OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 19, 2026
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 were Karen Christofferson, Rhonda Ashcraft, Randy Pike and Lori Marchegiani. Members of the public present were Stephan Chait, Stephanie Pike, Keith Stone, Jessica Cooney, Haven Brown and Emily Dow.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Old Business- Grader Life with Haven Brown
OLD BUSINESS
FY27 Budget wrap up discussion
Select path for Grader life
A budget will be set, but no contract will be signed at this meeting. Three refurbishment options were reviewed, and Pike and Stone recommend Quote #2 mid‑level Certified Component Rebuild. Stone’s familiarity with the grader and his high-quality servicing over the years make this the best option for grader longevity with a more reasonable cost. The board agreed to remove an engine rebuild and radiator repair but requested Haven Brown of Caterpillar add steering pivot repairs, popsicle stick repairs, hose armor, and a hose allowance The new project estimate is at $90,272. The board requested a 5‑year/6000‑hour warranty. We put a placeholder in the budget at $100K.
Repairs will take 6–8 weeks, ideally beginning in July, with approval planned after Town Meeting and a required 90‑day pre‑order from Milton CAT. A loaner grader may be needed; Milton CAT and Robert Fuller can provide rental quotes.
Stephan Chait asked the model number of the grader: 140M2.
The grader is currently at 8800 hours, and the refurbishment is expected to extend its life by about 15 years. When the engine needs repair, it may not need an entire rebuild.
The budget line could include the cost of a loaner.
Funding Deficit:
The town is carrying an $80K deficit from the previous year, and Edwards noted the next budget year generally should cover such shortfalls. Past deficits were caused by major storms and depleted sand and salt supplies during a heavy mud season. In response to Keith Stone’s question about who owed the town money, Edwards said delinquent taxpayers are actively paying down balances, and the town also received a $181K reimbursement from GMP. Stone then specifically asked whether anyone reimbursed the town for installing and maintaining a beaver deceiver on Pennel Hill; Christofferson said the Hatch School device was paid for by private individuals, but Pennel Hill’s was older and there was no clear record of road crew involvement. Edwards added that without a written agreement, reimbursement would be difficult to obtain if it hadn’t been already.
Karen reported that the deficit has remained unchanged since October, with the current total at $83,708. This is included in the total raise-and-appropriate amount for the selectboard and highway expenses at $2,540,474 as we begin the review tonight
Finalizing line items
School Lease
The school board met but did not commit to a budget amount. Edwards and Marchegiani suggest the value of plowing their back lot is $10K, and Edwards then suggested budgeting $15K instead of the previous $25K. The school board had a surplus last year. Edwards reviewed past rent payments: $50K was paid in 2017 and 2018, though the terms are unclear; other years ranged from $11K to $15K, with no rent paid in 2024. The plan is to establish a formal lease effective July 1, 2026, with rent set at $15K. This was changed in our budget.
Planning/Zoning Expenses
The planning and zoning secretary’s hours have increased due to additional work on the town plan review, raising the budget from $1,500 to $3,500, or about 15 hours per month. Tom Fox reported that minimal assistance from the Windham Regional Commission would be 10 hours at $100 per hour, so $1,000 was added to the planning and zoning expense account. While $750 had already been budgeted, more may be needed for public hearing advertising and rising certified mail costs, so this was in addition to the base
Stephan Chait asked whether printing, staffing, and advertising costs for the selectboard and planning/zoning are combined. The answer is that they are separate accounts with separate budget lines. He also asked about printing the town plan in color, and Christofferson noted that color printing is significantly more expensive.
Electricity (in the highway department)
This account receives both the GMP and Greenbacker solar bills, which can be confusing because they come from two separate solar agreements. The first system was installed on the highway department property after Tropical Storm Irene to ensure emergency power for communications. According to Bob Spencer of WSWMD, the Greenbacker power comes from landfill panels, and once those panels reach 10 years old as well, the town will likely begin paying transmission and distribution costs for those too. The most recent Greenbacker bill was $18.02, and the landfill panels continue to generate a substantial credit. Edwards recommended reducing the budget from $3,550 to $3,100, with $100 reserved each month for GMP estimates.
Selectboard Stipend ($100 less each, 12/2 Auditor clarification)
Edwards explained that she thought the auditors determine the stipend, but VLCT advised that if all salaries appear in the town budget for voter approval, that is also allowed by statute. The board reduced the selectboard stipend by $100, bringing the total to $1,700 per person, and saving $500 in total
Recycling
Edwards reported that the bid process was confusing, with an estimated cost of about $24K for 37 hauls and 37 tons of recycling. Because the town has already spent roughly $13K in the first six months, the budget was increased to $26K.
Any others
- The VMERS retirement budget for the Town Clerk and Highway Department is calculated. This year it mandates7.5% of salaries from the town
- The town covers 0.33% of the Vermont Child Care Tax, totaling $1,717.
- Repairs and maintenance for office machines are budgeted at $1,600
- Telephone/internet services at $2,400, with a plan to end the Consolidated service at Town Meeting.
- The copier lease totals $1,929 annually
- Street lights cost $120 per month.
- Computer hardware and software services are budgeted at $14,180, including a new $1,500 computer for the planning and zoning secretary and annual NEMRC and accounting subscriptions.
- Moderator pay is budgeted at $500, possibly split as $400 for the town meeting moderator and $100 for the school moderator.
- Ballot clerk costs total $1,800 for three elections.
- Dispatching fees are $19,157.
- Employment and unemployment insurance amounts are partially known, with final figures pending.
- Income offsetting expenses are budgeted at $35K based on prior-year patterns.
- The cemetery perpetual fund requested $22,428.
- The highway budget includes updated health insurance costs, grader refurbishment expenses, removal of the old equipment fund, and $125K for repairs and maintenance (not including grader refurbishment).
With several items still pending, the overall budget increase is currently 9.01%, and the board may revisit major items if that percentage is too high, noting that grants should not be counted as guaranteed income.
Adjustments
None to add.
HEARING OF VISITORS
None wished to speak.
CORRESPONDENCE
None during this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Ashcraft made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm. Christofferson seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Dow
Halifax Administrative Assistant
Recording Link: https://youtu.be/AL6QeU_ofOg
