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DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – December 3, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
December 3rd, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Kevin Marshia mentioned that Jesse Kay has resigned from the Selectboard as of December 2nd.
SELECTBOARD
Kevin Marshia (Present)
Kelly Lyford (Absent)
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Leyna Hoyt (Present)
Jesse Kay (Absent)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Additions to the Agenda
-The Town Administrator added a tree removal contract to the agenda, however, the selectboard previously agreed to the emergency service and decided to simply officially sign the contract.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
Frank Keene attended to inquire about the status of the pedestrian bridge, as he was able to secure a fair price on steel beams that may only last until the end of the year. The Town Administrator stated that the Town is waiting to have a meeting with Vermont Emergency Management to find out further details of the project; no further update is available at this time.
Approve Minutes from November 19, 2024
Gregg Herrin mentioned that he did not think the minutes aligned with what occurred during the last meeting and will review to see if there are edits to be made. A motion for the approval of minutes from November 19th will be tabled until the next Selectboard meeting.
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
Rick Ackerman gave a general update of the state of the roads with the recent snow. He also mentioned that Larry Pickett was officially hired as part-time seasonal road crew. He has passed all necessary checks and has begun training to plow the west hill area.
B. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator did not have any updates outside of meetings with Vermont Emergency Management regarding FEMA project and the pedestrian bridge that was discussed earlier in the meeting during public comments.
C. VTrans Bridges: Jon Griffin
Jon Griffin and Andrew Lemieux from VTrans attended the meeting for a presentation regarding the construction status of two bridges on VT Rte 110 (bridges #12 and #13). Both bridges have gone through preliminary plans and continue to be engineered. The Selectboard and audience members were able to ask some questions regarding the standards for lanes and shoulders for bridges. The bridges will continue to go through planning, permitting, and preliminary construction, as the bridges are constructed off site before being transported to the sites. Final construction is anticipated for April-October 2027. Jon and Andrew will continue to update the Town as the project develops.
Action Items
A. Water/Sewer Budget
The Selectboard went through the preliminary water and sewer budget. There were some changes from the 2024 budget, including increases in electricity due to price increases, as well as contract service increases. The Selectboard also discussed the importance of capital improvement, mainly meter and hydrant replacements that are necessary as the items get older and less effective. This topic will be brough up later, as well as at Town Meeting. As the full budget is addressed, the numbers for water and sewer may change, but for now it is sufficient to continue.
B. Transfer Station Budget
The Selectboard also discussed the transfer station/solid waste budget. There were only some slight changes to some of the line items from the 2024 budget. The board discussed recycle stickers and punch cards, as there has been a decline in recycling dropped off and it is unclear as to the reason. This budget will also be ironed out more during the full budget discussions.
C. Draft Town Plan Adoption
The public hearing for the draft Town Plan was held on November 19th. Only one resident attended the hearing. With no further questions posed, the hearing was closed, and the draft Town Plan was ready to be adopted by Chelsea and sent for regional planning approval with Two Rivers. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the Town Plan and send it for regional review approval; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor.   
D. VMERS Acceptance for Town Administrator
A previous motion to accept VMERS for the Town Administrator position was deemed not specific enough and the Selectboard was asked to read word-for-word a new motion to ensure it is properly recorded. Gregg Herrin made a motion that the Town of Chelsea offer VMERS Group A to the position of Town Administrator effective 1/1/25, VMERS will administer an election for the Town Administrator to join VMERS A effective 1/1/25, any Town Administrator hired after the date of this vote will automatically be enrolled in VMERS Group A; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor.
E. Library Balcony Chairs
Nick DeFriez was in attendance to discuss the rehabilitation of the balcony chairs. The Fire Marshal stated that the previous plans to remove chairs and possibly add bookcases for library storage would not be possible, so it has been tabled for the moment.
F.  Approve Orders
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor.
Executive Session If Necessary: None
Adjournment
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.
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Notice of Vacancy – Selectboard

ByTierney Farago

TOWN OF CHELSEA, VERMONT
NOTICE OF VACANCY
December 5, 2024

In accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 961(a), the Selectboard of the Town of Chelsea, Vermont hereby gives notice of a vacancy created by resignation in the office of Selectboard, effective December 2, 2024.

The Selectboard, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 963, expects to make an appointment to fill this vacancy with the person appointed serving until a town election is had.

CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO PETITION FOR VOTE

Titles 17 V.S.A. § 2643 and 24 V.S.A. § 963 grant citizens the right to petition for a vote to replace the Selectboard’s appointee at a special Town Meeting. If a special town meeting is called, the newly elected town officer will remain in office for the balance of the unexpired term. If a special Town Meeting is not called, the Selectboard’s appointee will remain in office until the next annual Town Meeting.
To exercise this right, citizens must present a petition calling for an election for this office signed by five percent of the legal voters of the Town to the Town Clerk prior to the next annual Town Meeting.

Additional information pertaining to this notice and its contents may be obtained by contacting the Town Administrator, at 802-625-2023 or town.administrator@chelseavt.us.

Capital for a Day – December 17th, 2024

ByTierney Farago

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Governor Scott, along with his cabinet and extended cabinet, will be spending the day in Orange County as part of the Capital for a Day series.

The Town of Chelsea, the Vermont Department of Taxes, and Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio will host the following presentation and discussion at the Chelsea Town Hall and Public Library, located at 296 VT Rte. 110 in Chelsea, VT:

“Service Oriented Tax Administration in Vermont, Tax Policy Highlights from the 2024 Legislative Session, and a brief discussion regarding Property Taxes”

Commissioner Bolio’s presentation will begin at 1:30 and will end at about 2:45 in the Town Hall.

We hope that you will consider joining us and taking advantage of this opportunity to speak with the Commissioner Bolio about tax administration, tax policy, and property taxes. Also, by sharing information regarding this event with others you will help us to create an informative, lively, and well attended discussion. Please feel free to forward this email!

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Selectboard Meeting Agenda – December 3, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
December 3rd, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from November 19, 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
B. Town Administrator Update
C. VTrans Bridges: Jon Griffin
Action Items
A. Water/Sewer Budget
B. Transfer Station Budget
C. Draft Town Plan Adoption
D. VMERS Acceptance for Town Administrator
E. Library Balcony Chairs
F. Approve Orders
Executive Session If Necessary: Personnel
Adjournment
Links to join the Selectboard Meeting:     
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq
https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams

Request for Proposals: Auditing Services

ByTierney Farago

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

AUDIT SERVICES

TOWN OF CHELSEA, VERMONT

The Town of Chelsea will be accepting bids from qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants for auditing services for the 2024 calendar year ending December 31, 2024.

The desired delivery/completion date of this project is April 30th, 2025.

Bid Process and Deadline

Bid packages must be sealed and received by December 16th at 4:00pm at PO Box 266 Chelsea, VT 05038 (ATTN: Selectboard/Town Administrator). Please include the following information in your bid:

  • On the outside of the sealed envelope: PO Box 266, Chelsea VT 05038 (care of the Selectboard/Town Administrator), Town of Chelsea Auditing Services RFP, the deadline for bid opening (December 16, 4:00 pm)
  • A copy of bond/insurance
  • A cover sheet with the title of the RFP; the bidder’s name, physical address, and all other contact information
  • A total proposed contract amount
  • Technical specifications for the proposed hardware and software

Bid Opening

Sealed bids will be opened and selected by the Chelsea Selectboard during the meeting at Town Hall (296 Vt Rte 110 Chelsea, VT 05038) on December 17th at 6:30 pm. Bids will be judged by the following factors:

  • Price
  • Bidder’s ability to perform within the specified time limits
  • Bidder’s experience and reputation, including past performance for the Town
  • Quality of the services proposed
  • Bidder’s ability to meet all terms and conditions spelled out in this RFP

Contact Information

Questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted by email or phone to the Town Treasurer, Gayle Durkee, at chelseatreas@chelseavt.us, 802-685-7801. The Town will maintain a list of RFP questions and answers posted on the Town’s website when received. Questions will be accepted until 5:00pm on December 13th, to ensure all parties have adequate time to review the answers before the proposal submission deadline.

Disclosure

The Town of Chelsea is an equal opportunity employer.

The Selectboard reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any and all bids, wholly or in part, to waive any informalities or any irregularities therein, to accept any bid even though it may not be the lowest bid, to call for rebids, to negotiate with any bidder, and to make an award which in its sole and absolute judgment will best serve the Town’s interest. The Selectboard reserves the right to investigate the financial condition of any bidder to determine his or her ability to assure service throughout the term of the contract. The Town assumes no responsibility and no liability for costs incurred relevant to the preparation and submission of proposals or any other costs prior to the issuance of a contract.

Town of Chelsea: Security Camera RFP

ByTierney Farago

Town of Chelsea: Security Camera RFP

The Town of Chelsea will be accepting bids for a security camera system for Town properties. These properties would include the Town Hall and Town Garage, with the possibility of expanding the system to cover other Town assets in the future (the contract would be amended to include these properties).

The security system must include 24/7 operational cameras that can cover all entrances/exits to the buildings and software that can be accessed to review, save and share video, and archive footage as needed. The contractor is expected to perform all maintenance and train employees to operate the software if it is not proposed that the contractor assumes all responsibility of maintaining and storing the files. The Town Administrator can schedule site visits as needed with the contractor to accurately draft proposals. The desired deliver/completion date of this project is June 30th, 2025.

Bid Process and Deadline

Bid packages must be sealed and received by December 16th at 4:00pm at PO Box 266 Chelsea, VT 05038 (ATTN: Selectboard/ Town Administrator). Please include the following information in your bid:

  • On the outside of the sealed envelope: PO Box 266, Chelsea VT 05038 (care of the Selectboard/Town Administrator), Town of Chelsea Security Camera RFP, the deadline for bid opening (December 16th, 4:00 pm)
  • A copy of bond/insurance
  • A cover sheet with the title of the RFP; the bidder’s name, physical address, and all other contact information
  • A cost estimate with itemized per unit costs for hardware, software, and support, and a total proposed contract amount
  • Technical specifications for the proposed hardware and software

Bid Opening

Sealed bids will be opened and selected by the Chelsea Selectboard during the meeting at Town Hall (296 Vt Rte 110 Chelsea, VT 05038) on December 17th at 6:30 pm. Bids will be judged by the following factors:

  • Price
  • Bidder’s ability to perform within the specified time limits
  • Bidder’s experience and reputation, including past performance for the Town
  • Quality of the materials and services proposed
  • Bidder’s ability to meet all terms and conditions spelled out in this RFP
  • The feasibility of the proposed approach to long-term maintenance and support for the system

Contact Information

Questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted by email only to the Town Administrator, Tierney Farago, at town.administrator@chelseavt.us. The Town Administrator will maintain a list of RFP questions and answers posted on the Town’s website once received. Questions will be accepted until 5:00pm on December 13th, to ensure all parties have adequate time to review the answers before the proposal submission deadline.

Disclosure

The Town of Chelsea is an equal opportunity employer.

The Selectboard reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any and all bids, wholly or in part, to waive any informalities or any irregularities therein, to accept any bid even though it may not be the lowest bid, to call for rebids, to negotiate with any bidder, and to make an award which in its sole and absolute judgment will best serve the Town’s interest. The Selectboard reserves the right to investigate the financial condition of any bidder to determine his or her ability to assure service throughout the term of the contract. The Town assumes no responsibility and no liability for costs incurred relevant to the preparation and submission of proposals or any other costs prior to the issuance of a contract.

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DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
November 19th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Kevin Marshia (Present)
Kelly Lyford (Present)
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Leyna Hoyt (Present)
Jesse Kay (Absent)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Susan Elder (Lister)
Additions to the Agenda
-MVP Health Insurance: The Town Treasurer came back with additional information regarding insurance that was on the last agenda. MVP is not leaving Vermont, so the Selectboard agreed that they would rather keep MVP rather than switch to Blue Cross Blue Shield since it is more expensive and offers the same coverage. The Treasurer also brough up adding vision insurance to the current health insurance; the cost would be $12 annually (per employee) and $67 annually (Town). The Selectboard agree that this would be great to offer Town employees. This will be factored in for the 2025 budget. No motion was made.
-Sewer Ordinance: A resident recently had an issue with a blocked sewer line, and it was unclear who the responsibility falls to per the current Sewer Ordinance. It was recommended that the ordinance be amended to include language that clearly states the responsibility of both the property owner and the Town. The Town Administrator will work with staff to start drafting the amendment to avoid future uncertainty.
-Larry Pickett Contract: The Treasurer brought in a contract for culvert work, but because this is an action item that requires notice, this will be added to the next meeting agenda for consideration.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
Pete Amber from the Forest and Parks Commission wanted to discuss the possibility of having Rick Ackerman haul in fine gravel to help level out the ice rink before the season begins. The Selectboard agreed and asked him to speak with Rick directly to coordinate the effort.
Approve Minutes from November 6, 2024
The Selectboard requested two minor edits to the minutes for clarification on the community nursing RFP and adding the motion of approval for the highway permit. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the minutes from November 6th with edits; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Gregg Herrin abstained. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor.
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
There were no new updates for the highway at this time.
B. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard on the status of the wastewater engineering report; we just had the 30% meeting with Dufresne, with the 60% report expected in the coming weeks. The pedestrian bridge is still being reviewed by Vermont Emergency Management. The Town was also awarded a MERP grant, which was discussed more in depth later in the meeting.
C. Town Report Schedule
The Town Administrator shared some information regarding the deadlines for the upcoming Town Report and Town Meeting. December 31st is the last day for all department reports to be submitted so they can be included in the full Town Report. The calendar with all dates, including petition and proofing deadlines, will be sent to Town employees and Selectboard.
Action Items
A. Administrative Budget (Treasurer, Admin, Listers, ZA)
The Town Administrator updated numbers for the administrative department’s budget, including allowances for cost of living increases and presented this to the board. They agreed that the department budget is at a point where they feel comfortable continuing with the rest of the budget and will adjust numbers if needed when the numbers have been received for more departments. There was additional discussion on the sharing of child care tax; the Selectboard agreed that sharing the cost (0.33% town, 0.11% employee) would be reasonable. This will be factored in to the budget. No motion was made.
B. Highway Budget
Rick Ackerman attended the meeting to go through each line item with the Selectboard. Several line items decreased based on need, while other items increased as necessary, like gravel and highway salaries, which will be assessed by the liaisons moving forward. The highway budget can continue forward with these tentative numbers and will be modified as more departments send in their changes to the 2025 budget. No motion was made.
C. Proposed Orange County Police Contract Review
The Town Administrator notified the Selectboard that a contract proposal from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was received. Since the Selectboard did not have any other proposed 2025 contracts to compare it to, this contract will be considered at a later date when all other options have been received. The Town Administrator will reach out to Windsor County for data on current policing and the proposed contract renewal. No motion was made.
D. Forest and Parks Commission Grant Application for Trees
Susan Elder came to represent the Forest and Parks Commission and their effort to apply for two grants to help remove and replace dead trees on Town properties. She discussed the intent and deadlines for both grants. The Selectboard was appreciative of these efforts and they fully support submitting applications for the grants. No official motion was needed at this time.
E. Contract for Martinea Electric
The Treasurer explained that this contract was for electric services provided for the wastewater treatment plant. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve and sign the contract; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
F. Contract for Adam Stone Trucking
The Treasurer explained that this contract was for chervil mowing that was conducted in June. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve and sign the contract; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
G. Signatures for MERP Grant Acceptance
The Town Administrator shared that Chelsea was awarded the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) grant for $406,506.25. In order to accept the grant funding, a grantee signature is required before December 16th. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to accept the MERP grant and allow Kasey Peterson, grant administrator, to sign on behalf of the town; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
H. Approve Orders
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
Executive Session If Necessary: Personnel
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to enter executive session for personnel, inviting Tierney Farago and Rick Ackerman; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 6:56 pm. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to exit executive session; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 7:08 pm. The Selectboard reviewed and discussed applications for the open highway crew position. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to offer the position for part-time seasonal work to Larry Pickett; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
Adjournment
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 pm.

Notice of Public Hearing: Draft Chelsea Town Plan – November 19, 2024

ByTierney Farago

Chelsea Selectboard
Notice of Public Hearing
On the Draft Chelsea Town Plan November 19th at 6:00PM at the Chelsea Town Hall and Virtually.

The Chelsea Selectboard will be holding a hearing on the Draft Town Plan at 6:00PM on November 19th at the
Chelsea Town Hall, 296 VT-110, Chelsea, VT 05038 and via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq.

The purpose of this hearing is to take comments from the public on the draft Town Plan so that the Selectboard can
consider these as it makes its final revisions prior to adoption. The proposed Town Plan will replace the current
Town Plan in its entirety. Copies of the draft can be found at the Town Office during business hours. Comments may
be mailed to the attention of the Selectboard at P.O. Box 266 Chelsea, VT 05038.

Below is a summary of the proposal.

I. Goals of the Plan
II. Demographics
III. Economic Development
IV. Housing
V. Education
VI. Utilities and Facilities
VII. Recreation and Parks
VIII. Health and Emergency Services
IX. Natural, Scenic, and Cultural Resources
X. Agriculture and Forestry
XI. Land Use Plan
XII. Transportation
XIII. Energy
XIV. Relationship to Other Plans
XV. Town Plan Implementation
Appendix A