OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
Town of Halifax, Vermont
SELECTBOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
July 25, 2015
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. Selectboard members Lewis Sumner, Edee Edwards, and Doug Grob were present, as were Joe Tamburrino and Robbin Gabriel.
Changes and Additions to Agenda
None.
New Business
Sign Road Reclassification Documents
As the Selectboard prepared to sign written decisions on the reclassification of Sumner Farm and Weir Roads, Edee Edwards voiced concerns that the mileages in the document might not be accurate. We did not measure those distances, she said, and while corrections have been made changing the numbers shown from tenths to hundredths of a mile, they may still be incorrect. The most recent AOT mileage map lists Sumner Farm Road as six-hundredths of a mile and Weir Road as four-hundredths of a mile in length. Edwards said the town should take actual measurements and wondered by what process the legal documents could be changed should those measurements be different from the recorded mileage. It could be a problem, she said, and advised the town attorney should be consulted on the subject. On Weir Road, we are not changing what we had before, said Lewis Sumner. I think the numbers are fairly accurate, but if needed we could make changes when we file our mileage certificate with AOT in February.
The Board had subsequent discussion about whether Edwards needed to sign the documents. Attorney Fisher had advised that signatures of a majority of the Board would suffice. Doug Grob advocated taking a vote in open meeting, while Edwards felt the absence of her signature would indicate that she was not in favor of the decisions. Sumner said he had always signed, even if he was opposed, because the majority rules. I respect the decision of the Board, replied Edwards, while I maintain my own perspective. She requested that reclassification be a topic on the August 4th agenda under old business, to give her an opportunity to explain why she disagreed with the majority opinion. Edwards chose not to sign the documents, and Joe Tamburrino took issue with her stance, saying it was her duty to sign. Not legally, responded Edwards. The signed documents were submitted to the Town Clerk for recording.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary