This meeting was held in the open bays and yard at the Halifax Town Garage.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Selectboard members Lewis Sumner, Mitchell Green, and Bradley Rafus were present. The sign-in sheets listed the following attendees: Alice Aldrich,  Tristan Roberts, Jennifer Preston, Arthur Ferland, John Waters, Marilyn Allen, Sue Kelly, Susan Neustadt, Carl Barmen, Vicki Stone, Richard Gay, Keith Stone, Marilou Parkhurst, Douglas Parkhurst, Kaitlin Stone, Kathy Ashcroft, Jason Ashcroft, Eric Hull, Rhonda Ashcraft, Scott Ashcraft, Lesley Pollitt, Kris Boyko, Kathy McLean, Travis Stone, Linda Lyon, Greg Marguet, Paul Taylor, Robert Teree, Colleen Bachman, Adee Teree, Norman Fajans, Janet Taylor, Penfield Chester, Janice Bliss, Chris Parkins, Robert Leete, Cara Cheyette, Francesca Carasi-Swartz, Paula Schwartz, Fabio Girelli-Carasi, Mae Salinsky, Silverberg (two signatures, last name only). One signature was indecipherable. Robbin Gabriel was also present.

Changes and/or Additions to Agenda

An update on the security camera system was added, and the Board has received the FY21 Windham County Humane Society.

New Business

As the Selectboard prepared to open fuel bids Marilou Parkhurst interrupted to state that there were well over 25 people in attendance, and therefore the meeting was illegal and should be adjourned immediately and conducted by teleconference. Lewis Sumner responded that in three days gatherings of 75 would be allowed. Several others joined Parkhurst in voicing versions of the same complaint simultaneously. Mitch Green made a motion to adjourn the meeting until Friday (June 26^th) at 7:00 p.m. Brad Rafus seconded the motion. Parkhurst asked if that meeting would be by phone conference, and when the Board said it would be held at this same Town Garage location further disruption ensued. Hans Hammarquist could be heard urging a remote meeting, while Alice Aldrich pointed out that those who did not wish to be at the current meeting should not have come. The audience quieted to allow Linda Lyon to speak; she said there were people in quarantine, and others with medical conditions, who should not have to choose between participating in town government and their health. Mitch Green said teleconferencing did not work well, as people talked over each other, and it was difficult to hear. Bob Teree stated the Board was required to provide a phone-in option, even if a physical meeting were held. Meanwhile, Board members agreed they needed to at least open the fuel bids before adjourning, as there was a deadline associated with those proposals. While it was virtually impossible to hear the Board over the noise of multiple people arguing, there was a vote on the above motion. The vote was 3-0. (Note: Despite the poor audio, it seemed clear it was the Board’s intention to award fuel bids prior to adjournment. They proceeded to do so.)

Open Fuel Bids
Two bids were received for heating oil and diesel fuel, as follows:

Heating Oil
Barrows and Fisher Oil, Brattleboro, Vermont:  2,000 gallons heating oil delivered to the Town Garage on an automatic 10-day delivery cycle. Two payment options: 1) Prepaid by July 1, 2020, $3,000, or $1.50 fixed price per gallon. 2) Invoiced at net 30 days after each delivery, $1.60/gal.

Guy E. Nido, Wilmington, Vermont: 2,000 gallons heating oil delivered to the Town Garage on an automatic 10-day delivery cycle, fully prepaid by July 10, 2020, $1.66/gal.

Summer and Winter Diesel
Barrows and Fisher Oil, Brattleboro, Vermont:  8,750 gallons of summer diesel fuel, delivered July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020, and April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021; $0.25/gal over Gulf Albany rack price. 8,750 gallons of winter diesel fuel (60/40 blend), delivered November 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 on a 10-day automatic delivery cycle, $0.35/gal over Gulf Albany rack price.

Guy E. Nido, Wilmington, Vermont:  8,750 gallons of summer diesel fuel , delivered July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020, and April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021, $1.69/gal. flat rate. 8,750 gallons of winter diesel fuel, delivered November 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 on a 10-day automatic delivery cycle, $1.91/gal. flat rate.

Green made a motion to award the heating oil bid to Barrows and Fisher, Option 1, $1.50/gal. Sumner seconded  the motion, which passed, 3-0.

Green made a motion to award the diesel fuel bid to Guy Nido, $1.69/gal flat rate for summer fuel and $1.91/gal. flat rate for winter fuel. Rafus seconded the motion, which passed, 3-0.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary