News

| |

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.

Adjusted Town Treasurer Hours for Tax Collections

ByTierney Farago

Tax time is upon us! With the November 1st due date looming, the Town Treasurer’s office will have the following temporary hours from October 21st-November 1st:

Monday-Wednesday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday-Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Please note that taxes are only taken in by the Treasurer or the Treasurer’s assistant.

| |

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – October 15, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
October 15th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from October 1st 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Draft Town Plan/Regional Plan
B. Pedestrian Bridge
C. Lister: Reappraisal
D. Highway Update
E. Town Administrator Update
F. Myers/Casella Trash Prices
Action Items
A. Approve Orders
Executive Session If Necessary
Adjournment
Links to join the Selectboard Meeting:     
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq
https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams
| |

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – October 1, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
October 1st, 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 (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Additions to the Agenda
The Town Administrator added final signatures for a previously approved loan agreement for the Wastewater Plant upgrade project. The Selectboard had questions regarding the loan and what part of the earmarked funds would be used for the loan. The Town Administrator will follow up with the engineering firm to confirm.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
Frank Keene and Tim Courts attended the meeting to express their frustrations with the ongoing process of attempting to rebuild the pedestrian bridge. Mr. Keene obtained a petition from numerous residents to allow work to be conducted to rebuild the bridge. The Selectboard heard these concerns and are working diligently along with the Town Administrator to find the means to properly rebuild the bridge by following all rules and regulations required.
Approve Minutes from September 17th 2024
Gregg Herrin made a motion to approve the minutes from September 17th; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 votes in favor.
Current Events and Updates
A. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator updated the Selectboard on the first meeting regarding the engineering study for the wastewater plant upgrade. FEMA meetings are still occurring to wrap up the projects for emergency work done last year. There have also been ongoing talks with ANR regarding the pedestrian bridge replacement. Further clarification is needed.
B. Highway Update
Rick Ackerman gave an update on the Grants in Aid projects that were completed for several areas around town. All projects went smoothly. He will be working on gravel and sand for future road work. There have been no additional applications for the open road worker position.
C. Transfer Station
The Selectboard discussed revenue and expenditure numbers provided by the Treasurer regarding the transfer station data of trash and recyclables received. Based on past year totals, the transfer station is currently breaking even rather than being over-budget. It appears that implementing tickets and recycle stickers have been helping alleviate costs accrued for the transfer station.
D. Quarterly Library Update
Kezia Frayjo presented a quarterly update on the happenings of the library. Currently their budget is healthy and they recently received a $20,000 grant to help upgrade the library/Town Hall to be more ADA accessible. They have had great success with after school programs, summer programs, the book sale, and certifications for the librarian. Their challenges include space needs and shared resources currently. Kezia requested a motion to remove 50% of the balcony chairs in Town Hall so the remaining chairs can be refurbished and the balcony can be cleared for more storage for books. The Selectboard agreed to add the item to a future agenda to have proper warning for the public. Kezia will work with the Town Administrator to reach out to the fire inspectors about the plans and ensure it is acceptable from a fire safety perspective.
E. Community Nursing Forum
Several community members and a representative from First Branch Ambulance attended to show support for acquiring a community nurse for the town. Jodi Hoyt, community nurse for Tunbridge, gave a summary of the program for those that may not have been looped in during previous Selectboard meetings. The Selectboard discussed the possibility of cost-sharing with the Chelsea Health Center in order to be able to fund the position. The Health Center will internally discuss what they may be able to offer financially. The Selectboard also heard some comments from residents who are concerned about tax raises to pay for the nurse position. Kelly Lyford mentioned that a contract position rather than a Town employee model would be the best fit for the Town if it moving forward with acquiring a community nurse. This item will be added to the October 15th meeting agenda to discuss further.
Action Items
A. North Common Landscaping
The Town Administrator brought up the topic of landscaping updates for the north and south commons from the previous meeting. There are funds in the budget to pay for services to infill areas, aerate, fertilize, and otherwise tidy up the commons. It was also confirmed that the expected monetary threshold is low enough to proceed with accepting services from the current mowing contractor. Work would be done on the commons on days that do not interrupt any scheduled events. Due to the expected pricing of the services (approx. $2,400), the Selectboard did not need to make a motion and agreed to let the Town Administrator proceed with executing the contract.
B. Town Forest Management Plan
David Paganelli, Orange County Forester, attended virtually but was unable to stay to discuss the Forest Management Plan. Kate Willard stepped in to elaborate on the plan for the Selectboard. The Management Plan includes timber sales and a path to both preserve and prune the forest as recommended by the foresters. Jesse Kay made a motion to adopt the Town Forest Management Plan from 2023; Leyna Hoyt seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 votes in favor. The Town Administrator will follow up with the County Forrester to begin plans for following forest management.
C. Approve Orders
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 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 5 votes in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.
| |

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – October 1, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
October 1st, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from September 17th 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Town Administrator Update
B. Highway Update
C. Transfer Station
D. Quarterly Library Update
E. Community Nursing Forum
Action Items
A. North Common Landscaping
B. Town Forest Management Plan
C. Approve Orders
Executive Session If Necessary
Adjournment
Links to join the Selectboard Meeting:     
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq
https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams
| |

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – September 17, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
September 17th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Kelly Lyford called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
SELECTBOARD
Kevin Marshia (Absent)
Kelly Lyford (Present)
Gregg Herrin (Present)
Leyna Hoyt (Present)
Jesse Kay (Present)
TOWN EMPLOYEES
Tierney Farago (Town Administrator)
Rick Ackerman (Highway Supervisor)
Additions to the Agenda
A request to use the Village Greens on October 31st from 4pm-7pm was received. The Selectboard only had a concern that if they move forward with landscaping in the North Common, the closure of the common may affect the event. The Selectboard asked to let the applicant, Chelsea Parker, know that this might be the case and the South Common may have to be used for the event. Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the event, but to notify the applicant that the event may need to be held on the South Common; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 votes in favor.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None
Public Comments
Resident Frank Keene attended to receive an update on the cemetery pedestrian bridge. The Town Administrator provided information regarding the liability issues of possibly rebuilding the bridge with private funds and allowing work to be done without a bidding process; this option was advised against by the legal team at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT). The Town will continue to look for alternative options for rebuilding/replacing the bridge.
Approve Minutes from September 3rd 2024
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the minutes from September 3rd; Jesse Kay seconded the motion. Motion passed with 3 votes in favor. Gregg Herrin abstained due to absence.
Current Events and Updates
A. Town Administrator Update
The Town Administrator gave a status update on the integration of Microsoft Teams for the Selectboard and town employees to use; login information has been sent out and the Selectboard will work with the Town Administrator to organize and access files as needed. Kelly Lyford also asked about the status of FEMA projects; FEMA continues to review projects and has upcoming meetings to discuss remaining items and closeout of a few cases.
B. Transfer Station
The Town Administrator presented some budgetary information and ticket numbers for the Town’s transfer station. Currently, the Town is breaking even on expenses to profit on the transfer station due to the punch cards and recycle stickers. The Selectboard requested more data from recent years to see if the amount of waste and recycle has increased or decreased at all due to the changes in process. The topic will be added to a future agenda to better understand the possible needs of the transfer station.
C. Town Plan Draft
Sydney Steinle with Two Rivers Ottaquechee Regional Commission attended the meeting to answer some retail zoning related questions that the Selectboard brought up in the last meeting. The Town Plan is adhering to all requirements of the state, but there are concerns about only having retail zoning in the village area, which is in a floodplain. Sydney suggesting speaking with her supervisors, as the regional mapping that is being drafted with Two Rivers may help alleviate those issues. The Town Administrator will reach out to Kevin Geiger and Peter Gregory with TRORC to discuss the regional mapping that may affect the Town Plan. The Selectboard will continue to review the draft Town Plan until they are satisfied with moving forward with the draft.
Action Items
A. North Common Landscaping
Jen Chase with the Forest and Parks Commission brought up landscaping maintenance in the North Common with the Selectboard. It was recommended to seed and fill in some divots in the North Common. The commission had gotten a preliminary quote from the current contract mowing company in order to present at the meeting. The Selectboard requested that the Town Administrator review what the current contract covers to ensure that it would be following the contract and the town purchasing policy. The item will be brought up at the next meeting for decision. No motion was made.
B. Town Forest Management Plan
The Selectboard discussed the Town Forest Management Plan previously sent by David Paganelli. Some of the plan still needs to be completed in order to fulfill the suggested plan. A timber sale was suggested by the Orange Country Forestry parks and forest department, which would also help the Town conduct the sale. Services would not be available until 2027, but the Town is encouraged to book for services soon. The Selectboard would like to discuss the topic further. No motion was made.
C. Town Hall Basement
The Town Administrator brought up the topic of mitigation work to be done on the Town Hall basement; Harry Falconer with the Two Rivers Ottaquechee Regional Commission needed to know what option the Town is leaning toward in order to submit the MERP grant application. After some discussion on the estimated pricing of the vapor barrier and concrete flooring with sump pump, the Selectboard agreed that it would be best to use the quote for the concrete basement flooring for the application. The Selectboard agreed that Mr. Falconer may proceed with the higher priced quote. No motion was made.  
 D. Signatures for Utility Agreement
VTrans suggested a utility agreement for future work on Vermont Route 110. This agreement allows VTrans to use their own contractors to perform adjustments to 9 manholes and 2 water valve boxes during their repaving project, with the Town paying for those adjustments. The Selectboard had some questions regarding the full scope of work and where the repaving will cover through the village. The Town Administrator will reach out to VTrans to discuss further before the Selectboard makes their decision. No motion was made.
E. Approve Orders
Leyna Hoyt made a motion to approve the orders; Gregg Herrin seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 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 4 votes in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 pm.
| |

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – September 17, 2024

ByTierney Farago
Selectboard Meeting Agenda
September 17th, 2024 6:30 pm Chelsea Town Hall
Call to Order
Additions to the Agenda
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Public Comments
Approve Minutes from September 3rd 2024
Current Events and Updates
A. Town Administrator Update
B. Transfer Station
C. Town Plan Draft
Action Items
A. North Common Landscaping
B. Town Forest Management Plan
C. Town Hall Basement
D. Signatures for Utility Agreement
E. Approve Orders
Executive Session If Necessary
Adjournment
Links to join the Selectboard Meeting:     
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq
https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaVTSelectboardOfficial/streams