CALL TO ORDER:  Lewis Sumner called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. Selectboard members present were Lewis Sumner, Peter Silverberg, Bradley Rafus, & Cara Cheyette. Tristan Roberts was not in attendance. Others present either in person or remote were Paul & Tina Blais, Raymond Combs, Patricia Dow, Stephan Chait, Edee Edwards, Marilou & Doug Parkhurst.

Silverberg explained that the meeting was in regards to The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for towns and villages. He went on to explain that the funds must be requested before July 15, 2021. That there was no penalty for requesting the funding it could always be returned at a later date if not used. But if you do not request it you cannot receive it at a later date and you have three years to decide how to use it or return it.

Silverberg then explained that there are three steps to accepting the funds.

1. Discuss Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding (CLFRF) at the next physical meeting or warn a special meeting.
2. Include the following agenda items and record votes in meeting minutes.

• • Does your town/city want to accept this funding along with required Award Terms and Conditions and Assurances of Compliance with Civil Rights Requirements?
  • Who will be your Authorized Representative? Specify the name of the chair or other member of the governing body. An Authorized Representative is an individual with legal authority to bind the government entity (e.g., the Chief Executive Officer of the government entity). “An Authorized Representative must sign the Acceptance Award terms for it to be valid.” US Treasury FAQ * Section 11, item 11.7
  • Who will be your contact person? “Contact Person” should be the person who will perform the administrative tasks with the ARPA/CLFRF funding, such as tracking and managing the terms and conditions, compliance, reporting, etc. on behalf of the municipality.

3. Complete the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery fund Certification through the State of Vermont’s portal.

 Silverberg made a motion that the Town of Halifax accept its allocation of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding from the U.S. Treasury, along with the Awards Terms & Conditions and Assurances of Compliance with the Civil Rights Requirements that are requirements of accepting these funds. Rafus 2^nd the motion. Sumner asked if there was any discussion.

Cheyette pointed out that to be eligible to receive the funds you must agree to the Assurances of Compliance and Civil Rights Compliance also Awards and Terms and Conditions including a Conflict of Interest policy that is in substantial compliance with US code as she understands it. For the record Cheyette read aloud US Code 200.318 General procurement Standards (c)(1).

 (c)(1) The non-Federal entity must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the actions of its employees engaged in the selection, award and administration of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. However, non-Federal entities may set standards for situations in which the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees, or agents of the non-Federal entity.

 She added that the Town of Halifax’s Conflict of Interest Policy does not actually have any disciplinary actions within it. Silverberg asked if that information was written in the documents, Cheyette replied that she went to the Coronavirus Recovery fund portal and stated she read it on the two links supplied the portal. The information she read on the portal links brought her to the US 200.318 General Procurement standards (c)(1).Discussion followed about Contacting The League of Cities and Towns to get new guidelines and verbiage for towns pertaining to their Conflicts of Interest Policies.

Sumner called for a roll call vote.

Lewis Sumner, Aye
Peter Silverberg, Aye
Bradley Rafus, Aye
Cara Cheyette, Aye

Motion passed 4-0

 Chait made a comment that the board had until 2026 to spend the funds, Cheyette explained that there were actually two dates. There was a date to commit witch is in March of 2024 and you have until December 2026 to spend funds.

 Sumner made a motion to appoint Peter Silverberg to serve as the Town Authorized Representative as required by Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding by the US Treasury, to sign the Award Terms & Conditions and Assurances of Compliance with the Civil Rights Requirement. Cheyette seconded the motion. Sumner called for a roll call vote.

Lewis Sumner, Aye
Bradley Rafus, Aye
Cara Cheyette, Aye
Peter Silverberg abstained

Motion Passed 3-0

 Rafus nominated Patricia Dow to be the towns Contact Person.

Sumner made a motion to name Patricia Dow as the Contact Person for the Town’s CLRFR Award from the U.S. Treasury. Cheyette seconded the motion. Sumner called for a roll call vote.

Lewis Sumner, Aye
Peter Silverberg, Aye
Bradley Rafus, Aye
Cara Cheyette, Aye

Motion passed 4-0

 Sumner asked if there was any discussion, hearing none Sumner made a motion to Adjourn. Rafus seconded. Motion passed 4-0.

 Adjournment:  7:34 PM

Respectfully Submitted,
Tina Blais
Secretary to the Selectboard

Link to audio recording of meeting:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QDnwRYF2Qj8WKLPfzrP8MaOK0Fi5-VVn/view?usp=sharing