive session; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the Selectboard exited executive session at 7:24 pm. Gregg Herrin summarized that the Selectboard discussed a personnel matter, but no action was taken. Adjournment Charles Peel made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm. -
Zoning Bylaw Hearing Minutes – January 9, 2026
Zoning Bylaw Hearing January 9, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Curtis Chase (Present)
Paul Libby (Present)
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Present)
Charles Peel (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Jen Chase (Town Clerk)
PARTICIPANTS
Bryan Kovalick (Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission)
Marianne McCann
Bob Brennan
Tom StearnsConflict of Interest Disclosure Charles Peel disclosed that he is on the DRB. Public Comments Gregg Herrin opened the floor to any questions regarding the zoning bylaw update. Marianne McCann had questions regarding the purpose of the bylaw update, and asked for clarification of several areas including the definition of “affordable housing” and the expanded conservation areas. She also pointed out a formatting issue in the document that the Selectboard will fix before final publication. Bob Brennan (chair of the planning commission) and Bryan Kovalick (representative from the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission) have been working on drafting the zoning bylaw update and offered additional information when needed. No other members of the public had questions or comments for the Selectboard. Adjournment Carrie Caouette-De Lallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:57 pm. -
Selectboard Meeting Minutes – January 6, 2026
Selectboard Meeting Agenda January 6, 2026 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Call to Order Gregg Herrin called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Curtis Chase (Present)
Paul Libby (Present)
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo (Absent)
Charles Peel (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman)
Jen Chase (Town Clerk)Additions to the Agenda Charles Peel added an item to the agenda regarding the use of Town Hall for Town business. He wanted to ensure that Town commissions and committees had preference on their scheduled days to avoid conflicts with residents that may reserve the Town Hall. The Town Clerk and Town Administrator will ensure that the Town gets preference on all future reservations to avoid displacing the committee members during meetings. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Gregg Herrin disclosed that his spouse is on the library board. Curtis Chase disclosed that his spouse is the Town Clerk. Public Comments Marianne McCann made a public comment that she is running for the three-year Selectboard term. Approve Minutes from December 16, 2025 and December 22, 2025 Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the December 16th and December 22nd meeting minutes; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Current Events and Updates A. Highway Update Rick Ackerman updated the Selectboard that the crew has been busy with the intermittent snowstorms and weather, which has caused them to use up additional sand and salt. He has had some minor truck issues that were able to be fixed in-house. The Selectboard let Rick know that they had factored in additional money in the budget to begin covering the cost of road equipment upgrades in the future. B. Town Administrator Update-Town Report Review and Drafting Tierney Farago discussed the timeline of the Town Report with the Selectboard. The Selectboard will need to wrap up the budget and make final edits to the various reports at the next regular Selectboard meeting on January 20th so the Town Meeting warning can be completed and signed by the board. The Selectboard will put in their final comments and get answers for any questions they may have regarding the reports before January 16th. Action Items A. 2026 Budget Review The Selectboard continued their review of the 2026 budget, beginning with the transfer station to discuss if there was a way to make up the deficit in the department. After adjusting some of the numbers and reviewing possible ways to make up the difference and balance out revenues and expenses, the Selectboard agreed to continue working on the issues as the year progresses. They proceeded to make minor adjustments to various areas of the budget, leaving a handful of flagged items to return to in the next regular meeting where the final budget numbers and the Town Meeting warning will be determined. B. 2025 Auditor RFP The Selectboard reviewed two auditor proposals that were previously opened on December 16th. Gayle Durkee discussed the pros and cons of each proposal, and ultimately recommended that the Town choose Sullivan, Powers & Company for the 2025 audit as they will be in person and conduct the audit on a cash basis rather than a modified accrual. This matches the system that the Town operates on.
Final Proposal Pricing
Batchelder Associates PC: $20,250
Sullivan, Powers & Company: $22,000
Curtis Chase made a motion to accept the proposal from Sullivan, Powers & Co; Charles Peel seconded the motion. The motion was amended to include the proposal price of $22,000. Motion passed unanimously.C. MERP Contracts: Interior Storm Windows, Building Envelope, and Window Repairs The Selectboard reviewed three contracts for the MERP grant that included interior storm windows, sealing building envelope, and window repairs in the Town Hall. There was some discussion regarding the contract lengths and if it’s possible to extend contracts in the event that a vendor is unable to finish the work before the contract deadline. This would be possible if needed. Charles Peel made a motion to approve and sign all three contracts; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. D. Avery Work Contract The Selectboard reviewed a contract from Avery Excavation LLC for sand hauling completed in November for $5,500. Charles Peel made a motion to approve the contract; Paul Libby seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. E. Approve Orders Curtis Chase made a motion to approve the orders; Charles Peel seconded the motion. Curtis Chase did have a question regarding an invoice for sewer line work at a residence, and the Selectboard determined that the Town was liable to pay for the work due to the sewer ordinance. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session if Necessary: None Adjournment Charles Peel made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Curtis Chase seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:32 pm.