TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 18, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. Selectboard members present in person or remotely were Lewis Sumner, Pete Silverberg, Tristan Roberts and Cara Cheyette. Others in attendance in person or remotely were Stephan Chait, Penfield Chester, Patty Dow, Edee Edwards, Mike Fournier, Robbin Gabriel, David Jones, Linda Lyon, Doug & Marilou Parkhurst, Chris Parkins, Rachel Smith (Deerfield Valley News) and Bob Teree.
CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
None.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Motion to approve January 4, 2022 minutes as written, passed 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Town meeting related:
Town Meeting logistics: Dow explained options. Cheyette moved for all Australian Ballot vote on Town Meeting Day, like last year. Discussion but no second followed. Roberts moved for a delay until May for an in-person town meeting, with vote of elected officers to follow. Sumner seconded. Didn’t pass, 2-2. Revisited motion for all Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day. Silverberg seconded. Passed 3-0 with Roberts abstaining.
Ballots: Sumner moved for absentee ballots to be provided to anyone who asks Dow for one – by email, by phone, in person or in writing – rather than mailing to every registered voter. Motion seconded and passed, 4-0.
Info session logistics. Moved and passed, 4-0, to hold remote information sessions over two nights: February 22 for SB budget and meet the candidates, and February 23 for highway budget and warned articles.
Town Report: Sumner and Silverberg will finalize warning and provide Sarah Barnett any other items from SB.
Budget: Discussion about raising amount paid by town to school. Roberts moved to
leave that $11,000 budget item unchanged. Motion seconded and passed 4-0. Sumner
moved to approve both budgets. Motion seconded and, after long, sometimes heated discussion, passed 4-0.
Personal day/vacation time calculation – revisited with Dow. No decision made. Any change needs to be made in context of amending/updating personnel policy.
Paperless billing for purpose of cell phone for Highway – revisited with Dow. Dow agreed to work with Fournier to take advantage of savings from paperless billing.
No update from Road Commissioner (Fournier had to leave).
Recycling: Silverberg raised concerns about surveillance and signs needing improvements or enhancements. Chait suggested inviting John Fay from WSWMD for suggestions.
Remote meeting:
Equipment addition: Silverberg received an OK to donate and hang larger monitor.
Remote meetings: Cheyette noted that new legislation permits 100% all remote meetings if that became necessary.
OLD BUSINESS
- ARPA Funds: Final rule has come out. Silverberg will post it.
- Post Office update: Nothing to report.
- Training on equipment: Cheyette noted there were no takers from other committees/departments.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
HEARING OF VISITORS
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
SELECTBOARD ORDER TO TREASURER FOR PAYMENT
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:57pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cara Cheyette
For the Selectboard
Recording link:
Note: Due to there not being any internet connection at the town office, board members and members of the public who were present in-person participated by phone on the Zoom, which led to the first few minutes of the meeting not being recorded.