Seelectboard Meeting Draft Minutes 11.09.26

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING

Monday, November 09, 6:30 pm, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Szostak, Tara Cheney, Chip Carter, Kim Frost, Sheila Morse, Chair via Zoom

STAFF PRESENT: Erika Elder, Jim Freeman, Elly Majonen

PRESENT IN PERSON: Steve Lembke, Delores Clark

PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Cathi Wilken, ELise and Andy Burrows, Kyle Parker, Lyndsey Mitchell

DRAFT Minutes

  1. Call to Order by Sheila at 6:30pm
  1. Rules of Procedure waived
  1. Welcoming of Public; Community Comment Period
    Steve Lembke: Received the Guilford Gazette and complimented Tara and Mike’s articles.
    Elly: SEVCA will do workshops on filing taxed and homestead declarations in January
    Dolores Clark: Wondering what happened to Budget Workshops held during Selectboard meetings. 

Tara: Reed Cutting and Sons are a local company (residential waste & recycling pick up) that reached out to offer services as a locally-owned business. 

  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes)
    Additional Warrant
    Sand Bid
    MOTION: Sheila moved to address the Sand Bids during Hwy Foreman update; Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.  
    Elly Delinquent Tax Update added to the Warrant discussion
  2. Sand Bids

Erika: Two bids received, from Zaluzny and All States/Mitchell Materials. They were close but Zaluznt was lower. Jim: Zaluzney pit is also closer.
MOTION: Sheila moved, Tara seconded to accept Zaluzny’s bid. Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.  

  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway Foreman
      Jim: Sand bids came in, budget $56k, Zaluzny’s came within budget and a bit lower than All State’s bid. Third year in a row they won the bid. Important not to have silt in the sand.  Checking every Vehicle. Took possession of the new F600. Thanks to the recent rain, we were able to grade. When freezing weather comes, we won’t grade. Backhoe is out, blowing is mostly done.
    2. Town Administrator: Erika and Elly working on the revision on personnel policy that SB decided on and almost ready to hand over to the lawyer. SB will have a few more revisions down the road. Second budget workshop happened last week for 003 budget. Next workshop is 11/18 at 9am at Town Office. Still gathering information needed. Bids for sand came in today. The local concerns meeting for the Algiers Safety Scope study is this Thursday 11/12 at the BBCC at 6:30pm for the public to voice their concerns. Town Office is closed Wednesday 11/11 for Veterans Day. 
  1. Regional Policing
    Tara: Next week we’ll submit the budget for approval. 10 towns involved. Some towns may increase and others may go down in the new model. The model will be better than the current situation. The models are hours-based. The meetings are recorded. Dolores Clark asked about the previous survey. 
  2. New Business
    1. Elected Local Auditors
      Sheila: The Selectboard received Sky Morse’s resignation from the Elected Auditor position.  The Selectboard will need to appoint someone to the position. We anticipated this vacancy and so started researching the role of the auditor. Cathi Wilken: Has been auditor since 1989. the process has changed dramatically. It’s become much more complicated. Our job became focused on making the Town Report, and making sure people read it. Last couple years received good feedback. Sheila: Lesley Malouin made it
      Lyndsey Mitchell: Enjoys the job. There is a lot of interest in the job of auditor. It’s an important role. Lyndsey has been attending Budget meetings. Emphasizes the importance of the role.
      Dolores: Thinks it’s premature to appoint Skye’s friend and open to others.
      Tara: Is there a list of responsibilities for elected auditors vs. professional auditors. Cathi: There is a handbook. Neil Quinn developed the matrix that we use which details each element. Sheila: The Town report needs to be a financial report to the Town. Years ago there was a mistake discovered by a resident. The more recent under-collection. Erika to solicit applicants.
      1. Vacancy in Office: Elected Auditor
        MOTION: Kim moved to post the Notice of Vacancy in Elected Office. ,  Mike seconded. Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.  
  1. Old Business
    1. Algiers Waterline
      Sheila: at the 9.27 meeting the Selectboard appointed the SB
      MOTION: Sheila moved to increase the water rates to be consistent with Brattleboro’s 2026 rates and to be billed in Jan 2027 and then increase yearly thereafter staying consistent with Brattleboro water rates. Kim seconded. Vote was by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.  
    2. Water Rates Ordinance: Elly: The reason to have an ordinance would be to let people know the do’s and don’ts of water usage. Suggests a simple document. Sheila: People don’t pay attention to ordinances. Tara and Kim will work toward an ordinance.

      Sheila suggests Tara and Kim create the Fund 420 budget working with Elly. Includer repairing water lines if needed. The water line is a Town Asset. Dan Tyler (Brattleboro DPW) said Guilford water lines are in good shape.

  2. New Business
    1. Delinquent Tax Warrant 

Elly: November 1 Delinquent bills went out. People with previous delinquent bills need to start a new agreement. The Treasurer gives the Delinquent Tax Collector the amounts that are due. MOTION: Sheila moved to authorize the Treasurer to present the warrant to the Delinquent Tax Collector,  Mike seconded.  Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.  

  1. Non-Employee Work Agreement – Xpert Lawn Care
    MOTION: Sheila moved to approve the contract, Kim Seconded. Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.
  1. Correspondence
    1. Invitation to Southern VT Municipal Leaders Network – Staff Resources & Services Sharing in Londonderry, VT (12/4)
  2. Finance
    1. Budget Status
    2. Warrants    
Payroll – WE 11.01.26$9,064.33
Payroll – WE 11.08.26$8,359.59
Expense Warrant #2709$4,893,537.22  
Expense Warrant #2709F$48.00
TOTAL$4,921,009.14  

MOTION: Tara moved to accept the warrants as written. Kim seconded, Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.

  1. Approval of Minutes
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of  10.26.26
      MOTION: Sheila moved and Tara seconded. Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.
  1. Actions from Previous Meeting
    1. Approved Holiday Leave Revision to Personnel Policy
    2. Approved Warrants
    3. Approved Minutes of 10.14.26 Meeting
    4. Approved Minutes of  10.20.26 Budget Workshop Meeting.
    5. Approved Ruck-Up Boot Drop for Saturday 10.31.26 
  1. Actions Taken
    1. Approved FY27 Sand Vendor
    2. Approved Notice of Vacancy in Office of Auditor 
    3. Approved Adjusted Water Rates 
    4. Approved Delinquent Tax Warrant
    5. Approved Non-Employee Work Agreement XPert Lawn Care
    6. Approved Warrants
  1. Adjournment

MOTION: Sheila Moved to adjourn and Chip Seconded. Vote by Roll Call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Next Meeting: 11.23.26

Meeting Recording:

https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-selectboard-mtg-11-9-26