Town of Halifax, Vermont
SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
February 19, 2019
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. Selectboard members Lewis Sumner, Mitchell Green, and Bradley Rafus were present, as were Stephan Chait, Ray Combs, Nancy McCrea, Diana Conway, and Robbin Gabriel.
Changes and/or Additions to Agenda
None.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Mitch Green made a motion to approve the 2/5/19 regular meeting minutes as written. Brad Rafus seconded the motion, which passed, 3-0.
New Business
Open Truck Bids
Lewis Sumner advised the Selectboard had received two truck bids, as follows:
Patriot Motors, Westminster, Vermont: 2020 Western Star, $136,747, extended warranty package $10,344, total price $147,091, minus $25,000 trade-in for International TerraStar; net price $122,091. Optional automatic transmission, $10,000 additional.
Clark’s Truck Center, Jericho, Vermont: Two proposals offered. (1) 2020 International HV507 4×4, $104,760. (2) 2020 International HV513 4×4, $140,524. Trade-in for International TerraStar, $15,000.
Rafus said the HV507 offered by Clark is a slightly smaller truck than requested in bid specifications. The Board briefly examined specs and answered several questions from Stephan Chait and Ray Combs about the differences between the trucks. Rafus explained that when the truck was purchased it would go directly to the body shop for equipment installation, and labor costs would be included in the equipment bids. Sumner suggested that Rafus and Keith Stone review full details of the proposals and present that information at the next regular Selectboard meeting.
Open Truck Equipment Bids
Two equipment bids were received, as follows:
H.P. Fairfield, Morrisville, Vermont: Equipment package, Everest body, $82, 434.
Viking (Cives), Williston, Vermont: Equipment package, Viking body, $70,500, or $69,100 without optional rear post.
Rafus and Stone will review specifications on the body packages prior to the March 5th regular meeting. Rafus said he was a little disappointed that several other vendors who received bid requests and with whom he had spoken had not submitted proposals.
Executive Session
None held.
Old Business
None.
Other Business
None.
Hearing of Visitors
Stephan Chait was curious about the response to the request for Conservation Commission volunteers. We’ve had a little interest, said Sumner, three or four people. He told Chait appointments would be made after Town Meeting, at the same time other appointments are made. That will probably be the first meeting in April, as Green will be away in the last weeks of March.
Ray Combs asked if Keith Stone was retiring. He had heard a rumor, but no one else had any information.
What is the Wings Community Program?, asked Diana Conway. It’s an after-school program for kids, answered Sumner. They do various different projects. Conway also asked whether WSWMD had provided flyers as promised. Sumner told her Athena Lee Bradley had forgotten to bring the flyers to the last WSWMD meeting, but said she would get them to the Town soon.
Board members also answered questions about Town Meeting day for Nancy McCrea. Voting booths are open from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., reports of the town officers are heard after the meeting opens, and items listed on the Town Warning are voted from the floor. The Town Plan will be voted on by Australian ballot. The Annual Town Report is now available online at https://halifaxvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Annual-FYE-2018.pdf, and sample ballots are included in that report. Printed copies of the annual report are now available at the Town Office. The pre-town meeting Informational Meeting and Meet the Candidates Night will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the School gymnasium. Terms of elected officials end on Town Meeting day.
Selectboard’s Order to Treasurer for Payment
The Selectboard’s Order to the Treasurer was reviewed and signed.
Correspondence
Correspondence was reviewed and filed. Sumner presented an Associated Press article discussing PFAS that had been printed in the Brattleboro Reformer. The article stated that the chemical compounds are found in many items, including fabrics, rugs, carpets, cooking utensils, outdoor gear, shampoo, shaving cream, makeup, and dental floss, and reports estimate nearly all people have some PFAS in their blood. The chemicals are also being found in wildlife. The federal government is considering lowering the current 70 ppt permissible level for the chemical. Sumner said the copy would be available in the Town Office for anyone who wants to read it, and is also stored in the Reformer’s archives online.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary