OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
June 3, 2025
6:00 PM AT THE HALIFAX TOWN OFFICE
CALL TO ORDER
Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. Other Selectboard members present were Karen Christofferson, Rhonda Ashcraft, Randy Pike and Lori Marchegiani. Members of the public present were Stephan Chait, Nancy McCrea, Mike Fournier, David Jones, Linda Huebner, Sara Barnett, Kaitlin Stone, Mark Halverson, and Emily Dow.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Old Business: Hatch School Road Update- Move ahead to be first in discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
Bid Opening- Recycling, Highway Department, Trash, Organic Waste
The Town of Halifax, along with other Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD) member towns, solicited recycling service bids from multiple vendors, due by May 23, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Stephan Chait noted a conflict of interest as WSWMD initially offered technical expertise but also sent in a bid. Edwards said the town is a member of WSWMD. We use their services and get benefits like solar credits. Their bid will be evaluated independently; we cannot ask them for technical advice at this stage.
- Able Waste Management: Returned to sender, no mail receptacle.
- Monadnock Disposal Services and Naughton & Son Recycling: did not bid and do not service Vermont.
Current service for Halifax:
- Municipal solid waste pickup for the Hwy Dept
- Green Up construction and demolition
- No compostable waste service but, there was interest at town meeting
- Single stream recycling.
Bid Opening:
For more detailed information about each bidder, please refer to the Recycling spreadsheet and the meeting recording on YouTube. Each bid is a unit total for all 3-year service.
- Casella Waste Services, Brattleboro, Vermont
- Municipal Solid Waste- $6,576
- Compost- $125 (per 32 yd cart; serviced weekly)
- Single-Stream- $1,332 (per haul fees, plus $225/ton in first year)
- Cardboard/Paper, and Mixed Containers- No Bid
- Total Bid: $8,033
- Valley Recycling, Northampton, MA
- Municipal Solid Waste- (Only bid on disposal of solid waste) $309 per ton (delivery not included)
- Compost, Single Stream, Cardboard/Paper, Mixed Containers- No Bid
- Total Bid: $309 per ton
- Murphy Road Recycling, Enfield, CT
- Did not submit a formal bid; but accepts Single Stream, Cardboard/Paper, and Mixed Containers.
- Municipal Solid Waste, and compost- No Bid
- Materials must be delivered by the Town to facilities in Hatfield or Agawam, MA
- Price $100/ton
- Total Bid: N/A
- WSWMD, Brattleboro, Vermont
- Compost- $14,931.69 (2-64 gallon carts serviced weekly)
- Cardboard/Paper- $4,687.50 (tipping fee, delivered to WSWMD; assumed 25 tons at $60 in year 1)
- Municipal Solid Waste, Single Stream, and Mixed Containers- No Bid
- Total Bid: $19,619.19
No bid award or decisions were made. The board will discuss this again after reviewing further.
Moving Town of Halifax & Lions Club signs at Brook and Whitneyville Road
Linda Huebner addressed the board about the triangle of land at the Whitneyville Road intersection, which she confirmed as part of her property after purchasing it in October 2002. The existing Town of Halifax and Lions Club signs predate her ownership, placed under a prior arrangement with Wayne Courser in return for maintenance of the sign and mowing. Though the land is private, its signage has led to public interest and use
Huebner and a neighbor now maintain the triangle and created a pollinator garden; she now seeks space for a pollinator sign, and removal of the Lions and Town of Halifax signs.
Future Discussion: Cut through between her house and triangle
- Edwards suggested relocating and re-dedicating the town sign during the upcoming Town Celebration, and forming a subcommittee to find a new location.
- Potential new sites include: Old town garage (town owns both sides of the road), school property, 1 acre parcel past the bell on Branch Road labeled a gravel bank, or another town-owned sites.
- Halverson confirmed the Lions Club will remove their sign and fill the post hole.
- Edwards verified with the 2003 Highway Map and deed that the triangle is Huebner’s property.
- Pike proposed volunteer recruitment and restoration of the sign via outreach and donations.
- Chait suggested separating the project into 2 parts: removal and relocation.
- Edwards noted the sign should be temporarily placed somewhere viewable before the celebration.
- Marchegiani volunteered to take on the project.
Commodity Bids Authorization (Sand, gravel, fuel)
Christofferson seeks authorization to send the bid letters out for gravel, sand, and fuel so they can be returned and opened within 2 weeks by June 18th. She will reference the budget worksheet to observe if there’s any variation in quantity. The board agreed she should proceed.
Health Insurance Advisory (Acrisure) option
Pike noted Acrisure, first discussed November 2024, has now taken over consulting work from Hickok & Boardman for VLCT. VLCT no longer provides its own insurance due to cost but may reinstate that in the future
Acrisure advisory services as listed on the website include among other things:
- Education, communication and meeting support
- Benefit strategy and financial modeling
- Assistance during all enrollment stages
To participate, the town needs to enroll in the program. Costs include $500 annual fee, $15 monthly per employee fee, with a minimum 1-year enrollment totaling $1400 annually.
- Chait noted cost savings often come from reduced benefits.
- Pike said savings can also be achieved by adopting lower-cost plans, HSA’s, and reimbursement strategies.
- Edwards emphasized Acrisure’s VLCT connection may offer insights from other municipalities, helping preserve benefits within the budget.
- Huebner shared a non-profit experience of giving monthly insurance stipends for employees to buy on the health exchange, budgeting toward deductibles, which offered flexibility
- Stone noted employees can still have substantial out-of-pocket expenses even with existing platinum-level insurance.
Future Agenda Item: Move topic to Old Business for a further discussion at the July 1st meeting, following a health insurance webinar on June 24.
- Research other town’s experience with Acrisure.
OLD BUSINESS
End of year budget review- Outflow
Highway department one time payout
Patty Dow provided financial data updated through June 2 to assess the town’s year-end position, assuming no unexpected expenses.
Municipal side:
- Row 17 shows a deficit of $91,734 largely due to:
- Bridge costs (Row 64)
- AS Clark payment for Pike Road offsetting the FEMA grant that’s not yet recorded.
- Grants received: $59k (received from FEMA 90% adjustments of 22,638.43 for Vaughn Rd and $35,825.16 for Pike Road).
Highway Department: Net positive balance to date: $182,000, primarily from GMP reimbursement (for crew time, gravel, equipment use)Anticipated year-end cost: $28,000 (VLCT insurance)Unexpected income: $15,600 from a GMP lease, not yet designated. Christofferson asked if the $15,600 could be given back to the highway department. No action was taken.
Discussion:
- Patty Dow projected $91,000 in funding available through June, but did not clearly confirm a surplus amount.
- We had a $91,734 possible deficit according to the information at this time.
- Edwards noted the spreadsheet omits self-funding accounts income.
- The new NEMRC finance system will offer a more complete picture.
- Despite spreadsheet showing a $36,000 deficit through April (P80, Balance column), Edwards still assumes a surplus, which should be allocated for long-term projects. No action will be taken because we cannot confirm this.
- New legislation facilitates the creation of reserve funds.
- Christofferson and Dow will reconcile all funding sources.
Hatch School Road Update
In December 2024, nine bids were received for the box culvert project. Fitzpatrick Excavating was awarded the contract for $182,000, with a proposed start date of June 1st and a two-week construction timeline. The road will be closed during this period.
- A Stream profile is required; Scott Jensen (ANR Stream Engineer) will assist Fitzpatrick.
- The town submitted a stream permit application in February 2025.
- Fitzpatrick verbally confirmed readiness to begin mid-June but has yet to submit a signed contract.
- Edwards will consult the town attorney for guidance on proceeding without a contract.
- A follow-up email will be sent to Fitzpatrick.
ROW Permit processes with multiple parties involved
Edwards has yet to hear from Attorney Fisher to obtain a current update.
HEARING OF VISITORS
Stephan Chait is looking for an update for the ROW permit for Rossetti. Edwards will contact and inform them of the next steps. There is no progress at this time.
CORRESPONDENCE
Edwards completed a second notarized letter for Trustee of Public Funds that is different from the first.
194 Old Green River Road – Edwards will contact them.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Pike made a motion to accept the meeting minutes from May 20, 2025 as amended. Ashcraft seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Christofferson made a motion to accept the meeting minutes from May 29, 2025 as amended. Marchegiani seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Grader Refurbishment Update Discussion:
Christofferson reported that a refurbishment quote for the grader is still pending. In the meantime, key questions are being confirmed to present to Milton Cat. The goal is to extend the grader’s life by 10–15 years through refurbishment of components such as the hydraulics, central power train, and hoses. However, metal fatigue cannot be accurately projected, as it results from ongoing wear and tear.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No Executive Session was held.
SELECTBOARD ORDER
The Selectboard orders were signed, and Pike read the aggregate amount for orders on June 3, 2025 for an order total of $12,353.50
ADJOURNMENT
Ashcraft made a motion to adjourn at 8:53pm
Pike seconded the motion
Motion passed 5-0
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Dow
Halifax Administrative Assistant
Recording Link:
