Author: M Ray

GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
March 13, 2023, 6:30 pm, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT 05301

DRAFT MINUTES

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Zon Eastes, Chair, Michael Becker, Tara Cheney, Rusty Marine (via Zoom), Verandah Porche

OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT:  Erika Elder (Town Administrator), Sheila Morse (Assistant Town Administrator) Dan Zambruski (Road Commissioner)

PRESENT in person: Austin Rice (BCTV), Steve Lembke, Marianne Lawrence, Anne Rider, Dolores Clark

PRESENT via Zoom: Cynthia Clark, Nancy Detra, Pat Haine, Anna Klein, Don McLean, Jen McDuffie, Whitney Lynde, Sean Murphy, Sheila Adams, Christina Belogour, Julie Beet, Marty Ramsburg & Frank Larkin, Brian King, Rick Zamore, Chip & Laurie Carter

1. Call to Order 6:30 pm by Sheila Morse

2. Rules and Procedures – Michael

3. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair of Selectboard (5 minutes)
   1. ACTION:   Verandah moved to appoint Zon  Selectboard Chair.  Michael seconded
   2. ACTION: Michael moved to appoint Verandah  Selectboard Vice-Chair.  Zon seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

4. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period (10 minutes)

Jen McDuffie – The Energy Committee took full advantage of the wonderful event, Guilford Free University, to poll attendees’ opinions on what topics they would like to hear using the educational portion of the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) funds. Sixty-five adult residents voted. The results fell into three groups:

• Four topics that received over 30 votes – Edible, Native & Pollinator Gardens, Solar Energy (thermal & photovoltaic), Heat Pumps, and Modern Wood Heating
• Five topics that received around 20 votes – Air Heat Exchangers, Weatherization, Electricity Offset, & Electric Vehicles, etc.
• The Energy Committee looks forward to garnering more public opinion and submitting the application to receive these funds.

Anna Klein – Guilford Free University – Gratitude –  Over 150 people came to BBCC, organized by Guilford FOLK (Fostering Our Living Knowledge) group

5. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes)  NONE
   
6. Approval of minutes 
7. Regular Meeting – date
   1. ACTION:-Veranda  moved to approve the minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of 2.27.23 as written. Michael seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

8. Updates & Reports
   1. Assessor Clerk – Statistical Reappraisal update from the State (no action) (2 minutes)
      TABLED
   2. Highway ( 5 minutes)
      1. Verification of 2.27.23 order of Bandit chipper – Apologies for confusion about discussion: trade in was a Morbark chipper, purchase was to be the Bandit chipper at cost of $47,746 as confirmed by the Selectboard.
      2. Discussion about Kubota Tractor/Mower: Dan Zumbruskiviewed tractor/mower, received new allowance for trade-in of $25,500 for a total price to the Town of $158,645.17
      3. ACTION: Zon moved to approve the purchase, Veranda seconded. of the regular Selectboard meeting of 2.27.23 as written. Michael seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Comment from Dan: Purchase is paid for out of Capital Fund.
      4. MRGP grant revenue and expense report: Sheila reported that the State recognized total cost $55,391.10. Labor =$13,307.26 covered by payroll + allowance for Equipment($30,703.56 ) + out-of-pocket costs of $11,386.30 ==> $14,213.70 net deposit to the Act 64 fund. N.B. this work is State – mandated, so the Town benefited by receiving the labor and equipment allowances for the Tkaczyk Road and Butternut Hill project work.
      5. Hearing date to be set for “Jason Herron v. Town of Guilford Selectboard
         1. “the Court provides the option of requesting oral argument.  Here, the Court screened the case for a 10-minute argument (five minutes per side) before a three-Justice panel. Jason has instead requested that the matter be heard by the full Court with 15 minutes per side for argument.”
            We will have a 30 day notice of the hearing date.
9. Old Business
   1. Traffic Safety in Algiers Village
      1. shall Guilford approach VTrans and, if yes, about which option.
         1. Work with WRC to do a feasibility study (for a bike and pedestrian safety study by Vtrans) and then subsequently apply for an implementation grant. Study would take a year. 
         2. Ask VTrans to install three-way stop signs (fast moving trucks might brake loudly and annoy residents).
            

ACTION: Tara Cheney moved that the Town apply for 3-way stop signs.  Michael seconded.

MOTION AMENDED: Veranda moved and Michael seconded that the Selectboard be involved in drafting a letter to VTrans for approval at the first April meeting. The vote was by roll call. Zon, Michzel, Verandah & Tara  were in favor. Rusty opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

ORIGINAL MOTION (to seek a three-way stop sign): vote was by roll call. Zon, Michzel, Verandah & Tara  were in favor. Rusty opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried

2. ARPA Award Update: Total receipts = $633,091, of which $3,899 was awarded to the Library but paid to the Town and is accounted for as a pass-through grant, leaving $630K for the Town to use. Of that amount, $74,700 was awarded to individuals and businesses in April to compensate for income and business losses experienced during COVID.  Remaining funds were:  $2,180 paid for the Town-wide Survey on the use of ARPA funds. The GAAC recommended awarding $373,748 in grants; $77,456 has been disbursed to date according to those recommendations. The town has about $176K of uncommitted funds remaining to be disbursed with a potential of more if the generators available throughout town can be configured for optimal coverage and less expense. 

10. New Business
    1. Conflict of Interest forms to be signed by Selectboard members (for the record) (2 minutes)
       1. Every year, new and returning Selectboard members are required to complete conflict of interest statements. 
       2. ACTION: questionnaires given to Selectboard members to fill out and sign
          Zon: Guilford is the only town that requires its SB to sign this paperwork
    2. Sub-committee Recommendation re: Friends of Algiers Village (FAV) ARPA grant application
       1.  ACTION: Verandah moved to accept the Selectboard subcommittee report on  the FAV grant request. Tara seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.  Zon described the difference between prior recommendations on ARPA grant awards (no stipulations on how funds granted are spent) and this single recommendation which restricted how a grant award to FAV could be spent. Verandah and other board members concurred. 
       2. ACTION: Zon moved that the Selectboard adhere to its practice of not stipulating use of grant funds to awardees. Verandah seconded.  The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Verandah suggested that future subcommittees be alerted to this practice.
       3. ACTION: Zon moved to accept the Subcommittee’s proposal to award a grant to FAV from ARPA funds in the amount of $29,300.00.  Tara seconded. The vote was by roll call. Michaels abstained. All others were in favor. The motion carried. 
    3. Annual appointment of Town Officers (action: motion) (5 minutes) – Tara moved to appoint the officers as read.  Zon seconded   vote by Roll call vote was unanimous.

4. Appointment and Compensation of Assistant Delinquent Tax Collector (2 minutes)  TABLED
5. Relationship between Town and WSESD (report) (2 minutes)
   1. As a result of a question asked at the 3.7.2023 Town Meeting, Guilford and the Guilford Central School are working with the WSESU to codify the relationship between the Town and the school so that future interactions are not dependent on long-held expectations and traditions. This is a work in progress.

11. Finance
12. Warrants (5 minutes)

ACTION Verandah moved to pay finance warrants as read.  Zon  seconded. Vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

12. Other Business  NONE

13. Communications
    1. Chip Carter on Agenda Detail
    2. Election questions
    3. Stony Hill Road Improvement
    4. WSESD Kelly Young: Looking for Guilford Candidate for Independent Budget Review Committee 

14. Action Summary from Previous Meeting:
    1. Approved minutes of meeting of 2.13.23
    2. Approved purchase of the chipper
    3. Approved revised procurement policy
    4. Accepted grant application from FAV and forwarded to the subcommittee which is revised to include Richard and Rusty for this particular application
    5. Agreed to forward draft of personnel policy to VLCT
    6. Approved warrants
    7. Approved salary adjustment

15. Actions Taken (see above)

1. elected chair & vice-chair
2. approved minutes
3. authorized Dan to purchase Kubota Tractor Mower
4. Motion to develop a letter about traffic safety in Algiers Village
5. Received recommendation of subcommittee
6. non-stipulation
7. approved grant of $
8. Approved appointees to Commissions
9. Approved warrants

16. Actions to be Taken
    1. Move Energy Committee Report to 3.27.23 meeting agenda

17. Adjournment

ACTION: Rusty moved to adjourn. Michael seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 7:58

Meeting video – https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-31323 

Next Selectboard Meeting: Monday, 3.27.23 at 6:30 p.m.  

Zon Eastes, Chair _____________________________________

Michael Becker _____________________________________

Tara Cheney _____________________________________

Rusty Marine _____________________________________

Verandah Porche _____________________________________

GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
February 27,2023, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT 05301

MINUTES
pdf version of 02.27.2023 Minutes

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Zon Eastes, Chair, Michael Becker, Rusty Marine (by Zoom), Verandah Porche, Richard Wizansky (by Zoom)

OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT:  Sheila Morse (Interim Town Administrator), Dan Zumbruski

PRESENT in person: Peter Kelleher (BCTV), Steve Lembke, Anne Rider, Kyle Parker, Connie Burton, Dolores Clark

PRESENT via Zoom: Don McLean, Pat Haine, Tammy Sargent, Anna Klein, Deborah Albright, Marty Ramsburg, Chip Carter, Barry Aleshnik, Erika Elder, Jason Herron, Nancy Detra, Karen Murphy

1. Call to Order 6:30 p.m.

2. Welcoming of Public – Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
   1. Don McLean mentioned the Sugar on Snow supper at the BBCC hosted by the BB Grange on Saturday, 2.4.23, Reservations available for dining at 5, 6, and 7 p.m.

3. Changes to Agenda Order – NONE

4. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes)

5. Regular Meeting – date
   1. ACTION: Michael moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of 2.13.23 as written. Verandah seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Richard had fallen off the Zoom meeting, was not in attendance, and did not vote. 

6. Updates & Reports
   1. Highway ( 5 minutes): Dan recommended purchasing the Bandit Chipper from Champlain Valley Equipment. It is less expensive than the Mordark chipper quote from Beauregard. He also said that the John Deere Tractor/Mower is in stock and ready to go. Dan will look at it before the 3/13 Selectboard meeting, and try to get Champlain to match the dealer trade-in provided by United of $28,000, $4K higher than the trade-in value offered by Champlain. Dan will advise at the 3/13 meeting as to whether the Tractor/Mower is what he wants. There is sufficient money in the Capital Fund to cover the maximum cost for both of $207,891.
   2. ACTION: Michael moved that the SB approve the purchase of the Bandit chipper at a net cost to the Town of $47,746.40. This purchase price is net of the trade-in of the Town’s currently-owned Morbark chipper valued at $5,000. Verandah seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 

7. Old Business

8. Revised Procurement policy (2 minutes)
   1. Added: “As an alternative to issuing Requests for Proposals, the Town may use the competitive procurement price solicitation process provided by the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program.” See page 2 of policy.
   2.  ACTION: Zon moved and Richard seconded that the sentence be added to amend the Procurement of Goods and Services policy. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 

9. New Business
   1. ARPA Grant application from Friends of Algiers Village (5 minutes) -Zon reminded participants that the SB adopted a method by which a subcommittee will receive and review applications for grants. This committee includes Richard and Michael and two members of the Planning Commission. Michael excused himself from the subcommittee that will be considering this grant application as he provided information to the FAV board about operations in his professional capacity. Rusty will step into his place.
      1. ACTION – Zon moved and Verandah seconded that the application be accepted and moved forward to the subcommittee for review. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Richard had fallen off the Zoom meeting, was not in attendance, and did not vote.  
      2. Community members questioned the validity of Friends of Algiers Village receiving ARPA funds as three businesses with some connection to the board have received ARPA grant awards during an earlier round.  
      3. Anne Rider summarized the FAV  application and is happy to share the application with anyone who wants it.
   2. Regional Policing Policy Work Group (2 minutes) Sheila briefly explained this new initiative taking place in the region.  
   3. Review of Draft of Personnel Policy (15 minutes)
      1. ACTION: Sheila to forward the draft as discussed and amended to VLCT for legal review.

10. Finance
    • Warrants (5 minutes)

ACTION Verandah moved to pay finance warrants as read. Zon seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

11. Other Business – This is Richard Wizansky’s last Selectboard meeting. Verandah read her poem to Richard. That is attached as an appendix.
12. Communications – report from Guilford’s Energy Committee – tabled to next meeting. 
13. Executive Session to discuss personnel issues per 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(3) to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.
    1. ACTION: Zon moved to enter executive session to discuss personnel issues per 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(3) to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee and to invite the Interim Town Administrator to join. Richard seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    2. The Selectboard entered Executive Session at 7:40 p.m.
    3. ACTION: Zon moved and Richard seconded to exit Executive Session at 8:00  The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 
    4. ACTION: Zon moved and Richard  seconded that the Selectboard approve a salary adjustment to market compatibility for an employee, effective immediately. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 
14. Action Summary from Previous Meeting:
    1. Approved minutes of two prior meetings
    2. Approved working with Sourcewell purchasing cooperative to acquire Highway equipment
    3. Approved professional audit engagement letter
    4. Accepted e-bike grant award; determine amount of liability coverage provided for $55 premium
    5. Approved increasing the Planning Commission membership from 5-7
    6. Retroactively appointed personnel subcommittee
    7. Tabled discussions of revisions to the personnel policy
    8. Approved warrants
    9. Voted to approve offers of employment to preferred candidates for assistant town treasurer and town administrator positions

15. Actions Taken (see above)
    1. Approved minutes of meeting of 2.13.23
    2. Approved purchase of the chipper
    3. Approved revised procurement policy
    4. Accepted grant application from FAV and forwarded to the subcommittee which is revised to include Richard and Rusty for this particular application
    5. Agreed to forward draft of personnel policy to VLCT
    6. Approved warrants
    7. Approved salary adjustment

16. Actions to be Taken
    1. Move Energy Committee Report to 3.13.23 meeting agenda

17. Adjournment

ACTION: Richard moved to adjourn. Verandah seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:04

Meeting video – https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-22723

Next Selectboard Meeting: Monday, March 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.  

Zon Eastes, Chair _____________________________________

Michael Becker _____________________________________

Rusty Marine _____________________________________

Verandah Porche _____________________________________

Richard Wizansky ____________________________________

APPENDIX

Dear Richard,

Colleague, and not so long ago, our sturdy Chair,
allow us a moment of emotion.
After the motions and seconds, discussions,
and all the roll call votes, except your final favorite,
we pause to celebrate your qualities.

I appreciate his kind demeanor and sense of humor. 
I appreciate his desire to make the world a better place.
I admire how tough he is in the face of adversity.
I appreciate the time he has donated and the sacrifice
he has made while serving the town of Guilford.

I notice his great questions,
and his calling the question,
and his patience in the face of assaults
on his integrity. 

I value his clear mind,
his willingness to hear and hold multiple points of view.
I admire his commitments to efficiency and thoroughness.
I appreciate his (wicked) sense of humor
and his broad smile.

Richard, even when equipment falters,
you are always here, engaged and aware,
in this conference room, from a Zoom square
or cell, before the call to order,
until the last action to be taken.

Let us make a meal of our gratitude
on your return.
Till then,
Adjournment, and Amen.
Verandah Porche
with reflections from the Guilford Selectboard
February 27, 2023