OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – DRAFT
September 29, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
After arrival at the Pennel Hill Road site visit location, Chair Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 6:37 AM.
Selectboard members present were Karen Christofferson and Randy Pike. Unable to attend were Rhonda Ashcraft and Lori Marchegiani.
Others present in person were: Town Highway Mike Fournier; Fire Chief Dennis Annear; and at the Whitneyville Road Site, property owners Saraswati Khalsa and Joshua Drinkard.
- Due to the outdoor location of meeting, remote access and recording were not feasible.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
None
OLD BUSINESS
Pennel Hill Road conditions/roadwork request
Chief Annear, who is a resident at Pennel Hill and also and EMT, stated that the road width in this section near 555 Pennel Hill is only 14 feet, and you cannot see oncoming traffic from either direction. He is requesting the road be widened within the town right-of-way, which is 49.5 feet by convention. As markers, utility poles marked with line 61D/45A and 61D45 were noted.
The west side of the road would require remove of about 12 trees, with a stone wall noted, and traveling linearly down to a stake which had been placed (by Fournier or Annear?). Christofferson measured this to be about 252 ft(?). Annear thought a single property owner was on that stretch.
The discussion turned towards the other side of the road, which is similar– again having about 12 trees and a stone wall. On that side, one large hazard tree was noted, which would require a professional tree company to remove.
Edwards inquired to confirm this work could not be done this year. Fournier agreed, and said that he would work with Jeff Nugent of WRC to further scope this. Fournier thought it would be better to extend the project down to the point where the 18-22% grade started. The specifics of that extension were not discussed on site. Grants in Aid are a possibility to help defray the cost, according to Fournier.
Edwards stated that the direct property owners should be notified when the project plan is finalized. Annear added that he counted about 11 year-round families or property owners in this corner of Halifax, covering Pennel Hill, Phillips Hill, and McMillan.
This portion of the site visit concluded at 7:05 AM.
Under Hearing of Visitors, the group traveled further up to 1518 Pennel Hill (Goudreau) to take a brief look at a road washout that revealed a large boulder under the edge of the roadbed that would ideally be broken up to prevent similar ongoing washouts.
The group traveled in multiple cars to approx. 1200 Tucker Rd. Reconvening at 7:20, the group looked at the 5-foot round culvert or bridge where Whitneyville’s class 4 road meets Tucker. Edwards noted this was marked with a bridge number on a highway map. She noted an additional culvert coming across the road at this point, which she had not seen with a very brief glance at the road culvert online tool that morning. Fournier recollected that there was friction when the large culvert was put in to replace a bridge, he thought after Tropical Storm Irene.
The group then walked streamside along the class 4 Whitneyville road, which does have some sizable rocks and an uneven surface, meeting up with property owners Khalsa and Drinkard part way to 1525 Whitneyville Road. Because of recent rains, there were signs of a small amount of runoff along the road from the driveway which rose steeply from the road. The entrance was formerly a logging road. There was no culvert. Fournier pointed out the ledge on either side of the driveway, which would make it expensive to add one. He had no conditions since the road is an unmaintained class 4 road.
In terms of emergency services, Annear stated that the only vehicle they could possible get there for fire would be brush trunk with limited water supply. He said the area has no off-road vehicles for medical evacuations. Drinkard and Khalsa said they understood. Edwards asked how often they would be in town; they said maybe 2 months a year. Annear will assign an E911 number. Christofferson said the ROW permit process needs to include him more consistently.
Edwards stated concerns that others would begin to travel on the road without understanding the conditions, and need assistance. The group discussed signage, and the fact that any future work in the Town Right of Way requires a new permit. Fournier stated that 5 or 6 loads of gravel would likely improve the road.
The permit was signed with the conditions section noting the lack of ready emergency services and the note about future work.
Motion to adjourn at 7:50 AM by Edwards(?). Seconded by Pike(?). Carried 3-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Edee Edwards, Chair and Secretary Pro Tem
