Selectboard Minutes, 04.10.2023

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
Monday, April 10, 2023, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

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

OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT: Erika Elder (Town Administrator), Dan Zumbruski (Road Commissioner)

PRESENT in person: Austin Rice (BCTV),  Steve Lembke, Dave Eastman, Jason Black (DVF), Kyle Parker 

PRESENT via Zoom: Shaun Murphy, Anna Klein, Barry Aleshnick, Christina Belogour, Cynthia Clark, Don McLean, Erik Schickendanz, Marty Ramsburg & Frank Larkin, Rick Zamore, Jason Herron

MINUTES

  1. Call to Order by Zon 6:30 
  1. Rules of Procedure – Michael  (2 minutes)
  1. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period 
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes) NONE
  1. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes)
    1.  ACTION: Verandah moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of 3.27.22 as written. Rusty seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    2. Verandah adds Guilford Volunteer Fire Department  to the list of storm helpers recognized during the 3.27 meeting.
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway – Briggs Road Bridge Project (5 minutes) ACTION: Motion by Zon to use Sole Source Vendor,  Michael seconded.   Danny recommends Renaud Brothers as Sole Source Vendor for this $30,000 project. 
      Comment from Dave Eastman: Can the old bridge be repurposed? Rusty: Would the Town be liable if we gave it away? Steve Lembke: Renaud can choose to give the old bridge away if feasible, with no involvement from the Town.
      The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    2. ACTION: Motion by Zon to accept the bid from Renaud Brothers.  Verandah seconded.  The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
      Erika: We submitted 2 preliminary applications to VTRANS for grants – A Structures Grant for Fitch Road Bridge repair, and a grant for paving 2+ miles of Weatherhead Hollow from Yeaw Road to Baker Cross Road. VTRANS will notify us about funding for these grants after April 15.
    3. DV Fiber update – Jason Black – DV FIber’s Website is near complete with regard to updates to broadband availability, by address. Estimated time (from the present) for DV Fiber to get broadband service in Guilford is 18-20 months. (https://dvfiber.net/)
  1. Old Business
    1. Personnel Policy, final version. Action: Motion by Zon to adopt the Personnel Policy. Michael seconded. Zon: Policy revisions have been considered at several previous meetings, and after review from VLCT and our legal counsel, is ready to adopt. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    2. Announce date for Herron vs. Selectboard Online Hearing, Wednesday, May 3, 9:00 a.m. Hearing by a three-justice panel. Live streamed with no audience present in-person. The cases are scheduled for a total of 10 minutes. Each side has 5 minutes.  The cases will be argued remotely.  
      To watch livestream video: https://www.youtube.com/@vermontcourts4381/streams 
      Hearing schedule: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/sites/default/files/documents/May%202023.Rocket_0.pdf
    1. New Business
      1. Planning Commission Appointments for two new members, increasing the Commission’s size from seven to nine. Action: Motion by Verandah to appoint Marty Ramsburg and Christina Belogour to the Planning Commission. Tara seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
      2. CDL Drug and Alcohol Policy.  Action: Motion to adopt the policy by Michael, Rusty seconded.  VLCT and the Town’s Attorneys have reviewed the Policy. Any suggestions have been integrated into the final Policy document. Tara: Should the Sexual Harassment Policy be separated also? The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
      3. IT Consultant Contract. Action: Motion by Michael to consider Sole Source Vendor for IT work, Verandah seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 
        Action: Motion to approve contract for IT Consultant John Minkle. Motion by Michael, Tara seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
        Steve Lembke: Should the Town have an IT policy? Tara: Are there standard procedures for simple IT tasks? Zon: Selectboard will explore this.  Are there times the public can access Town computers? If so, what is the security around that?
    1. Finance  (5 minutes)
      1. Warrants: ACTION: Motion by Verandah to pay the following Warrants. Zon seconded  The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    Payroll – WE 04.02.23$6,877.57
    Payroll – WE 04.09.23$9,506.24
    Expense Warrant #2319$184,544.29
    TOTAL$200,928.10
    1. Other Business
      1. VTRANS Annual Financial Plan – Town Highways (TA-60) (5 minutes) Action: Motion by Zon to confirm and sign the VTRANS form TA-60. Rusty seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.
    1. Communications: NONE
    1. Actions from Previous Meeting
      1. Approved minutes from 3.13.23
      2. Approved Jelly Mill Bridge Repair
      3. Disbanded ARPA Advisory Committee
      4. Accepted letter to Vtrans regarding Algiers Village road safety
      5. Adopted Town Plan
      6. Approved Road & Bridge Standards
      7. Approved Warrants
    1. Action Taken
      1. Approved Sole Source Vendor for Briggs Road Bridge Repair
      2. Approved Briggs Road Bridge repair
      3. Adopted Updated Personnel Policy
      4. Appointed two Planning Commission members 
      5. Adopted new CDL Drug & Alcohol Policy
      6. Approved IT Consultant contract
      7. Approved Town Highway Budget
      8. Approved Warrants

    2. Actions to be Taken
      Look into creating a separate Sexual Harassment Policy
      Look into codifying Town Office IT procedures 
    1. Adjournment: ACTION: Motion to adjourn by Rusty, seconded by Verandah.
      The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Adjourned at 7:36

    Meeting video – https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-41023

    Next Selectboard Meeting: Monday, April 24, 2023 at 6:30 pm