NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Thursday, 3.23.23, 6:30 p.m.
Agenda
Call to Order
Recognition of Public
Rules of Procedure
Changes to Agenda Order
New Business*
Public Hearing to review and adopt the final version of Town of Guilford’s Town Plan, 2022- 2030 which was approved by the Planning Commission on 12.27.22.
Amendments include 1) incorporation of a paragraph in the History section that discusses the history of Lucy and Abijah Prince in Guilford 2) inclusion of explanatory language regarding the tax abatement process in the Land Use section 3) removal of the sentence indicating that Guilford would undertake a sewer feasibility study, replacing it with language that wastewater and water management systems would be explored in the Land Use section 4) updated information indicating that Guilford’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan has been approved by the State of Vermont.
Additionally, all of the maps contained within the Town Plan have been updated with new maps when available. Finally, the Town Plan has been edited to include the Town’s new website address.
*Relevant documents are available at the Town Office.
One tap mobile +13017158592,,83999739654#,,,,813816# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,83999739654#,,,,813816# US Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
The Guilford Planning Commission is upsizing from five to seven members. Why? The Commission is entering a 9-month community planning project that will engage the community broadly about what makes Guilford special, now and into the future.
Working together, the Selectboard and the Planning Commission seek a broad representation of the town’s voices to lead this planning effort. Planning Commission members serve staggered 3-year terms. With the addition of two new members and the departure of Mike Szostak (thanks for your service, Mike!), three new members will be appointed. The Planning Commission generally meets once per month, on the second Wednesday evening of the month.
It is the Selectboard that makes appointments to most of Guilford’s Commissions (not the Cemetery Commission, which is elected). The Selectboard will work closely with the Planning Commission for this planning project, and is invested in building the strongest possible team for Guilford.
If you have personal interest or strong recommendations, send your name (or suggested person’s name) and contact info, along with a brief bio and a 3-sentence statement about why service would be important, to zoneastes@guilfordvt.gov.
The legal voters of the Town of Guilford, Vermont, are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Guilford Central School Gymnasium in the Town of Guilford on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, between the hours of ten o’clock (10:00) in the forenoon (a.m.), at which time the polls will open, and seven o’clock (7:00) in the evening (p.m.), at which time the polls will close, to vote by AUSTRALIAN BALLOT upon the following order of business:
To elect all necessary Town Officers for the following positions, as required by 17 V.S.A. §2640:
Selectboard
3-year term
Selectboard
2-year term
Town Clerk
3-year term
Treasurer
3-year term
Lister
3-year term
Auditor
3-year term
Sample Ballet
TOWN OF GUILFORD GUILFORD TOWN MEETING WARNING MARCH 7, 2023
The legal voters of the Town of Guilford, Vermont, are further notified and warned to meet at the Guilford Central School (gymnasium) in the Town of Guilford on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the hour of ten o’clock (10:00) in the forenoon (a.m.) at which time the Guilford Town Meeting will commence to act upon the following Articles of business:
ARTICLE 1: To elect a Moderator for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 2:To hear the report of the Town Auditors.
ARTICLE 3: To hear the report of the Library Trustees (22 V.S.A., § 144).
ARTICLE 4: To elect the following officers: Cemetery Commissioner (1), Library Trustees (1), and Trustee of Public Funds (1).
ARTICLE 5:Shall the Town vote to authorize the Selectboard to appoint a Municipal Treasurer as provided in 17 V.S.A. § 2651f?
ARTICLE 6: Shall the Town vote to authorize Highway Fund expenditures in the amount of $1,041,439.00 for fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, for which revenues will be raised through taxes and other sources (17 V.S.A. § 2664)?
ARTICLE 7: Shall the voters authorize General Fund expenditures for operating expenses of $659,201.00, of which $506,731.00 shall be raised by taxes and $152,470.00 by non-tax revenues for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 (17 V.S.A. § 2664)?
ARTICLE 8: Shall the Town vote to continue membership in the Windham Regional Commission and raise and appropriate the sum of $5,428.00 to defray the Town’s share of its expense?
ARTICLE 9:Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $258,450.00 for the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department?
ARTICLE 10: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 for the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department Capital Sinking Fund.
ARTICLE 11: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS), pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 2691?
ARTICLE 12: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $27,393.00 for the following Human Service Organizations, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 2691?
Youth Services
$ 1,605.00
Women’s Freedom Center
$ 1,000.00
Groundworks Collaborative
$ 1,000.00
Visiting Nurse & Hospice for VT and NH
$ 6,300.00
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
$ 485.00
Senior Solutions
$ 850.00
Brattleboro Area Hospice
$ 300.00
Gathering Place
$ 500.00
Brattleboro Senior Meals
$ 350.00
SE.VT Economic Dev. Strategies (SeVEDS)
$ 6,363.00
AIDS Project of Southern VT
$ 350.00
Connecticut River Transit
$ 250.00
SEVCA
$ 2,040.00
Guilford Cares
$ 6,000.00
ARTICLE 13: Shall the voters authorize the Town Treasurer, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 4791 to collect current taxes without discount?
ARTICLE 14:Shall the town vote that overdue taxes will bear interest at a rate of 1% (one percent) per month or fraction thereof from the due date of such tax, to be charged after October 15th, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5136?
ARTICLE 15: Transact any other business that may lawfully come before said meeting.
The legal voters of the Town of Guilford are further notified that voter qualification, registration and absentee voting relative to said meeting shall be as provided in Chapters 43, 51 and 55 of Title 17, Vermont Statutes Annotated.
GUILFORD SELECTBOARD in PARTNERSHIP with BROAD BROOK GRANGE – PRE-TOWN MEETING Thursday, 23 February 2023, 6:30 pm, 3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT
Residents of Guilford are hereby warned that the Selectboard of the Town of Guilford will hold a public, informational Pre-Town Meeting event in person on Thursday, 23rd February 2023 at 6:30 PM. This meeting is a collaboration between the Guilford Selectboard and the Broad Brook Grange to discuss the Articles on the 2023 Town Meeting Warning. Candidates for elected positions are invited to introduce themselves, and others may provide updates.
BCTV will live-stream this gathering. It is not a hybrid meeting. Residents are invited to gather in person.
2023 Pre-Town Meeting Agenda
Call to Order
Recognition of Public
Reading of the Articles for 2023 Town Meeting
ARTICLE 1: To elect a Moderator for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 2: To hear the report of the Town Auditors.
ARTICLE 3: To hear the report of the Library Trustees (22 V.S.A., § 144).
ARTICLE 4: To elect the following officers: Trustee of Public Funds (1), Grand Jurors (2), Library Trustee (1), and Cemetery Commissioner (1).
ARTICLE 5: Shall the Town vote to approve Highway Fund expenditures in the amount of $1,041,439.00 for fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, for which revenues will be raised through taxes and other sources (17 V.S.A. § 2664)?
ARTICLE 6: Shall the Town vote to approve General Fund expenditures in the amount of $881,701.00 for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, for which revenues will be raised through taxes and other sources (17 V.S.A. § 2664)?
ARTICLE 7: Shall the Town vote to continue membership in the Windham Regional Commission and raise and appropriate the sum of $5,428.00 to defray the Town’s share of its expense[1] ?
ARTICLE 8: Shall the Town vote to authorize the Selectboard to appoint a Municipal Treasurer per 17 V.S.A. §§ 2651e(a), 2651f(a)?
ARTICLE 9: Shall the Town vote to approve to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS) (24 V.S.A. § 2691)?
ARTICLE 10:Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $258,450.00 for the GuilfordVolunteer Fire Department[2] ?
ARTICLE 11: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 for the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department CapitalSinking Fund[3] .
ARTICLE 12:Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $27,393.00 for the following Human Service Organizations, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 2691?
Youth Services…………………………………….. $ 1,605.00
Women’s Freedom Center………………………… $ 1,000.00
Groundworks Collaborative………………………. $ 1,000.00
Visiting Nurse & Hospice for VT and NH……… $ 6,300.00
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).…… $ 485.00
At its regular meeting on Wed, Dec 28, the Guilford Selectboard accepted Town Administrator Peder Rude’s resignation, effective Dec 31. “We wish Peder only the very best,” said Vice Chair Verandah Porche.
“Peder’s resignation allows him to explore other opportunities,” said Eastes. “We are indeed grateful for his service to the town.”
The Selectboard voted to change Sheila Morse’s title from Assistant Town Administrator to Interim Town Administrator.
Special Presentation by Conservation Commission at BBCC
Watching Wildlife in Your Backyard November 17, 2022 7:00 – 8:30pm Broad Brook Community Center (BBCC) 3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, Vermont
Do you wonder about the wildlife that moves through your land? Would you like to learn more about using trail cameras to observe the movements and behaviors of the wild animals that live in your fields and forests?
If so, please join the Guilford Conservation Commission for our first program at the new BBCC. Conservation Commission member Steve Soszynski and environmental educator Jimmy Karlan have over 12 years of combined experience using trail cameras to observe wildlife on their properties in two different parts of Guilford. They will share some of their favorite photos and videos of animals on their land and offer tips about setting up and working with trail cameras.
Guilford voters will be receiving a new ballot in the mail for the Justice of the Peace election. The ballot will be mailed to every registered voter in town by Guilford town clerk, Penny Marine, following meetings this past week of the town’s Board of Civil Authority and Selectboard. Voters should be receiving the new ballots within a few days. All previously submitted JP ballots — only the JP ballot, not the main ballot for all other offices — will not be counted and will be destroyed.
This action is a result of an error in the preparation of the main General Election ballot, which failed to include the Justice of the Peace candidates. With the approval of the Vermont Election Division of the Secretary of State’s office, the town clerk initially remediated the omission by sending new ballots to voters who requested them. A number of townspeople, however, questioned the fairness of this system. Thus the Selectboard and Board of Civil Authority, which supervises elections, met and voted unanimously to send a new ballot to every voter.
And, again, this action is only for the ballot for Guilford Justices of the Peace, not the main ballot for Senate, Governor, State Rep, etc., which is correct and which voters should submit. It is important to know that those by-request JP ballots, which some voters have already submitted, will not be counted, and will be destroyed, so only the new ballot will count; if you already voted that JP ballot, you should vote again with the new ballot.
Voters may return their completed ballots either by mail, or by delivering them to the town office during regular hours, Monday through Thursday, or at any hour by depositing them in the new, secure lockbox right outside the office door. Voters may also bring their completed ballots to the polling place, Broad Brook Community Center, on Election Day, November 8, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Please note that JP ballots should be returned in the envelope supplied with that ballot, not in the envelope which accompanies the main election ballot.
Your town officials apologize for the original error, and for confusion resulting from efforts to correct it. We feel that starting over with a ballot mailed to all voters is the best and most expedient way to ensure a fair election.
Questions may be directed to the town clerk at 802-254-6857 ext 107.
Penny Marine, town clerk Don McLean, chair, Board of Civil Authority Zon Eastes, chair, Guilford Selectboard
This set of questions summarizes questions received prior to the RFP submission deadline. This webpage will be updated until the submission deadline.
Does the Town have a budget or budget range for these consultant services? Is there a budget that can be shared?
The Town does not yet have a budget range established. We anticipate that costs will be determined based upon services provided. For frame of reference the Municipal Planning Grants through ACCD range from $25,000 to $40,000. We anticipate a budget within that range but actual budget will be determined by the scope of services covered under the contract.
Has the Town previously undertaken a strategic planning process? If so, is any documentation resulting from that initiative available?
Not exactly. In 2013-14, Guilford participated in the Community Visit program of the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
Further describe the role of the Planning Commission via-a-vis the Town Selectboard in the planning process and in the ultimate approval of the plan.
The Planning Commission is charged with overseeing and managing the Town’s planning activities. The Selectboard, at the recommendation of the Planning Commission, will adopt the final plan. The Selectboard approves any expenditures (for planning and implementation).
Does Guilford coordinate its planning with, draw resources from, and rely on data from any neighboring counties, cities, or other, larger entities? If yes, which ones and to what extent?
Most Vermont towns collaborate with regional planning commissions and regional development corporations. In Guilford’s case, we work with the Windham Regional Commission.
How does the Town envision the role of municipal employees in providing input and information into the planning process and feedback on the plan itself?
Municipal employees will be invited to engage in all public meetings. We do not anticipate that special weight will be given to any single voice or group of voices.
Does the Town envision that planning meetings with the Selectboard and Planning Commission would be conducted in accordance with Open Meetings requirements?
Yes. All public meetings will be conducted according to Vermont Open Meeting Law.
Clarify the meaning of “future priorities.” Are these priorities meant to be enacted after the current town plan expires in 2030, or is the intent to have the priorities be more for the next three years that provides increased focus and clarity on the priorities currently outlined in the Town’s various plans and documents?
For the purposes of this project, the Planning Commission seeks clarity on a set of shorter-term actions (well before 2030) that are also informed by the community’s sense of its longer-term interests.
The 2022-2030 Town Plan is aspirational and replete with multiple goals. The preferred outcome of the strategic planning process would be to clarify priorities that promote smart growth in the 10-20 year time frame
Are there specific current challenges or opportunities that the consultant should be aware of as it relates to Town elected or appointed leadership?
As can be seen in any community, Guilford has divisions that can manifest as lack of trust in Town leadership. The Selectboard and Planning Commission are committed to proceeding in a manner that respects all residents, is transparent and allows for all voices to be heard.
What impact on the planning process, if any, does the Town anticipate, given that Town Meeting Day in 2023 will occur in the middle of the planning process?
At this moment, we do not anticipate any ballot questions that would impact the planning process. Nor should this planning process work to develop ballot questions for March 2023.
Is this project grant funded? If yes, which entity(s) did the grant come through? Is this project to be funded with ARPA funds and if so, are there ARPA requirements for the Strategic Plan?
The Guilford Selectboard is exploring the use of ARPA dollars for this project. We are not aware of specific requirements for such a use of ARPA funds.
Are there any events that have been identified as potential venues for Community Forums (ie – annual events, etc).
None.
Does the Town have any results from its ARPA Community Survey available?
Not yet. The survey closes on Oct. 20, results may be available in early November.
Does the Town currently make use of any social media, and if so, using what platforms (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, etc.)?
The Town does not have social media accounts. We do make use of Front Porch Forum and a privately managed Facebook page.
Is there an anticipated or desired number of Community Forums to be held?
3 – 5.
What are the expectations related to in-person vs. virtual meetings and sessions?
Preference will be given to proposals that include opportunities for in-person community meetings. Virtual meetings may be used for preparation and check-in meetings.
Must meetings be conducted in Guilford?
Proposals that seek to engage the community in person will win the day.
Can tasks related to the RFP be performed outside the USA? (like, from India or Canada)
There may be a certain set of planning activities that can be accomplished from a distance, but not all.
Are there any points counted or a preference for local or in State consultants? Are out of state firms encouraged to apply?
Preference will be given to consultants or firms that demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for Guilford-centric engagement as well as Vermont statute and law.
Are there any points, preferences, or considerations for minority owned or women owned businesses?
The Guilford Selectboard has a policy of inclusion. While no points are accorded to specific groups, proposals are encouraged from all qualified consultants.
Can companies from outside the USA apply? (like, from India or Canada)
Yes. Preference will be given to qualified local or regional applicants.
