Selectboard Draft Minutes 10.14.26

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING

Wednesday, October 14, 6:30 pm, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

DRAFT Minutes

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Sheila Morse (Via Zoom), Tara Cheney (Via Zoom); Mike Szostak (Via Zoom); Kim Frost, Chip Carter

STAFF PRESENT: Erika Elder, Jim Freeman

PRESENT IN PERSON: Kyle Parker

PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Cynthia Clark

  1. Call to Order  at 6:30 by Sheila
  1. Rules of Procedure: waved 
  1. Welcoming of Public; Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes)
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway Foreman
      Jim: Beavers on Weatherhead Hollow. They made a hole under stones we put there, up to the pavement. Hopefully taken care of now. Farm and Field Days at School was a success. Ryan Snow stood with the equipment. Continuing to grade and blow leaves from gutters; Prepping the equipment for winter.
    2. Town Administrator 

Erika: Received Grants-In-Aid post-construction report from Windham Regional Commission, enabling reimbursement process. Crack Sealing was also finished last week by VT Roadworks. 80% reimbursable  by VTrans grant. Algiers Scoping Study project Kickoff meeting 10.2. Local Concerns meeting will be at BBCC Nov.12. Link on the town website to submit photos for the town report. RFP’s are out for Sand and the sale of the 2009 Dump Truck with a deadline 11/9/26. Regan has resigned from the Recreation Commission but will still volunteer. Property Taxes are due 10/15 tomorrow. From Elly & Marlene: Thanks to all for coming to pay your taxes even if it’s been hard financially. 

  1. Regional Policing 

Tara: Mark can apply for grants for this project. Leahey Institute is interested, USDA RD may be applied for staffing or vehicles. Studying second homes related to per capita rates.
Joint Selectboard Meeting a possibility for budgeting. 911 response mentioned as a priority. Animal control is separate. 

  1. Old Business
    1. FY2026 Audit  
      We got the initial Audit Draft Report at the end of August.
      MOTION: Sheila Moved to approve the FY26 Audit Report as presented 9.26 and Kim seconded. Vote by Roll, all in favor no abstentions no objections, motion passed.
    2. Water System 

      Water Commission
Sheila explained Elly’s work on this. The next step is to appoint a Water Commission. MOTION: moved to appoint the Guilford Selectboard as the Water Commission, Tara seconded.
Sheila described what Water Commissioners’ tasks would be. Spoke with Dan Tyler about possible maintenance costs. Guilford’s pipes are only 14 years old.
Vote by Roll call, all in favor no abstentions no objections, motion passed.

  1. Correspondence
    Erika: While not correspondence strictly per policy, there were some messages to share with the Selectboard.
    1. Windham Regional Public Hearing on Regional Plan Nov. 6
    2. Explore Life on the Green River event Oct.17
    3. Small Business Association Disaster Loan for 2025 extreme cold
    4. Thanks from Guilford Central School for Highway equipment and crew at Farm and Field Day Oct.9
  2. Finance
    1. Budget Status
    2. Warrants (5  minutes)    
Payroll – WE 10.04.26$8,573.13
Payroll – WE 10.11.26$8,496.31
Expense Warrant #2707$56,100.88
Expense Warrant #2707A$16,934.02
TOTAL$98,104.34 

Sheila: 29.3% way through the budget. Record of tax receipts coming soon. Transfers out happen after taxes are in.
MOTION: Tara moved to accept the Warrants as written. Sheila seconded. Tara described some of the payables invoices. 

Vote by Roll call, all in favor no abstentions no objections, motion passed.

  1. Approval of Minutes
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of  09.28.26
      MOTION: Sheila moves and Kim seconded. Vote by Roll, all in favor no abstentions no objections, motion passed..
    2. Minutes of the Special Meeting of 09.29.26
      MOTION: Sheila moved to approve the minutes Mike seconded. Sheila, Chip and Mike vote by roll call, all in favor, no abstentions, no objections, motion passed.
  1. Actions from Previous Meeting
    1. Authorized Recreation Commission reduction in size from 9 to 5 members
    2. Tabled FY26 Audit 
    3. Approved putting the Selectboard as Water Commission
    4. Authorized Treasurer to advise Guilford water system customers of rate increase in the October 2026 water bill mailing to take effect January 2027.
    5. Authorized Hwy foreman to sell 2009 International Truck for sale for a minimum bid of $15k. 
    6. Approved Warrants
    7. Approved Minutes
  1. Action Taken
    1. Approved the FY26 Audit Report
    2. Appointed all Selectboard Members as Water Commissioners
    3. Approved Warrants
    4. Approved Minutes 09.28 and 09.29
  2. Actions to be Taken
  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 7:07pm. 

Next Meeting: 10.26.26

Meeting Recording: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-selectboard-mtg-10-14-26/