OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
February 18, 2025
6:00 PM AT THE HALIFAX TOWN OFFICE
CALL TO ORDER
Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Other Selectboard members present in person were Rhonda Ashcraft and Randy Pike. Members Karen Christofferson and Tristan Roberts, and Secretary Assistant Emily Dow were present online. Members of the public present either in person or online were Stephan Chait, David Jones, Nancy McCrea, Mary Brewster and Karin Larkin.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
- Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes-do oldest first
- Old Business: Hatch School Road Update
- Old Business: MERP Update
NEW BUSINESS
Excavator Financing
Christofferson reviewed a summary she created from CASE Beauregard – Tax Exempt Leasing Corporation (dealer financing) showing pricing for 5, 6 and 7 years.
Annual in Advance
Option A: 5 years, $51,749.30- Cheapest option
Option B: 6 years, $44,375.09
Option C: 7 years, $39,127.03
Annual in Arrears:
(Previously the town has 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% from this vendor. Similar to loader interest rate in the past.
M&T responded back to Patty Dow in email, with the same $230,085 to finance. They provided interest rates for 5, 6 and 7-years that was 5.064%, which seems attractive, but they did not send detailed information about the annual cost for both options.
The budgeted placeholder amount was $40,686 as an in arrears payment amount.
We are still awaiting information about getting the final ERAF federal funding for the Pike Road July 2023, which should come in just under $36,000. There are several other income line items that we need to balance against the town garage roof costs. If we have money to pay in advance, we could save a sizable chunk of interest payments.
No decision can be made at this time.
DVFiber Needs at the Town Garage
After discussion, the board decided the public WiFi hotspot at the Town Garage is no longer needed.
Level of speed/service: the board decided to start at the 100MBS and $75/monthly price.
Timing: David Jones said we should survey the site to see if an overhead or underground connection is needed.
At about 30 minutes in, Tristan dropped from the call temporarily.
OTHER BUSINESS
Hatch School Road Project
Christofferson said the property easement is nearly finished. She needs to get the stream permit from the state and will follow up again with Scott Jensen.
RFP for Recycling Services
- 7 towns are up for recycling renewal services
- Haul charge may vary 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. Edwards will share this update with Chait, who is one of our WSWMD coordinators.
Christofferson made a motion that the Town of Halifax is interested in participating in the joint/regional recycling RFP with WSWMD.
Ashcraft seconded the motion
Motion carried 4-0.
Winter Sand Extra Needs
Fournier brought to the attention at the last meeting at the last hearing of visitors – winter sand is running low. Christofferson and Pike toured the sand pile with Fournier and confirmed it’s low. Gravel pile is in good shape. Fournier’s request is that we use some of the GMP gravel reimbursement income to cover additional sand needed.
Roughly $28 a yard ($22/ton). $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 additional winter sand.
Ashcraft seconded.
Motion carried 4-0.
Town Meeting Day Preparation: Informational Meeting
Town Meeting report is ready at Minuteman for pickup. SPike is going to pickup for us.
The Informational Meeting is in one week. The meeting warning will need to be posted before Friday. EDow will be needed for minutes. It is in the Halifax Multipurpose Room. The recording will be posted on the Selectboard YouTube channel within 24-hours. The Visiting Nurses Association has confirmed that they are not serving Halifax, and their funding should not be sent. This needs to be changed from the floor.
There is also a regular Selectboard Meeting 6pm March 4th, Halifax Conference Room- Signing orders and 1-2 additional items if vital. Selectboard members are required at 7 pm to count votes.
There is a Special Meeting on March 4, 2025 immediately following Town Meeting, to allow for “other nonbinding business” and we decided to discuss the Halifax Connectivity Project, and Animal Control Ordinance, and Housing and Economic Development. This is warned as a special meeting. We anticipate this will start around 2 PM, and it should have a remote option. EDow will be needed for minutes.
Tristan Roberts returned at approximately 7:05 PM.
Roberts recapped the MERP grant for town garage weatherization projects- couple years to spend. Windham Regional is offering to help the Town of Halifax to have a biddable RFP and maybe pooling vendors who can help weatherize the Town Garage doors and do the other services in our grant. Grant amount in this round is $28,644. There is also an ADA requirement per the grant. Roberts will check in with someone in Halifax who is an architect.
HEARING OF VISITORS
No visitors wished to speak.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
January 7, 2025 Selectboard Regular Meeting Minutes- DRAFT
Roberts left the meeting again at 7:36 PM.
Edee made a motion to accept the January 7, 2025 Meeting minutes as amended.
Pike seconded the motion
Motion carried 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 carried 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 carried 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 carried 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 carried 4-0
OTHER BUSINESS
CORRESPONDENCE
- Visiting Nurse and Hospice– Rescinding request for funds. 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
- The board reviewed the Moore Brother’s Paint estimate. Fournier instead sent the town Truck to Brattleboro Auto Body shop at Pike’s suggestion. We don’t know the new estimated amount.
- Future Agenda Items:
- Governor proposed “SPARC Program” Strategic Projects for Advancing Rural Communities- Ways to assist in obtaining funding sources for public infrastructure such as drinking water or sewage systems.
- 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:
https://youtu.be/vBmDKcYWMU0
