01.27.25 Selectboard Draft Minutes

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING

Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Verandah Porche, Michael Becker, Chip Carter, Mike Szostak

STAFF PRESENT: Erika Elder

PRESENT IN PERSON: Steve Lembke, Linda Hecker

PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Don McLean, Laurie Carter, Barry Aleshnick, Sheila Morse, Sheila Adams, Karen Murphy and Shaun Murphy, Cynthia Clark, Elliott Mitchell, Andy and Elise Burrows, Lyndsey Mitchell, Rick Zamore

Draft Minutes

  1. Call to Order at 6:30 by Verandah 
  1. Rules of Procedure read by Chip
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (none)
  1. Public Comment, Announcements
    Verandah: Al Franklin’s  funeral will be at Guilford Community Church on Wednesday at 2:30 pm. Al was a former Selectboard member.
  1. Approval of Minutes ACTION: MOTION
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of 01.13.25

MOTION: Chip moved and  Michael Becker seconded to approve the minutes of the 1.13.25 meeting. Corrections to 2 spelling errors. Approval with amendments. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.

  1. Finance  ACTION: MOTION 
  2. Warrants    
Payroll – WE 01.12.25$7,983.23
Payroll – WE 01.19.25$8,035.38
Payroll – WE 01.26.25$8,372.11
Expense Warrant #2514$26,872.71
Expense Warrant #2514A$8,942.65
TOTAL$60,206.08

MOTION: Chip moved to pay the warrants  and Michael Szostak seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.

  1. Updates and Reports
    1. Town Administrator
      1. Hard wire cameras were setup at the Office and the Garage
      2. Completed two big reports:
        1. FHWA highway financial report, a 2 year report with financial info about the Highway which is sent to the state and the state forwards to the federal government for future funding
        2. Center for Tech and Civic Grant Report: was a report about how we spent the Election grant money we received last year.
      3. Australian Ballot voting will be held on Tuesday March 4th at the Broad Brook Community Center from 10am to 7pm
      4. Working on the Town report getting it ready for the printers lots of proof reading and edits.
    2. Highway Commissioner
      1. going to be Snowing wednesday night and again over the weekend. 
      2. Will not be available for Town Meeting but will be available for Pre Town Meeting to answer any questions.
  1. Old Business
    1. WSWMD Representative
      Verandah: Dave Eastman has stepped up to be WSWMD Representative.
      MOTION: Michael Szostak moved to appoint Dave Eastman as WSWMD Representative for Guilford and Michael Becker seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    2. Delinquent Tax Policy update per 32 V.S.A. § 5252
      Verandah: Describes changes to policy, all due to change in laws. Chip moved and Verandah seconded to adopt the new Delinquent Tax policy.  Discussion: Chip recognizes that Vermont Tax Policy is constantly changing and the new additions to the delinquent tax policy helps our Delinquent Tax Collector in accomplishing their duties. MOTION: Verandah moved and Michael Becker seconded to adopt new policy. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    3. FY26 Budget Approval
      MOTION: Chip moved and Michael Szostak seconded to approve the budget to be voted on at Town Meeting.  Michael S moved and Michael B seconded, Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.Discussion: 009 Highway Budget seems to be okay with no changes but has  an increase of 4% from last year. 003 Town Budget is at a 0% increase which is a feat. Suggest changing the Building repair and maintenance from $12500 to $14500 due to the fact that we can afford the buffer and it benefits us to think ahead about upkeep maintenance.
      Verandah Moved: To approve  the revised budget to be voted at Town Meeting, Chip seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.     
    4.  Town Meeting Articles & Warning
      MOTION: Michael S moved,, Michael B seconded to approve the articles and warning, Erika: Article 10 updated due to previous budget adjustment MOTION: Verandah moved and Chip seconded to approve articles and warning as amended. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    5. New State Ethics Rules and Requirements
      1. Appointment of Ethics Commission Liaisons
        MOTION: Verandah moved to appoint Erika Elder and Uriel Najera as the Ethics Commission Liasons, Chip seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
      2. Selectboard Ethics Training
      3. Code of Ethics Ordinance
  1. New Business
    1. Appointment of Republicans to BCA per 17 VSA § 2143 DISCUSSION 
    2. Algiers Traffic Calming and Safety Committee Member Appointment 

MOTION: Verandah moved and Chip seconded to add Barry to the Committee Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.

  1. Conservation Commission
    Linda Hecker: Reminds of the BBCC photo exhibit co-hosted by Planning and Conservation Commissions. In preparing budget this year Conservation Commission aware of budget.
    1. Transfer to Conservation fund
      Requested of Elly to transfer  $1500 from the Commission’s fund  to Guilford Conservation Fund
    2. New member Katie Katherine Shea proposed as new Appointee to fill vacant seat. Pleased to announce Linda Lembke has volunteered to serve on Deerfield River
      MOTION: Verandah moved and Chip seconded to appoint Katie Shea to the Conservation Commission. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
  2. Other Business (none)
  1. Correspondence (none)
  1. Public Comment (none)

  2. Actions from 01.13.25 Meeting
    1. Approved minutes of 12.09.24
    2. Approved Warrants
    3. Elected Selectboard Chair
    4. Elected Selectboard vice-chair
    5. Approved Mileage Certificate
    6. Appointed Barry 
  1. Action Taken
    1. Approved 1.13.25 minutes
    2. Approved warrants
    3. Appointed Dave Eastman as WSWMD rep
    4. Adopted Delinquent Tax policy
    5. Approved FY26 Budget Proposal
    6. Approved Town Meeting Articles and Warning
    7. Approved Ethics Comm Liaisons Erika Elder & Uriel Najera
    8. Appointed Barry Aleshnick to Algiers Traffic & Safety Committee
    9. Appointed Katie Shea to Conservation Commission
  1. Actions to be Taken
    Review Ethics Ordinance and Conflict of  Interest Policy
  1. Adjournment

MOTION: Chip moved to adjourn, Michael Szostak seconded.  Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed. Meeting Adjourned at 7:45.

Next Meeting 02.10.25 at 6:30 pm

Meeting Video: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-selectboard-mtg-1-27-25/