OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD

TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

APRIL 2, 2024

6:00 PM AT THE HALIFAX TOWN OFFICE

CALL TO ORDER

Edee Edwards called meeting to order at 6:00pm on April 2, 2024. Selectboard members present Rhonda Ashcraft, Edee Edwards, Karen Christofferson, and Patrick McAllister. Residents present or remote included: Stephanie Pike, Randy Pike, Linda Huebner, Stephan Chait, Kyle Farnsworth, Melanie Crosby, Bob Leete and Alison Crossley.

CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

• Add to other business: Update Trustee of Public Fund
• Add to Old Business: Update of ARPA grant recipient requirements

APPROVAL PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

March 19, 2024 Selectboard Meeting Minutes

• Patrick made a motion to approve minutes for March 19, 2024 with no changes. Rhonda Ashcraft seconded. Passed 4-0.

OLD BUSINESS

• Highway Grants paperwork, DUE 4/15
  • Town contact sheet, naming the Road Commissioner and other officials
  • Town Road & Bridge Standards
  • Certificate of Compliance
  • Completed: TA60 Annual Town Financial Plan & FY25 TH Grant applications
  • Discussion was had regarding highway grants paperwork, selectboard signed paperwork.
  • No action was taken.
• FEMA aid reporting
  • Discussion was had regard FEMA project management for future events.
  • Action Item: Edee Edwards will ask WRC regarding FEMA resource support for towns
  • Action Item: Karen will contact Christina Moore regarding FEMA documentation after potential event and possibility of work being done by her.
  • Action Item: Place on next meeting agenda
• Greenhouse gas reduction grant-closure on a focal point project
  • Discussion was had regarding grant status.
  • No action taken.
• Public records request (previously labeled FOIA)
  • Discussion was hard regarding FOIA – request has been completed.
  • Read into record the public records request from Bob Teree – Dated March 14, 2024
  • Public Records Document
• Update of ARPA grant recipient requirements
  • Discussion was had regarding ARPA allocation and recipient requirements.
  • Action Item: Recipients need to send invoice for allocated amount and receipt of funds, provide information of use of funds (town report) and date of completion.
  • Action Item: Upcoming agenda item – discussion of ARPA spending for highway spending
  • Halifax Constable & Animal Control Officer (Define roles & responsibilities)
  • Discussion was had regarding roles and responsibilities for Halifax Constable & Animal Control Officer
  • Action Item: Kyle Farnsworth will reach out to Windham County Humane Society.
  • Action Item: Edee Edwards to notify community group developing dog ordinance and health officer
  • Kyle Farnsworth contact for calling: 802-380-4535

NEW BUSINESS

• Solar eclipse planning (April 8) including highway time off request
  • Discussion was had regarding solar eclipse planning
  • Community Center and Halifax School is hosting events on Monday
  • No action taken.
• Continuation of Finance Committee (note: not on appointments list)
  • Discussion was had regarding Finance Committee continuation.
  • Action Item: Finance committee will discuss question of continuation regarding foundational documents and report back to selectboard.
• 2024-2025 Board Priorities
  • Discussion was had regarding board priorities over the next year.
  • Potential ideas for quarterly focus time:
    • Systems issues – Website redesign, financial accounting system
    • Policy Updates
    • Town Garage roof – MERP grant outstanding, Energy model
      • Mini MERP – Tristan to give updates
    • Coordinate incident response training with major stakeholders
    • Long term road term maintenance & plan
      • Inventory for paved, bridges, guardrails
    • Shared services with Windham Regional Commissioner
    • HR Policy & Procedures
    • Gravel feasibility study (Place on next meeting agenda item)
    • Park with a Pavilion
    • PFAS monitoring w/ WRC
      • State approval for one testing per year
    • Action Item: Patrick will update list for next meeting agenda.
  • Bonding or other loans for large equipment purchases
    • Discussion was had regarding large equipment purchases, grader & loader.
    • Action Item: ?
  • Recap Selectboard Essentials VLCT training
    • Discussion was had regarding VLCT training that Edee Edwards taken.
    • Action Item: Kyle Farnsworth needs to get access to VLCT website by signing up himself.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Next Regular Selectboard meeting day and time
  • Discussion was had regarding changing potential time and day.
  • Action Item: Patrick McAllister to reach out to Tristan Roberts to discuss.
• Update Trustee of Public Fund
  • Discussion was had regarding Trustee of Public Fund issue and will send a letter once it has been resolved.

HEARING OF VISITORS

• Randy Pike & Stephanie Pike came to volunteer interested
• Melanie Crosby – Brought complaint to selectboard regarding time of plowing at the Halifax school.
  • Action Item: Rhonda Ashcraft to discuss with Mike Fournier
• Bob Leete – Road closure complaint
  • Action Item: Road Commissioners to understand what “road closure” definition mean and report back.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

• Halifax Constable & Animal Control Officer got moved to Old Business

SELECTBOARD ORDER

• Also, Highway order—Gravel costs
  • Discussion was had regarding gravel costs being overcharged.
  • Selectboard Order – TOTAL: $21,259.85
  • Highway Order – Read into the record

CORRESPONDENCE

• DVFiber resolution to appoint representative to the governing board of Deerfield valley communications union district.
• Overweight permits – read into the record.
• Landowner appreciation dinner: Jacksonville Easy Riders April 27, 2024 at 5:30PM
• Opioid Settlement documentation for Tristan Roberts
• NEMRC reappraisal copy

ADJOURNMENT

Patrick McAllister moved to adjourned at 8:40pm. Rhonda Ashcraft seconded. Passed 4-0.

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