OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
EMERGENCY MEETING MINUTES
March 8, 2024
Location: Halifax Town Office, 246 Branch Road and online
Time: 10:30 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 10:32 AM. Other selectboard members in attendance were: Rhonda Ashcraft in person, and Karen Christofferson online. Both had just been sworn in for their terms. Others in attendance were Mike Fournier.
Temporary appointment for meeting chair
Christofferson moved and Ashcraft seconded to make Edwards the chair for the meeting. Motion carried 3-0 (although Edwards should have abstained if she didn’t).
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
None
NEW BUSINESS
Additional stone needed: impact on work and budget
Christofferson said she had been in contact with Fournier and then Dow following an email from Fournier saying the crew was trying to conserve stone but was getting very low at this point during the mud season. Dow said our current cash position is $200K. Fournier said we have a few hundred yards of stone. Our spend on the current year budget is maxed out (approximately $52K), and all purchased stone had been received.
Fournier recommended that $50K of stone, with hauling included, should get us through, but the roads are still nearly impassable. He had asked vendors for current pricing and availability.
- Our current contractor, Cersoscimo, would honor the original bid price, but have only 2 trucks—pricing was recalled to be $33.50 (note: it was actually $33/ton).
- All State (also referred to as Mitchell materials) quoted $27/ton, and has multiple trucks to deliver
Discussion
¾ inch crushed stone is needed. Edwards asked how this fit into our purchasing policy. She read from it:
She asked if we were in the state where such “delay in such repair or maintenance would endanger persons or property or result in substantial impairment of the delivery of important Town services.” It was agreed this policy applied at this juncture. Paul Blais, the Emergency Management Director had weighed in via email expressing concern for emergency services.
Christofferson moved to purchase ¾ inch crushed stone delivered at a purchase price of $27 ton for the purpose of emergency road maintenance. Edwards seconded. The motion carried 3-0.
Candidate interviews: scheduling a meeting
Edwards noted ongoing efforts to get a quorum and schedule 3 additional interviews for the Highway Department positions were challenged by it being Town Meeting Day and several Selectboard members being unavailable due to other scheduled commitments. Fournier said he was available for interviews any time but Thursday. Karen expects to be back Sunday. Ashcraft gave her availability as anytime but Friday.
HEARING OF VISITORS
None, but Edwards noted that Emergency meetings should be reserved for issues that could not be foreseen. Weather and our difficulty knowing when we could get a quorum aside, the lack of foresight about stone needs was somewhat concerning. It was not indicated directly in the budget appropriations meeting or notes, as this item was level-funded. Christofferson thought it had been discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
Christofferson moved to adjourn at 10:35 AM. Ashcraft seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Edee Edwards, Secretary Pro Tempore
Meeting Recording: https://youtu.be/bfvjgRg_FBQ