Selectboard Minutes, 07.10.2023

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

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Selectboard: Zon Eastes, chair, Verandah Porche, Michael Becker, Rusty Marine

STAFF/OFFICIALS PRESENT: Erika Elder (Town Administrator), Dan Ingold (Emergency Management Director), Kyle Parker (Chair, Cemetery Commission)

PRESENT IN PERSON: Christina Belogour, Chris Parker, Marty Ramsburg, Mark and Sheryl Ewen, Peter Noble

PRESENT via ZOOM: Deborah Albright, Barry Aleshnick, Jen McDuffie, Linda Hay. Rick Zamore, Anna Klein, Connie Burton, Deborah McNeil, Sheila Adams, Sheila Morse, Toni Girardi Dutil, Steve Lembke, Don McLean, Steve Petersen, Cynthia Clark,  Ben James, Eric Morse, Paul Belogour

Minutes

  1. Call to Order (ESTIMATED Time) 6:31 pm
  1. Rules of Procedure (2 minutes)
  1. Welcoming of Public     Community Comment Period (10 minutes)
    Dan Ingold, Guilford is in good shape re: flooding while much of VT is under state of Emergency. Call 2-1-1 for information if needed. Dan is working with GMP Resiliency Zone grant application. 
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (2 minutes)
  1. Approval of Minutes (2 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
    1. Minutes of the special meeting of 06.21.23
      Verandah moved to approve the Minutes of the special meeting of 06.21.23, Rusty seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. 
    2. Minutes of the regular meeting of 06.26.23
      Rusty moved to approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of 06.26.23, Michael seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. 
  1. Updates & Reports
    1. Highway (5 minutes) Erika: Highway crew continues cleanup from heavy rains. Lots of culverts need clearing, some driveway washouts, no major damage. Guardrail on Guilford Center Road across from Windsor Drive will be fixed when high water recedes.
    2. Cemetery Commission (10 minutes)
      Kyle Parker, Cemetery Commission chair: Everyone on the Commission is a volunteer. Commission meets third Thursday every month. Meeting activities include clean-up; they are still cleaning downed limbs from the March storm. New pamphlet, available at Town Office  and online at https://guilfordvt.gov/boards-and-commissions/cemetery-commission. Flags for Veterans; working on getting flag holders. Thanks to Wayside Fencing for fixing posts at Maplehurst Cemetery. New signs made for 10 cemeteries. Contact the Cemetery Commission with stories relevant to their work. Abigail Chase (c. pre-1770) gravestone moved in Carpenter Cemetery, restored & relocated in time for the Guilford Historical Society’s tour of the Governor’s Mansion Tour. Collaboration continues with Christ Church Cemetery in Algiers.  Kyle was praised for his commitment and creativity. Zon: Cemetery Commission is elected vs. other Commissions appointed.
  1. Old Business
    1. Conflict of Interest Policy Language Motion Resolution (2 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
      Zon: This motion was on the table and seconded. Selectboard should reintroduce Motion: Vote was by voice. None were in favor. All were opposed. None abstained. Motion defeated. 
    2. Ewen Driveway Permit (7 minutes; DISCUSSION and potential ACTION: Motion)
      Zon: Last meeting we entertained Driveway Permit with stipulation. Today, we will consider approving or denying. Ewens have other potential access from Sweet Pond Road. Michael: I think it should be approved with stipulations Verandah: We can’t compel the two parties to make an agreement. Wants to do the ethical thing
      Zon moved to approve the permit with stipulations, Michael seconded.
      Toni Dutil on the Belogour’s behalf: Town should deny the permit. The Ewens’ predecessor gave away rights in the road (deed in book 37, p. 277). The Town has already voted to discontinue. The proposed driveway placement is arbitrary and unnecessary; Mr. Ewen has ample Sweet Pond Road access. Property issue is not for the Board to resolve. Belogours have been maintaining since 2018. If the permit is granted, we will appeal in Superior Court.
      Vote was by voice. Michael in favor. Zon, Verandah, and Rusty were opposed. No abstentions. Motion defeated.
  1. New Business
    1. Broad Brook Community Center proposal for use of ARPA dollars. Appoint subcommittee. (7 minutes; DISCUSSION and ACTION: Motion)
      Michael and Zon volunteered for the subcommittee. Zon moved to appoint Michael and Zon as subcommittee, Rusty seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. 
  1.  Finance  (5 minutes; ACTION: Motion)
    1. Warrants      
Payroll – WE 07.02.23$8,301.61
Payroll – WE 07.09.23$7,806.99
Payroll Check Warrant #2352A$46.30
Expense Warrant #2401$34,671.67
Expense Warrant #2401V$1,653.25
TOTAL$52,479.82


Verandah moved to pay the warrants, Zon seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried.    

  1. Other Business NONE
  1. Correspondence NONE
  1. Actions from Previous Meeting
    1. Approved Minutes
    2. Tabled Ewen driveway permit request
    3. Approved satellite phone contract
    4. Corrected the minutes of 9.4.18
    5. Approved resolution re: authority to contact Town’s attorney
    6. Formed subcommittee on new staff 90-day reviews
    7. Approved warrants
    8. Approved budgeted pay increases
  1. Action Taken
    1. Approved minutes of the special meeting of 06.21.23
    2. Approved minutes of the regular meeting of 06.26.23
    3. Resolved Motion to name subcommittee. 
    4. Denied Ewen Driveway Permit
    5. Subcommittee appointed for BBCC ARPA request
  1. Actions to be Taken
  1. Adjournment
    Rusty moved and Michael seconded to adjourn the meeting. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. None were opposed. No one abstained. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

Next Selectboard Meeting 7.24.23 6:30 pm.

Meeting video: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-sb-mtg-71023