OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES–DRAFT
October 9, 2024

4:30 PM AT THE HALIFAX TOWN OFFICE

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM. Other selectboard members present were Karen Christofferson, Rhonda Ashcraft, and Randy Pike. No one joined remotely. Mike Fournier was also present.

CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

Fournier had information for the All-wheel drive kit he had emailed about that he asked to board to discuss.

Edwards proposed Christofferson review the health order signed by the rest of the board at our last meeting. Christofferson did say she had questions about it.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Edwards made a motion to go into Executive Session per 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3) for the evaluation of an employee. (Edwards noted she had been saying this was in 19 VSA for some time, but it is 1 VSA.) Ashcraft seconded. The motion carried 4-0, and recording stopped at 4:33 PM.

The board came out of executive session at 5:16 pm. No decisions were made.

NEW BUSINESS

2024 VLCT Municipal Service Award to Vermont Road Crews

Edwards noted that when she attended the VLCT Town Fair this past week, the Municipal Service Award was presented to honor all Vermont Road Crew members for their work in post-flood work to town highways in the 2023 and 2024 floods. She brought a copy of the award, which VLCT had asked to be shared with Road Crews. She will work to find time with Mike to present it to the entire crew with the full board.

The board had accepted the resignation of a highway employee and needed to discuss advertising the open position and other related issues.

• Edwards asked whether temporary coverage with on-call staff is necessary at this point in our fall preparations for winter. Fournier said not now.
• The position pay range was discussed as low- to mid-$20s per hour given the current labor market, and as always depending on qualifications. This may or may not be put directly into the advertisement, but Edwards noted it could help in screening for people who have different salary expectations. Christofferson noted that $20/hour is $41,600 annually. Benefits and the pay range in other towns were discussed briefly.
• Christofferson made a motion to authorize Edwards to spend up to $1000 to advertise for a replacement road crew member. Pike seconded the motion, which carried 4-0. Fournier suggested not using Indeed because being in or near Halifax is important during storm situations, and candidates last time were sometimes far afield. Edwards noted that the Indeed posting was triggered by the newspaper ad last spring. The Reformer has switched to using Monster.com, and unfortunately we’ve gotten no candidates for the Halifax Secretary position.

Edwards suggested deferring the discussion about Selectboard liaison to Highway Department as time was running short to try to stick to a 1-hour meeting.

HEARING OF VISITORS

Fournier provided a sheet about the addition of All-Wheel Drive (AWD) to the truck that plows Pennel Hill. Edwards asked if any trucks had AWD, and Fournier said only the truck that does the paved roads. The other trucks that plow the dirt roads use chains most of the time. Chains are not used as much with the truck with AWD for paved roads unless it’s very slippery. This topic will be on the next regular Selectboard agenda.

Correspondence: Christofferson reviewed and had questions about the Health Order. She wondered if it mattered if everyone signed it. Edwards stated that the letter indicated there might be a concern about the person somehow being punitive towards those signing, and having the full weight of the entire board behind it might help.

Fournier is still waiting to hear about picking up the F550 truck. The board thought the loan was still being finalized and Edwards will check with Patty Dow on the status.

Fournier also asked when the board would be deciding on the excavator and loader equipment. Edwards stated that we had planned to meet with M&T Bank to discuss other possible financing options before having a separate board meeting to talk about refurbishment versus purchasing.

ADJOURNMENT

Pike moved and Ashcraft seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 4-0. It was 5:37 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Edee Edwards, Secretary Pro Tempore

Meeting recording: https://youtu.be/R1TkMPVkS5Y