Selectboard Minutes, 06.26.2023

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING
Monday, June 26, 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) Dan Ingold (EMD)

PRESENT in person: Peter Kelliher (BCTV), Rep. Sara Coffey, Christina Belogour, Sheila Morse, Mark & Sheryl Ewen, Sheila Morse, Connie Burton, Sara Coffey, Kyle Parker, Marty Ramsburg, Frank Larkin, Delores Clark, Melissa & Bruce LaBounty

PRESENT via Zoom: Don McLean, Cynthia Clark, Paul Belogour, Tammy Sargent, Shaun Murphy, Margie Serkin, Pat Haine, Eric Morse, Deborah Macneil, Anne RIder, Jason Herron, Lori Robillard, Kate, Nancy Detra, Kate Singer, Eric Jones

Minutes

  1. Call to Order (6:31 p.m.)
  1. Rules of Procedure (2 minutes)
  1. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
    1. Erika: Broad Brook Trash – a resident of 899 Broad Brook Road let us know that a large amount of trash has been dumped off the road near their home.
    2. Verandah: Smokey Fuller, carpenter, has passed away; buried on Belden Hill on family land.
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes)
  1. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of 06.12.23
    2. Verandah Moved to approve the Minutes, Rusty seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway (2 minutes)
    2. Rep. Sara Coffey (10 minutes)
      This year the State Legislature passed a balanced budget. See Sara’s End of session report on her website (https://www.saracoffeyvt.com/blog/). $22 million set aside to cover taxes next year. Universal school meals have been transformative to Guilford School. H165 made this permanent. Vermont SAVES is new legislation to help Vermonters save for retirement. FY24 legislation will increase (stabilize) Emergency Management funding. Sara is now chair of the Transportation Committee. Wants people to know about electric vehicle incentive programs driveelectricvt.com has an eligibility calculator. VTRANS is required to work with regional planning commissions on Complete Streets Initiative. GoVermont app for carpooling/ride sharing. (speed) initiatives. Tbill (Transportation Bill) includes Rail Trail initiative, working with regional Planning Commissions
    3. Nancy Detra: Energy Committee Update – a postcard is coming, or has arrived to everyone in Guilford funded by MERP grant. Postcard is about Events for energy issues (Solar, Weatherization). Workshops include pizza!
  1. Old Business
    1. Conflict of Interest Policy Language (5 minutes; DISCUSSION)
      Zon: Understands community wants all commission & committee members to sign these. Tara: feels everyone should sign the form/survey. would like codified Procedures to clarify.  Zon: We need to seek legal advice. Verandah: A clear definition of conflict would be useful. Signing a form may not help perception. Zon: What might the legal issues be on requiring all these volunteers sign/disclose? Tara: might be satisfactory to sign the policy but not the survey. Michael: worries it might create a barrier to community participation. Zon: Everyone that volunteers for the town is expected to adhere to the policy, signing may not add protection.
      Tara Moved to appoint subcommittee to look into revising policy, Verandah seconded
      Tara Moved to revise the motion to do research, and report back.
    2. Ewen Driveway Permit (2 minutes; DISCUSSION and potential ACTION: Motion)
      Zon: Town has completed the Permit request; no reason not to approve the permit with stipulation. This needs to be an issue for property owners.
      Zon Moved to approve the Driveway Permit as written, Michael seconded.
      Eric Morse: The Permit should not be approved with the discontinuance pending. Mark Ewen: You are delaying us. Zon: It’s not in the Town’s interest to destroy private property. Eric: Surveyed this Road. Normally when a Road is discontinued, it goes to the abutting landowners. Potash was discontinued in the 1930s. Borkowskis gave up rights so the road was all on one property. Property line is in the middle of the stone wall. Zon: the road is a public road. Eric: 3-rod rule only applies to boundaries that aren’t clear. Ewens don’t require this permit for access to Sweet Pond Road.
      Zon Moved to amend motion to Table the decision on the Permit, Rusty seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion tabled.
    3. Potash Rd discontinuance process, schedule (5 minutes; DISCUSSION)
      Zon: Process steps: Letter of petition, notice given, site visit & public hearing, decision within 60 days. Administrative follow-up. This will take up to 6 months.
    4. Herron v. Selectboard, latest actions update (2 minutes; DISCUSSION)
      Suit has now been served. The suit appeals the decision on previous actions. This has cost Guilford approximately $4000.
    5. EMD about satellite phone renewal (2 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
      4 satellite phones in town. Annual renewal of provider contract. 240 minutes of rollover. Phones are only used in emergencies.
      Verandah Moved to approve the Contract for Satellite Phones, Michael seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. 
  1. New Business
    1. Correct Minutes of 9.4.18 meeting – date on Header (2 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
      The heading of the 9.4.18 Selectboard Minutes date read 2017. Verandah Moved to Correct Minutes of 9.4.18 meeting, Rusty seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried.
    2. Authority for chair and Town Administrator to contact Town’s attorney (2 minutes; DISCUSSION and potential ACTION: Motion)
      Zon: Resolution authorizes SB chair and Town Admin, or designees to engage MSD
      Zon Moved to Adopt the Resolution, Verandah seconded
      Jason: 1 vsa 312g – no money can be encumbered. Selectboard is trying to bypass
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. Tara abstained. Motion carried.
    3. New staff, 90-day review (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
      Zon Moved Create Subcommittee of Zon & Rusty to review new Town employees, V seconded
      Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried
  1.  Finance  (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
    • Warrants      
Payroll – WE 06.18.23$7,835.06
Payroll – WE 06.25.23$11,804.86
Expense Warrant #2324$247,537.98
Expense Warrant #2324F$52.50
TOTAL$267,230.40

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

  1. Other Business None.
  1. Correspondence (5 minutes) None
  1. Executive Session: pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(1)(B), to discuss labor relations agreements with employees. (10 minutes) (ACTION: Motion)
    Zon moved pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(1)(B) that the Selectboard move into Executive Session, Rusty seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried
    Zon moved pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(1)(B) that the sb move into executive session, Rusty seconded.

Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried, Selectboard entered Executive session 8:21p.m.

  1. Zon moved  pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(1)(B) that the Selectboard  leave executive session at 8:40. Rusty seconded.
    Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried

Rusty moved to approve the Town employee raises in accordance with town’s budget. Michael seconded. 

Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried

  1. Actions from Previous Meeting
    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
  1. Action Taken
    1. Approved minutes
    2. Tabled Ewen permit
    3. Approved satellite phone contract
    4. Corrected the minutes of 9.4.18
    5. Approved resolution re attorney
    6. Formed subcommittee 90 day
    7. warrants
    8. approved pay increases
  2. Actions to be Taken
    1. Tara will look into Conflict of interest
  3. Adjournment
  4. Rusty moved to adjourn,  Tara seconded

Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried, Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Next Meeting is 07.09.23 at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYPpb38f4oE