OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES- DRAFT
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
6:00 PM AT THE HALIFAX TOWN OFFICE
CALL TO ORDER
Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. This meeting is remote-hybrid. Other Selectboard members present were Karen Christofferson, Rhonda Ashcraft, Tristan Roberts and Randy Pike with Secretary Assistant Emily Dow. Members of the public present were Stephan Chait, David Jones, Nancy McCrea, Mary Brewster and Karin Larkin.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes- Oldest first
- Old Business: Hatch School Road Update
- Old Business: MERP Update
NEW BUSINESS
Excavator Financing
Christofferson Received a summary from CASE Beauregard – tax exempt finance
Showing pricing for 5, 6 and 7 years.
Annual in Advance
Option A: 5 years, $51,749- Cheapest option
Option B: 6 years, $44,375.09
Option C: 7 years, $39,127.03
Annual in Arrears: Preferred option with a total of $40,686
- Previously paid this way
Option D: 5 years, $54,978.45
Option E: 6 years, $47,144.10
Option F: 7 years, $41,568.55
Financed amount: $230,085
Selling price: $255,200 less $30k trade-in plus 7 year Premier Warranty of $4,885
Interest rate for the Excavator is 6.24%
Monthly Financing 8%- there was no monthly option and only Annual in Advance or Annual in Arrears.
M&T responded back to Patty Dow in E-Mail saying $230,085 to finance. Provided interest rates for 5, 6 and 7 years that was 5.064%. Did not send information about the annual cost for both options.
DVFiber Needs at the Town Garage
OTHER BUSINESS
RFP for Recycling Services
- 7 towns are up for recycling renewal services
- Haul charge as Halifax is further
- Look for selectboard vote on what towns would like to commit
- Halifax currently rents 2 20 yard combined recycling containers that are replaced when full.
The Town of Halifax is interested in participating in the joint RFP with WSWMD
Ashcraft seconded the motion
Motion carries 4-0
Winter Sand Extra Needs
Fournier brought to the attention at the last meeting at the last hearing of visitors – sand is running low. Christofferson and Pike toured the sand pile with Fournier and confirmed it’s low. Gravel pile is in good shape. Take some GMP cash to replace some sand.
Roughly $28 a yard. $144,606 received from GMP. $60k left in this year’s gravel budget.
Pike made a motion to authorize Fournier to spend up to $20k on Winter Sand
Ashcraft seconded
Motion Carries 4-0
Town Meeting Day Preparation: Informational Meeting
Town Meeting report is ready at Minuteman
Regular Selectboard Meeting 6pm March 4th, Halifax Multipurpose Room- Signing orders and additional items.
Warning letter will be posted
MERP Grant for town garage weatherization projects- couple years to spend
Windham Regional is looking to help the Town of Halifax to weatherize the Town Garage doors. Grant amount $28,644
HEARING OF VISITORS
No visitors wished to speak.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
January 7, 2025 Selectboard Regular Meeting Minutes- DRAFT
Edee made a motion to accept the January 7, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended
Pike seconded the motion
Motion carries 4-0
January 10, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes– DRAFT
Pike made a motion to accept the January 10, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended
Ashcraft seconded the motion
Motion carries 4-0
January 15, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes-DRAFT
Edwards made a motion to accept the January 15, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended
Ashcraft seconded the motion
Motion carries 3-0-1 abstention
January 28, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes-DRAFT
Ashcraft made a motion to accept the January 28, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended
Pike seconded the motion
Motion carries 4-0
February 3, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes-DRAFT
Edwards made a motion to accept the February 3, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended
Ashcraft seconded the motion
Motion carries 4-0
OTHER BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
- Visiting Nurse and Hospice– Resending requests for use. Cannot service Halifax.
- Received Courtesy and Informational letter regarding Fundraiser for the Franklin Land Trust who are hosting the Annual Self-Guided Recreational Bike Ride on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Part of the route travels through Halifax while 75% of the route follows dirt roads with low volume traffic.
- Road Commissioner to research on Halifax Website for any planned obstructions on Halifax Roads
- Alert Fire Department of any bike groups that may be traveling through that might impact road work- This includes paving projects and the Hatch School Road project.
- Overweight Permit
- Lynde Well Drilling Permit is for 3 Trucks. They have a Certificate of Liability Insurance and sent the $10 fee in check form to the Board.
- Processing Overweight Permits- Make a copy and contact those who submitted permits.
- The Fee is an informative way to ensure that Overweight Vehicles will be traveling and damage to town roads caused by overweight use can file a claim with their liability insurance.
- 6500 Truck is soon to be completed.
- John Deere Loader has been delivered
- Future Agenda Items:
- Moore Brother’s Paint- Fournier sent a town Truck to Brattleboro Auto Body shop and received an estimate but needed to inform Pike of the amount.
- Governor proposed “SPARC Program” Strategic Projects for Advancing Rural Communities- Ways to assist in obtaining funding sources such as Water System or Sewage System.
- Start looking at Appointment Information in Town Meeting Report: Look at terms expiring
SELECTBOARD ORDER
The Selectboard orders were signed and Pike read the aggregate amount for orders, which also includes the Town Report cost of $3,259.96 on February 18, 2025 for an order total of $11,590.21.
ADJOURNMENT
Ashcraft made a motion to adjourn at 9:30pm
Christofferson seconded the motion
Motion passed 4-0
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Dow
Halifax Administrative Assistant
Recording Link: