Selectboard Minutes, 04.24.2023

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
Monday, April 24, 2023, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

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

OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT:  Erika Elder (Town Administrator), Dan Ingold (EMD Director)

PRESENT in person: Austin Rice (BCTV), Liz Monly, Steve Lembke, Kyle Parker

PRESENT via Zoom: Linda Hecker, Barry Aleshnick, Julie Beet, Marty Ramsburg, Pat Haine, Cynthia Clark, Sheila Adams, Lesley Malouin, Christina Belogour

Minutes

  1. Call to Order at 6:30 pm
  1. Rules of Procedure (2 minutes)
  1. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
    1. Verandah – Happy Birthday to Cynthia Clark
    2. Packer Corners trash Incident on Packer Corners Road – Linda Hecker
      Friday night 4.21 Lots of trash dumped along Packer Corners Road. Several residents gathered together to pick up and remove. 
    3. Julie Beet – Neighborhood Roots Plant Swap will be 5.13.23 at 10 am at the Guilford Fairgrounds. Sseeds, perennials, starts available.  You don’t have to bring plants to attend! Concern about jumping worms (https://extension.unh.edu/resource/plant-sales-and-jumping-worms)
      Town Meeting Day change survey – 60 people have responded. Add your voice to this discussion here:  https://forms.gle/E1jySPBrf8ZSkq3R8
  1. Changes to Agenda Order NONE
  1. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes; Action: Motion)
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of 04.10.23  ACTION: Michael moved to approve the minutes as written. Verandah seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Minutes approved 
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway (2 minutes) Erika: Still cleaning up from the storm. Verandah asked if there is a way to let people know if wood can be gleaned by citizens?  
    2. Conservation Commission  (10 minutes) – Patti Smith (Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center) Natural Resource Inventory Presentation. The Conservation Commission will have a community forum this summer. The Inventory will be posted on the Town website when it is edited and finished.
    3. Guilford LEMP – Dan Ingold (5 minutes) Every VT Town’s Local Emergency Management Plan must be submitted to the State annually by May 1. Guilford’s LEMP has been reviewed and is ready for Dan to submit. Verandah: Emergency preparedness will be included in the Selectboard’s Goals for the coming year. Dan: Cooling shelters are an item to think about for this summer.
  1. Old Business (2 minutes)
    1. Announce Selectboard Goals Workshop 5.3.23 at 6:30, the public is invited.
  1. New Business
    1. Newspaper of Record (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
      Zon  moved to designate the Brattleboro Reformer as Guilford’s Newspaper of Record. Verandah seconded. Zon: Each community names a Newspaper of Record to publish legal notices, etc.. We have traditionally chosen the Brattleboro Reformer due to its daily publication. Barry Aleshnick: Requests consideration of The Commons as Newspaper of Record. Legal notices in The Commons are cheaper, and readership is higher. Deadlines are tighter, more nimble, accepts late copy. Barry suggests using The Commons as default Newspaper of Record with Reformer as backup.

      Selectboard discussion: Michael: a cost analysis would be helpful. Tara: does The Commons have an online version? Barry: Yes, and it’s being updated soon, with no paywall. Zon: Reformer’s website updates continuously. Barry: The Commons will do that upon launch

      Zon: More research needed – cost & deadline analysis. Verandah: Let’s hear from someone at the Reformer. Gather information before the next meeting. Zon retracts motion. 
  1. Finance  (5 minutes; ACTION: motion)
    1. Warrants      
Payroll – WE 04.16.23$7,815.73
Payroll – WE 04.23.23$6,878.98
Expense Warrant #2320$38,600.42
TOTAL$53,295.13

Motion: Verandah moved to approve warrants as written, Zon seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 

  1. Other Business NONE

  2. Communications (2 Minutes)
    1. D2R2 Bike Event Announced – Annual dirt-road cycling event which begins in Deerfield, MA and will include some roads in Guilford. Saturday, Aug 19, 2023. Steve L: Green River Preservation Trust has a part in planning and facilitating this event.
  1. 1. Executive Session
    1. ACTION: Zon moved that premature knowledge of discussions could potentially put the Town at significant disadvantage. Verandah seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
    2. ACTION Zon moved to enter into Executive Session at 7:36 pm to discuss contractual matters per 1 VSA § 313 (a) (1)(A), inviting Erika Elder to participate. Verandah seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
    3. ACTION: Zon moved to exit Executive Session. Verandah seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed.  Motion carried. Executive Session ended at 8:17
    4. ACTION: Motion regarding discussion of personnel issues in Executive Session. Zon moved to explore  mediation, Michael seconded. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.

  2. Actions from Previous Meeting
    1. Approved the Minutes from 03.27.23 Regular Meeting
    2. Approved Sole Source Vendor for Briggs Road Bridge Repair
    3. Approved Briggs Road Bridge repair
    4. Adopted Updated Personnel Policy
    5. Appointed two Planning Commission members 
    6. Adopted new CDL Drug & Alcohol Policy
    7. Approved Sole Source Vendor for IT work
    8. Approved IT Consultant contract
    9. Approved Town Highway Budget
    10. Approved Warrants

  3. Actions Taken
    1. Approved Minutes from 04.10.23 Regular Meeting
    2. Approved Warrants

  4. Actions to be Taken
    1. Explore options for Guilford’s Newspaper of Record

  5. Adjournment
    Motion to adjourn by Michael. Verandah seconded.
    Adjourned at 8:20

Next Selectboard Meeting will be 05.08.23 6:30 pm

Meeting video: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-42423