Selectboard Minutes, 06.12.2023

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
Monday, June 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Zon Eastes, Chair, Verandah Porche, Michael Becker, Tara Cheney, Rusty Marine

OFFICIALS/ STAFF PRESENT:  Erika Elder (Town Administrator) Daniel Zumbruski (Road Commissioner) Lisa Barry (Assessor Clerk) Dan Ingold (EMD), Jeannette Tokarz (Planning Commission Chair)

PRESENT in person: Peter Kelliher (BCTV), Mark Ewen,  Sheryl Ewen, Patricia Bullock, Richard Bullock, Frank Larkin, Marty Ramsburg, Deborah Albright, Steve Petersen, Deborah MaNeil, Stacey & Brian Link, David Albright, Nancy Detra, Shaun Murphy, Per Smith

PRESENT via Zoom: Betty Frye, Barry Aleshnick,  Richard Davis,  Alesheia Reid, Christina Belogour, Linda Hecker, Brian King, Lesley Malouin, Anna Klein, Cynthia Clark, Debra Gendreau, Don McLean, Helen Schepartz, Jason Herron, Jody Hauser,  John Lawrence, Julie Beet, Kitsie LaRrock,  Leah Gessner, Linda Hecker, Margie Serkin, Sheila Adams, Tammy Sargent, Luke Strosneider,  Julie Hamilton, 6172663450, Joshua Farr, Eric Jones, Connie Burton, James Haine, Kyle Parker, Lisa Novak

Draft Minutes

  1. Call to Order (ESTIMATED Time) 6:30 pm
  1. Rules of Procedure (2 minutes)
  1. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
    1. Richard Davis, Health Officer: Air Quality
      The Has a fact sheet about air quality to make available
    2. Leah Gessner, Guilford Cares
      Announces a Senior Walk on Abija Prince Road June 13, other events planned
    3. Jeannette Tokarz, Planning Commission chair: Meeting in collaboration with the Conservation Commission 6:00 Thursday June 15 at BBCC. Conservation will have its regular meeting at 5:30, then at 6:00 Presentation by Strategic Planning consultants Dubois & King centering on the new Natural Resources Inventory. The public is invited to this event for learning, collaboration, and brainstorming. 
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes; Action: Motion)
    1. Guilford Listers: Zon Moved to add agenda item to Other Business, Michael seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
  1. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes; Action: Motion)
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of 05.22.23
      Verandah moved to approve the Minutes of the 5.22.23 Meeting and Rusty seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. Minutes were approved.
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway (5 minutes)
      Danny: Working on Grading, ditching, Repaired a culvert on Weatherhead Hollow Road centerlines
    2. Dan Ingold, EMD  (10 minutes) (ACTION Motion)
      Generator quotes have skyrocketed. Dan is in communication w/ GMP for Resiliency Grant
      1. Generator quotes, $52,000 was set aside; prices have skyrocketed. Dan is working with Green Mountain Power for Resiliency Grants. Creating a micro-grid of Town Office, School, Town Garage for generator efficiency.
        Asks for approval to apply for Department of Energy Rural Community Grant. Fully funded, no shared costs. Due July 15.
        Zon Moved to begin the Pre application for Energy Improvement in Rural Remote Areas Dept of Energy  grant, Michael seconded. Vote was by Voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 
    3. Satellite cell phone contract renewal: We started contract in 2018, yearly plan $75/month includes rollover minutes. This is the lowest cost best program.  Recommends continuing. Will bring to next SB meeting
    4. Lisa Barry: Townwide Reappraisal  (10 minutes)
      Zon: CLA (Common Level of Appraisal) is used to compute taxes. If average home prices in town drop below 85% of average market value it triggers townwide state-mandated reappraisal. Assessment changes don’t necessarily mean an increase to your taxes. Tax rate goes down. Lisa: Everyone should have received their notice of reappraisal. Statistical Reappraisal could be accomplished quickly. Full reappraisal was done in 2017. If you have questions, Reach out to Lisa. Informal Grievances, dates Wed. 6.14; Sat, 6.17 Mon, 6.19 possibly  next Wed, 6.21. Everyone will get a chance to grieve the valuations. Formal Grievances Thursday 6.22 require written request via mail or email to listers@guilfordvt.gov Lisa: Listers value based on market rates. Municipal tax rate will be set in mid-July. Grievances should be based on valuation of your home, errors. 
        1. Old Business
          1. Potash Drive (15 minutes) (ACTION Motion)
            Zon: Two issues here – Potash Road is entirely within a single property. Belogours have requested the discontinuation process started in 2018  be completed. Selectboard needs to follow the steps. Second issue is the driveway permit. Guilford wants to be careful about judgment on that. Selectboard can make a motion to start the process now.
            Zon Moved to open the discontinuation process. Michael seconded.
            Zon: The driveway is a separate issue. Guilford’s interest is in whether we can supply the permit. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. Tara abstained. Motion carried. 
          2. Selectboard Goals Subcommittee (5 minutes) (DISCUSSION, ACTION Motion)
            Verandah: Change in emphasis, new introduction. Tara: New goals Verandah: We will tighten this documant  up and post it online.
          3. Verandah Moved to accept the Goals framework. Zon seconded. Jason Herron: Hopes to see the Capital Improvement Plan. Supposed to be approved every 5 years. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.  
          4. Parking at Green River Bridge Inn (5 minutes) (DISCUSSION, possible ACTION)
            Rusty: Subcommittee’s recommendation is to do nothing, hew to state & town parking regulations. Danny has  observed the situation, says it’s being handled appropriately, with plenty of room. Parking should consider space for  emergency vehicles.
            Zon moved to accept Subcommittee’s recommendation. Verandah seconded
            Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. 
          5. Repair Ditching – 4 Segments  RFP, approve preferred vendor (5 minutes) (ACTION: Motion) Danny recommends MT3,
            Zon moved to accept MT3’s bid for $59,890. Michael seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. 
          6. Conflict of Interest clarification (5 minutes)
            A citizen requested Conflict of Interest forms from all Public Officers. Zon: Only Selectboard members sign the forms. Tammy: Should we update our policy to include all the commissions, etc.? Zon: We’ll follow up with VLCT.  Verandah: A number of Commissions have vacancies. 
          7. Town Attorney relationship clarification (5 minutes) (ACTION: Motion)
            Zon: We have a relationship with an attorney. Our attorney specializes in Municipal law. We have an engagement letter for this firm. Authorized people are Selectboard Chair and Town Administrator. It’s been alleged that SB needs to call an open meeting before contacting the Town’s attorneys. That is not the case. They act in the best interest of the Town. We are in line with statute.  
            Tara suggests people on committees/Commissions sign the conflict of interest  forms. 
            Jason Herron: Everyone has to go through the sb to call lawyer. 
                  1. New Business
                    1. Liquor License for Hardy Foard  (5 minutes)  (ACTION: Motion)
                      Erika: This is a one-time permit for an event. Zon moved and  Tara seconded to approve the Permit. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
                    2. Neighborhood Roots ARPA request  (5 minutes)  (ACTION: Motion)
                      Zon: Request for ARPA funding from Neighborhood Roots. We need to appoint subcommittee, Zon volunteers to serve, Michael volunteers.
                      Zon moved to appoint Zon and Michael as subcommittee to consider the ARPA Request from Neighborhood Roots.  Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
                    3. Animal Control Contracts  (5 minutes)  (ACTION: Motion)
                      Animal Control Officer from Windham County Sherrif: $5149.95 annually.
                      Rusty moved to accept the contract Verandah seconded Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
                    4. Windham County Humane Society: Holding animals $695 annually.
                      Rusty moved to accept the contract, Tara seconded. Vote was by voice. Four were in favor. None were opposed. Michael abstained. Motion carried.
                        1. Finance  (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
                          • Warrants      
                        Payroll – WE 05.28.23$7,132.26
                        Payroll – WE 06.04.23$7,133.76
                        Payroll – WE 06.11.23$7,472.59
                        Expense Warrant #2323$102,002.35
                        Expense Warrant #2323V$1,058.60
                        Expense Warrant #2323M$3,974.39
                        TOTAL$128,773.95

                        Tara moved to pay the warrants,   Zon seconded.  Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

                        1. Other Business :  (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
                          Lister consideration: The Town has 3 spots for Listers, and have had one vacancy for a while. Shaun Murphy has resigned. SB needs to appoint a new Lister for the June 22 hearings V: Post Job description. Need to have a special meeting. 
                          Zon moved to accept Shaun’s resignation, Michael seconded. Verandah: Thanks Shaun for years of service. Jason Herron: Not inappropriate for Shaun to resign now. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
                        1. Communications (5 minutes) NONE
                          Zon: Wants to clarify what this part of the Agenda is about. Communication refers to messages sent to the Selectboard.
                        1. Actions from Previous Meeting
                          1. Approved minutes
                          2. Named Tara and Verandah as SB Goals subcommittee 
                          3. Named both Reformer and Commons as Newspaper of Record
                          4. Approved part-time Highway Crew
                          5. Named Michael and Rusty to subcommittee on Green River Inn parking
                          6. Bazin Paving approved for Weatherhead Hollow paving job
                          7. Tabled Ditching Repair Bid
                          8. Approved Warrants

                        2. Action Taken
                          1. Added Item to Agenda
                          2. Approved Minutes
                          3. Approved Generator grant proposal
                          4. Approved reopening Discontinuance of Potash
                          5. Adopted Goals framework
                          6. Took recommendation of Green River Bridge Inn parking
                          7. Approved MT3 for Ditching Work
                          8. Approved Liquor License for Hardy Foard
                          9. Named Subcommittee for ARPA grant for Neighborhood Roots
                          10. Animal Control Contracts
                          11. Approved Warrants
                          12. Accepted Shaun Murphy’s Resignation as Lister

                        3. Actions to be Taken
                          1. Hear from EMD about satellite phone renewal
                          2. Hear from Subcommittee on ARPA funds for Neighborhood Roots
                          3. Continue to refine the Goals, moving forward with Capital Budget
                          4. Look at Conflict of interest Policy

                        4. Adjournment
                          1. Rusty Moved to adjourn,  Verandah seconded
                          2. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.

                        Adjourned at 8:47

                        Next Selectboard Meeting is 6.26.23

                        Meeting video: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-61223