| Selectboard Meeting Agenda |
| January 21st, 2025 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library |
| Call to Order |
| Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm. 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) Rick Ackerman (Road Foreman) |
| Additions to the Agenda: None |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None |
| Public Comments: None |
| Approve Minutes from January 14, 2025 |
| Kelly Lyford made a motion to approve the minutes from January 14; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. William Lyon abstained. Motion passed. |
| Current Events and Updates |
| A. Highway Update |
| Rick Ackerman let the Selectboard know that a substantial amount of sand has been necessary to use due to recent weather. He is working to conserve as much sand as he can. He also discussed the lead times for truck components for the Town truck that was ordered; factory delays may affect the finish date for the truck. He will work with Leyna and Tierney on getting a better idea of production dates. |
| B. Town Administrator Update |
| The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard that several FEMA projects are moving forward through the review and approval process. The Selectboard would like to receive updates regarding the pedestrian bridge progress when available. The Town Administrator is consulting with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns regarding recent legal questions on funds appropriated during the 2023 Town Meeting and will update the Selectboard when more information is available. |
| Action Items |
| A. Recreation Committee Mowing Budget – John Parker |
| Gayle Durkee discussed information sent in by John Parker regarding mowing contracts for the coming year. Prices have gone up, so she worked with John to redistribute some funds between the Recreation Committee and the Town to help cover the increased rates. No motion was required. |
| B. Windsor County Police |
| Sheriff Palmer with the Windsor County Police attended the meeting virtually to discuss a proposed renewal of the policing contract with the Town and what services Windsor County has provided during the yearlong contract they’ve almost completed. Hourly rates for his officers will be raised from $65 to $78, which will likely bring the current contract up to $56,784 for 14 hours of service provided weekly. In order to finish the budget, the Selectboard decided to account for this price increase in the budget line item of Law Enforcement in the event that a contract is renewed. A request for proposals must be sent out to give fair chance to any agency looking to contract with the Town of Chelsea. The Town Administrator will work on the RFP and post it as soon as possible. No motion was required. |
| C. Budget Review and Finalization |
| The Selectboard discussed several remaining items on the budget, and adjusted them accordingly. Some funds were shifted from line items to account for the $20,000 previously dedicated to a community nurse, while others added to Law Enforcement funds. Leyna Hoyt presented information regarding competitive salaries from other towns, mainly for the Road Crew, Road Foreman, and Town Treasurer roles, so the Selectboard could consider budgeting for salary increases. After much discussion, Gregg Herrin suggested a lump sum of money to budget for overall increases in salary for all Town Employees. This was due to time constraints on the budget; it was proposed to reassess all Town Employee salaries at a later date. The amount proposed was $35,000, split between two line items for Highway staff and Town staff. After reviewing the full budget and altering some items, the Selectboard settled on a final budget which includes the total general fund expenditures of $1,750,994 of which $1,144,742 shall be raised by taxes and $606,252 by non-tax revenue. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the budget of $1,750,994 of which $1,144,742 shall be raised by taxes and $606,252 by non-tax revenue; William Lyon seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| D. Town Meeting Warning |
| The Selectboard looked over the drafted Town Warning with the town Administrator. This warning includes requests for tax exemption for the Chelsea Health Center, several social service appropriations, and standard language for the Treasurer to collect tax bills and set a due date of November 1st for taxes. The selectboard added in the finalized budget number and approved the warning. Kelly Lyford made a motion to approve the Town Meeting Warning as written; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| Approve Orders |
| Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve orders; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed. |
| Executive Session If Necessary: None |
| Adjournment |
| Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm. |