HALIFAX SELECTBOARD

TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT

SELECTBOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES—FINAL

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

CALL TO ORDER:

Sumner called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Selectboard members present were Lewis Sumner, Pete Silverberg, Patrick McAllister, and Tristan Roberts. Others in attendance in person or remotely were Roza Podlaski, Dave Meyer, Raleigh Brown, David Meyer, Peggy and Brad Rafus, Linda Lyon, Doug and Marilou Parkhurst, and Mike Fournier.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:

February 7, 2023 regular Selectboard meeting minutes motioned by Roberts to approve the amendment of changing “someone” to “a resident” under New Business. The motion was seconded by Silverberg, passed 4-0. 

CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:

None

NEW BUSINESS

Residents came to a Selectboard meeting to state they were having a Cannibis company in town. McAllister asked what our approach to new businesses in town is and if we are welcoming or not. Some residents may be in favor and some would rather not bring that traffic to town. The Zoning and Planning Commission is in charge of home businesses. This is a conversation that we are continuing to have. Perhaps we may want to have a page on our website regarding starting businesses in Halifax and what steps people need to take. We encourage businesses in town as long as zoning restrictions are followed. 

A resident, Dave Meyer and his wife Raleigh Brown are starting a Tier 1 Cannibis grow company at his home.

We received the fall report from KAS to monitor toxic metals at the town wells on the landfill. It shows a pattern that levels are lower in the fall and higher in the spring. Previously, the board approved this testing annually. It has been budgeted for in the upcoming year. The board had a meeting in 2018 with experts from D.C. and has received concerns from several residents about PFAS and how it may travel and affect the town in the future. A resident is concerned about PFAS testing in their well. We are not prepared to answer what their concerns are at this time. The cost of monitoring over time is significant. The state has come to help with their expertise in the past and we can ask for them to come again to help us answer some of these concerns. The board would like KAS to come speak about what they are testing for and explain their report to us. From there the board can decide what the next best steps are and if we need to bring further experts in, in order to create a more in depth plan. Silverberg will reach out to KAS and ask them to come to a Selectboard meeting and explain what they are testing, how they are testing, and how often we should be testing. Once we have a better understanding we can reach out to the state possibly and see if they can help monitor and test. 

OLD BUSINESS       

There will be a community meeting in March to have a better understanding of how we can use ARPA funds. 

No new update on the town garage roof. At this time we are hoping the new municipal energy systems program can help us revamp that. They are stating there is up to 500,000 in grant. Not sure if this is a matching grant or not yet. The program is just getting off the ground. Roberts and Silverberg are on the email list and monitoring that closely. If that program is not a fit then we may have to change course. 

OTHER BUSINESS

None. 

HEARING OF VISITORS

EXECUTIVE SESSION

None. 

SELECTBOARD ORDER

The order was read and signed. 

SIGN OVERWEIGHT PERMITS

Overweight permits and driveway permits were signed.

Roberts motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Silverberg. Passed 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 11:16 am.

Respectfully Submitted,

Roza Podlaski

For the Selectboard

Recording link:

February 25, 2023 Regular Selectbaord Meeting