Selectboard

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DRAFT Selectboard Minutes – December 17, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard meeting agenda
December 17th, 2024 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, left early at 8:00 pm)
Kelly Lyford (Present)
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Leyna Hoyt (Present, joined late)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Karen Lathrop (Town Clerk)
Tom Swann (Maintenance)
Additions to the Agenda: None
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
-A letter from Frank Keene was received and read during the meeting regarding the pedestrian bridge. He reiterated the fact that he would need to purchase materials for the bridge soon in order to get a discount with his supplier. The Selectboard agreed that they should allow him to purchase materials so he doesn’t miss out on the discount. Progress has been slow with Vermont Emergency Management and FEMA. Gregg Herrin made a motion to allow Frank to move forward with the pedestrian bridge project, working with the Town to submit permits; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed.
-The Selectboard brought up emergency water and sewer expenses as detailed by the Treasurer. The department is in dire need of funds and the Selectboard was required to make a motion on where the funds would come from in order to pay for the contracted services. Gregg Herrin made a motion to move $40,000 from the ARPA funds to the water/sewer fund; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Approve minutes from November 19, 2024 and December 3, 2024
Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the minutes from November 19th; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion Passed. Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the minutes from December 3rd; Kevin Marshia seconded the motion while Kelly Lyford abstained. Due to only having three selectboard members at the time, the item will be tabled until the next meeting. Motion was unsuccessful.
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
Rick Ackerman reported that all is well in training Larry and Tom. Labor was required for one of the trucks after a part broke down.
B. Town Administrator Update: None
C. Pedestrian Bridge Update
The pedestrian bridge was discussed during the reading of Frank Keene’s letter.
D. Library Capital Improvement Plan
Kezia Frayjo attended the meeting to give an overview of the library capital improvement project. In addition to the grant they received for ADA improvements, they will be working on upgrading the library in the coming months, including getting printers and computer for the public, fixing broken blinds, replacing old cushions, opening up the space for more movement, and overall improving the library space for the public.
E. Carrie De Lallo Chelsea Exhibit
Carrie Caouette-De Lallo will have her art exhibit for Chelsea displayed at the state capital building. There will be an event for the exhibit on January 16th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm and all are welcome to attend if they are able. An announcement will be posted regarding the exhibit so the public is aware of the event.
Action Items: Please note some items may be tabled due to time constraints
A. Water/Sewer Budget and Fees
This item was tabled until the next meeting.
B. Transfer Station Budget
This item was tabled until the next meeting.
C. Security Camera RFP Bid Opening
The Selectboard opened a bid for security cameras at Town Hall and the Town Garage. The only proposal was from Green Mountain Security with a bid package of $18,706. The Selectboard discussed the proposal’s specifications and qualifications. They had some questions on how the camera videos are stored and how they can be accessed. Due to time constraints of entering in to a contract by December 31st, the agreed to accept the bid and clarify how the images will be stored. Kelly Lyford made a motion to accept the bid from Green Mountain Security, clarify how the videos are stored, and enter into a contract not to exceed $20,000; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.
D. Selectboard and Clerk Budgets
The Clerk only had a few small adjustments to the Clerk’s budget from 2024. The Selectboard’s budget will be reviewed during the next meeting.
E. Auditor RFP Bid Opening
The Selectboard opened two proposals for auditing services. The Joachim Group CPAs & Consultants LLC offered services for a total bid of $33,352.98. Batchelder Associates, PC offered services for a total bid of $19,500. After reviewing the packages and qualifications, the Selectboard agreed that they would like to accept services from Batchelder Associates PC, under the condition that they would be able to offer a one year contract as opposed to a multi-year contract. If that was not an option, the item would be brought back to the Selectboard for further discussion in January. Gregg Herrin made a motion to accept the bid from Batchelder Associates PC for a one year contract; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.
F. Zoning Violation Fees
After a short discussion, the Selectboard decided the table this item until they receive more information on what the recommended fee is for zoning violation, as there was not any historical data on how many violations the town gets annually to help decide on a set fee.
G. Town Hall Rental Fees
The Selectboard discussed how often the Town Hall is used with Clerk Karen Lathrop. Currently the rentals account for about $2,180 in revenue, which helps offset the heating bill of $3,800 annually. Because commercial entities rarely book the venue, the Selectboard agreed that the commercial fees should be eliminated. Gregg Herrin made a motion to eliminate commercial fees and continue with only half and full day rental fees; Kelly Lyford seconded the motion. Motion passed.
H. Larry Pickett Contract
The Selectboard signed the culvert work contract for Larry Pickett. No motion was required.
I. Approve Orders
Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the orders; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Executive Session If Necessary: Personnel
The Selectboard had two items for executive session, both regarding personnel. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to enter executive session; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. The Selectboard Entered executive session at 8:51 pm. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to exit executive session; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:19 pm. The Selectboard took action to determine holiday bonuses.Leyna Hoyt made a motion to enter executive session; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion.  The Selectboard Entered executive session at 9:20 pm. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to exit executive session; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 9:51 pm. The Selectboard took action to create a job description and post the opening for a zoning administrator when finished.
Adjournment
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 9:52 pm.
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Selectboard Meeting Agenda – December 17, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
December 17th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall Library
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from November 19, 2024 and December 3, 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
B. Town Administrator Update
C. Pedestrian Bridge Update
D. Library Capital Improvement Plan
E. Carrie De Lallo Chelsea Exhibit
Action Items: Please note some items may be tabled due to time constraints
A. Water/Sewer Budget and Fees
B. Transfer Station Budget
C. Security Camera RFP Bid Opening
D. Selectboard and Clerk Budgets
E. Auditor RFP Bid Opening
F. Zoning Violation Fees
G. Town Hall Rental Fees
H. Larry Pickett Contract
I. 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
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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.

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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
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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.
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Selectboard Meeting Agenda – November 17, 2024

ByTierney Farago

Selectboard Meeting Agenda
November 19th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from November 6, 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
B. Town Administrator Update
C. Town Report Schedule
Action Items
A. Administrative Budget (Treasurer, Admin, Listers, ZA)
B. Highway Budget
C. Proposed Orange County Police Contract Review
D. Forest and Parks Commission Grant Application for Trees
E. Contract for Martinea Electric
F. Contract for Adam Stone Trucking
G. Signatures for MERP Grant Acceptance
H. 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

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DRAFT Selectboard Meeting Minutes – November 6, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
November 6th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Kevin Marshia called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Kevin Marshia (Present)
Kelly Lyford (Present)
Gregg Herrin (Present until 8:31 pm)
Leyna Hoyt (Present)
Jesse Kay (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Gayle Durkee (Town Treasurer)
Additions to the Agenda: None
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
Frank Keene attended to inquire about the status of the pedestrian bridge project; this was addressed during the town administrator update.
Approve Minutes from October 15, 2024
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the minutes from October 15, 2024; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion was approved with 5 votes in favor.
Current Events and Updates
A. Highway Update
Rick Ackerman reported on highway happenings including replacement of culverts, status of gravel/sand, and a possible candidate for the open road worker position. He will advise the candidate to submit an application as provided by the Town Administrator.
B. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard with a few items; the pedestrian bridge project is currently being worked on by the Town, Vermont Emergency Management, and the Agency of Natural Resources. Currently the Town is waiting for responses from the other agencies for next steps. The wastewater facility engineering contract is now at 30% completion and is awaiting comments from the Agency of Natural Resources. The engineering contract for the FEMA projects has been fully executed and will now begin.
C. Community Nurse
Judy Libby attended the meeting to convey to the Selectboard that the Chelsea Health Center is willing to contribute ½ to ¾ of the price of a community nursing program if the Town will approve of the contract position. The Selectboard discussed the viability and responsibility of the position; there were some concerns that it may not be the Town’s place to be the executor of the program. In addition to this concern, the topic of funding was another factor. Mrs. Libby assured the Selectboard that the Health Center is more than happy to contribute funding if it means that the community nurse will be approved. Jesse Kay made a motion to approve the Town Administrator to put out a request for proposals for a community nurse for one year at 12 hours a week, with the expectation that the Chelsea Health Center will pay for at least 50% of the contract when awarded; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. The motion passed with a majority of 3 votes in favor.
Action Items
A. Administrative Budget (Treasurer, Admin, Listers, ZA)
The Town Administrator presented the proposed budget for the administrative division that includes the Town Administrator, Town Treasurer, Grant Administrator (formerly Administrative Assistant), Listers, Delinquent Tax Collector, and the Zoning Administrator/DRB. Several budget line items were requested to be increased including the Town Administrator salary, retirement, healthcare, etc., as they were all previously $0 for 2024. The Selectboard also discussed what the cost-of-living increase for the year might be. Items that were decreased included supplies and publication budgets for the zoning administrator, as the funds were barely used during 2024.  The Selectboard would also like further clarification on a few items including the Zoning Administrator salary increase, as well as the possible increases in cost-of-living expenses; the Treasurer and Administrator will research and report back at the next meeting. No motion was made.
B. Health Insurance
Gayle Durkee presented the comparison of MVP and Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee health insurance, with BCBS being higher by nearly $10. Kelly Lyford was concerned that MVP may be leaving Vermont, so the Treasurer and Town Administrator will investigate if the service is going away and see if the Town will need to switch anyway.
C. VTrans Utility Agreement
The VTrans Utility Agreement was previously discussed in a Selectboard meeting; this agreement is to pay VTrans for the use their contractor to perform adjustments to manholes and water valve boxes in Town as opposed to the Town having to hire an additional contractor. Jesse Kay made a motion to approve the utility agreement; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
D. 215 Williamstown Rd Highway Permit
Jesse Kay made a motion to approve a culvert permit for 215 Williamstown Rd; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
E. Contract for NEMRC Reappraisal
The proposal from NEMRC was previously approved in another meeting. The Selectboard signed the official contract for the reappraisal.
F. Contract for Martinea Electric
This item was tabled to gather more information on the contract.
G. Contract for Adam Stone Trucking
This item was tabled to gather more information on the contract.
H. Contract for Brookfield Service
This contract is for servicing the generator at the wastewater plant for 2025. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the contract; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
I. Approve Orders
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion was approved with 4 votes in favor.
Executive Session If Necessary: Personnel Matter
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to enter executive session, inviting Tierney Farago to join; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. The Selectboard entered executive session at 8:39 pm to discuss personnel. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to exit executive session; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. The Selectboard exited executive session at 8:56 pm. Jesse Kay made a motion for Leyna Hoyt and Tierney Farago to discuss negotiations for light maintenance, snow blowing, and other duties in Town with a potential candidate; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
Adjournment
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
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Selectboard Meeting Minutes – October 15, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
October 15th, 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 until 8:00 pm)
Kelly Lyford (Present)
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Leyna Hoyt (Present)
Jesse Kay (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Kasey Peterson (Grants Administrator)
Phyllis Hayward (Lister)
Susan Elder (Lister)
Frank Keene (Cemetery Commissioner)
Additions to the Agenda: None
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments: None
Approve Minutes From October 1st 2024
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the minutes from October 1st; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with five votes in favor.
Current Events and Updates
A. Draft Town Plan/Regional Plan
Peter Gregory from the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission attended the meeting to discuss the changing regional plan as it applies to Chelsea’s draft Town Plan. The Selectboard’s main concerns were regarding the change for principal retail to be only within the village center. Peter discussed the reasoning for the zoning changes, as well as the need for updating floodplains throughout the state. He will continue to work with Chelsea and other towns facing the same issues as they continue to update the regional plan. He recommended continuing with the current draft Town Plan so that Chelsea has one in place and has the ability to amend the plan in the future. The Selectboard agreed to move forward with the draft and set a date for the public hearing. Jesse Kay made a motion to schedule the Draft Town Plan hearing for November 19th; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with five votes in favor.
B. Pedestrian Bridge
Frank Keene presented specifications on the proposed bridge rebuild. Ben Rose from the Vermont Emergency Management department was in attendance to speak on the FEMA aspect of the project. He mentioned that moving forward with FEMA on the project can result in the Town using the funds for alternate projects after they cost it out. The Selectboard has considered the options and would like to move forward with the project in FEMA while Mr. Keene works on the bridge. Jesse Kay made a motion to move ahead with the pedestrian bridge; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with five votes in favor.
C. Lister: Reappraisal
Phyllis Hayward and Susan Elder brought to the Selectboard’s attention two corrections that needed to be made on the Grand List. They submitted the corrections to the Selectboard for approval and signatures. No official motion was made for this approval. They also made a recommendation for the Request for Proposals made for the Town’s reappraisal; NEMRC had the preferred proposal of $91,560.00 for the reappraisal to be conducted from 2027-2029. Jesse Kay made a motion to approve the bid from NEMRC for $91,560.00; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with five votes in favor.
D. Highway Update
Rick Ackerman provided the Selectboard with a salt invoice to be signed by a Selectboard member. Snow blowing for the town was discussed; Rick will speak with another employee to see if they would be willing to snow blow this winter if another road worker is not hired. He mentioned that we will be needing gravel as well. He also discussed the issue of trash at a home that is no longer occupied; he will be picking up the trash bags and taking them to the transfer station for disposal. In regards to the open road worker position, the Town Administrator will advertise on additional sites and the Selectboard agreed that it would be best to open the position for part-time/seasonal and full-time to attract more candidates.
E. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator reported that a meeting with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns regarding insurance for the pedestrian bridge was rescheduled.
F. Myers/Casella Trash Prices
The Town Administrator presented the current prices for trash collection from Myers and Casella. Casella is about $10 more each month than Myers. The Town Administrator will reach out to Casella and see if there is any way to get the price down below Myers.
Action Items
A. Approve Orders
Jesse Kay moved to approve the orders; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with four votes in favor. (Kevin Marshia had to leave the meeting early).
Executive Session If Necessary: None
Adjournment
**Before adjournment the Selectboard discussed the next meeting; it was decided that there would be no meeting on October 29th. The November 5th meeting will also be moved to Wednesday, November 6th due to Election Day.**
Jesse Kay moved to adjourn the meeting; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with four votes in favor. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:28 pm.