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
    • The focal point project was boiler improvements in the school.
  • Public records request (previously labeled FOIA)
    • Discussion was had 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: McAllister to talk to Silverberg to ask if he’d contacted the bonding attorneys.
    • 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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