OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
October 21, 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 were Karen Christofferson, Rhonda Ashcraft, Randy Pike and Lori Marchegiani. Members of the public present were Bob Fisher, Jeffrey Glaser, Linda Huebner, Stephanie Pike, Andrea Rand, Jessica Cooney, Jason Ashcroft, Chris Lehner, Kathy Ashcroft, Nancy McCrea, Stephan Chait, Joan Courser, Sue Kelly, Raven Arbore and Emily Dow.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Add: Approve previous meeting minutes for October 16, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Edwards made a motion that under 1 VSA 313(1)(a) we would have a finding that premature general public knowledge would clearly place the public body or a person involved at a substantial disadvantage for us to go into subsection F, which is the confidential attorney-client communications made for the purpose of providing the professional legal services to the body. Pike seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Christofferson made a motion to go into executive session. Ashcraft seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
At approximately 6:53, Ashcraft recused from the executive session.
At 7:12, Christofferson voted to come out of executive session, Marchegiani seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
No decisions were made during the executive session.
NEW BUSINESS
Potential road or real estate actions after Executive Session
Wheeler Road: The Board will measure the town portion.
Whitneyville triangle: Scheduled the site visit to measure the town Right of Way on October 27, 2025 at 7AM.
Old Town Garage: Discuss at a future warned meeting
- Stephan Chait asked if there’s an email from Brownfield
Meeting recording, which had not been turned on after the Executive Session is now turned on at 7:26PM.
OLD BUSINESS
How do we move forward with dog ordinance
Edwards noted that last Tuesday’s meeting was well attended and there were lots of different perspectives. Edwards watched the video again and noted that people left the meeting frustrated. Edwards provided her perspective that we should move forward, keep it simple and trim back to a single element of potentially vicious dogs. Problems have been raised to the Selectboard and Edwards came on board to solve problems and noted the towns of Guilford, Wilmington, Whitingham and Marlboro have ordinances and dog ordinance is one of the most common.
Pike said that he couldn’t support an ordinance and it’s the owner’s responsibility to control their animal. An ordinance having “Teeth” sets the town up for liability for their time and expense. Pike concluded that we shouldn’t make an owner’s responsibility a town responsibility.
7:26PM recording in progress.
Edwards said it’s an owner’s responsibility to care for their animals but the town has statutory authority to enact punitive measures for noncompliant owners.
Marchegiani suggested looking at the structure and the VLCT model for dog ordinances that surrounding towns adopted as the verbiage is harsh and may overreach. She would like to simplify the Halifax ordinance to a leash law in the village in an attempt to alleviate additional work incurred for Kyle Farnsworth (ACO) and the Selectboard.
Edwards said towns vary in their ordinance regulations such as running at large and barking dogs. Adopting the ordinance is the last step in the process. To alleviate some hurdles and fears, the public should be educated about the ordinance. Part of the process is discovering other’s concerns and reasonings for why they are not in favor and use that to create rules and steps for dealing with a potentially vicious dog.
Christofferson said the town should have rules to help people feel safe when there is non-coverage between town and state law. Vicious dogs and physical safety is a concern and Farnsworth (ACO) should have the ability to protect when higher measures are needed if conversation and fines don’t resolve the situation. Destruction of an animal is not what anyone wants and owners need to be responsible for their dogs behavior. She suggested the Committee for Animal Control speak to residents who are not in favor of the ordinance and use that in conjunction with those who are in favor to create a narrower ordinance then present it to the Selectboard.
Ashcraft said there are many residents who are not in favor as it is an involved process and feel their rights are being taken away and worry it will escalate.
Sue Kelly voiced that opposition for the ordinance may stem from misunderstanding the verbiage and purpose and that it needs to be narrow, clear and concise to avoid discretion. The purpose of the survey was to discover residents’ stances and with the findings, create a draft ordinance.
Jason Ashcroft presented questions and concerns for the ordinance as well as what the costs incurred with the ordinance are. Edwards replied that if the town were to contract with the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, the cost was approximately $2,700 (per capita basis) and there is a fee for boarding dogs at the Windham County Humane Society. The town budgets $5k for the constable. Lawsuit costs are unknown.
There will be future open meetings, hosted by the Committee for Animal Control, to draft the ordinance and hear input and concerns.
Current protocol is to call Farnsworth for situations or the humane society if the situation is more suitable for them.
Chris Lehner said we approached things out of order. We need more consensus from the Selectboard and whether there should be resources and protection in place when there is a situation pertaining to a vicious dog, nuisance dog, or running at large. He clarified that the ordinance is written in the context of when the owner is not taking responsibility. When face to face fails today, responsibility falls on the victim. With an ordinance Farnsworth will only be involved when he receives a call for an incident or complaint.
Pike said it is the owner’s responsibility to care for their dogs and there are state laws regarding dog bites, and Case Law to go along with it. Police could be called in these circumstances.
The Committee for Animal Control will redraft the ordinance using the VLCT model to keep it narrow and specific. Christofferson would like the focus to be on vicious dogs and to take time and care into creating the draft as well as speaking to more people.
Audit update
Christofferson and Dow are working through getting sign-off on balances for FY23 and FY24. Christofferson had a conversation with someone who works with Batchelder about the audit process, depreciation and debit and credit issues and is waiting for a reply. She doesn’t have a balance for FY25 and still needs to finalize surplus/deficit calculation.
HEARING OF VISITORS
Jeffrey Glaser is awaiting response for his concerns pertaining to the tree root, ditching, and his address being located on a private road.
Linda Huebner informed the board that a corrugated pipe that had been removed from the beaver deceiver on Hatch School Road has been moved and is missing. Once found, she suggested repurposing it for the beaver deceiver that is at Green River Road where the beavers are currently active. She will contact Copeland and relay information back to the board.
Kathy Ashcroft voiced that the dog ordinance should focus on vicious dogs and running at large.
Stephan Chait confirmed the missing piece from the beaver deceiver is corrugated pipe and is missing. Christofferson will contact Fitzpatrick about the situation.
Stephan Chait spoke about the issue regarding postal delivery. Edwards said there is a disabled mail truck. For those who have been affected and haven’t received mail in a couple days, should post it on the Front Porch Forum and to stop by the post office to check for packages.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
October 7, 2025 Selectboard Regular Meeting Minutes
Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes from October 7 2025 Selectboard Regular Meeting as amended. Ashcraft seconded. Motion carried 5-0
October 14, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes
Approval of these minutes are deferred to the next regular meeting.
October 16, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting Minutes
Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes from October 16, 2025 Selectboard Special Meeting as amended. Pike seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
CORRESPONDENCE
ROW Permit 1077 Collins Road- Stephen Brown: Permit to declare temporary driveway as permanent has been received on Oct 10 and payment received on Oct 20. Fournier visited the site and confirmed the driveway has been installed with an 18 inch culvert and is qualified to be permanent. The Selectboard approved and signed the permit.
Mary Brewster sent the board a letter about her meeting with Attorney Bob Fisher pertaining to short term/AirBnB rentals on conservation land with the concern that there may be ordinances that are not being enforced and suggested contacting the Zoning Board to take action.
SELECTBOARD ORDER
The Selectboard orders were signed and Edwards read the aggregate amount for orders on October 21, 2025 for an order total of $5,556.88.
ADJOURNMENT
Ashcraft made a motion to adjourn at 9:31pm. Marchegiani seconded. Motion passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Dow
Halifax Administrative Assistant
Recording Link: https://youtu.be/rBZz3K9rUY4
