Chris Lavoy

The meeting addressed potential agenda changes, including the cancellation of an item related to Windham County LE hazard control. Key actions involved the approval of minutes from February 3rd and February 10th. The board considered approving the annual certificate of compliance for road and bridge standards as required housekeeping. A significant discussion concerned the approval of a $3,500 funding request plus expenses from the Greeter Program for invasive species control at Lake Rapa, which received strong public support. The board also discussed authorizing the town manager to execute an agreement with Green Mountain Power for power line replacement and storm hardening, detailing work involving cable and conduit burial, reconductoring circuits, and coordination with state bridge projects. Concerns regarding road restoration, including fabric replacement on private roads, were addressed.

The meeting addressed several key actions and approvals. The board approved the minutes from the meeting held on January 6, 2026, and the minutes from the special meeting of January 13, 2026. Action items included approving the annual highway certificate of mileage, noting adjustments based on new state mapping. The board also voted to approve an appeal of the 2025 equalization study results, driven by the coefficient of dispersion (COD) slightly exceeding the threshold of 20. Furthermore, approval was granted for the purchase of a 2026 F600 truck with radio installation, funded through the highway equipment capital account, intended to replace an older truck while keeping the old one as a spare. A quote for refurbishing truck number 12 was also approved, involving purchasing a new dump body/sander unit to be cheaper than rebuilding the old one. Finally, the board accepted the resignation of Jason Harnett from the Recreation Commission and appointed Bonnie Bohan as the Greenup Day co-chair.

The meeting commenced with administrative actions, including the approval of the minutes for December 16th and 19th. The agenda then moved to the Sewer Commission business, focusing on a request for a three-month preliminary allocation extension for VT211 LLC due to ongoing permitting issues. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the FY27 budget review, which included a minor adjustment related to the Windham County solid waste assessment. Finally, the Energy Committee presented a proposal for the installation of a solar array system on the roof of the Public Safety Facility, detailing substantial cost savings over the project's 25-year life expectancy and a seven-year payback period, although budgetary constraints and other capital projects were noted as concerns regarding immediate financing.

The session began with a zoning hearing commencing at 5:30 p.m. prior to the regular bimonthly meeting, focused on modifications to zoning ordinances to align with state laws, specifically regarding Shoreland Protection Act regulations around Lake Raonda. Key discussions involved amending Article 7 and adding a definition to Article 10 to incorporate shoreland stipulations, driven by recent violations. Separately, under signage regulations in Article 8, changes were proposed to permit menu boards for food vendors while clarifying that feather flags are not generally allowed, although the possibility of temporary allowance for special events was debated. Following the zoning discussion, the Selectboard reconvened for its regular meeting, which included the approval of the minutes from the October 7th meeting.

The meeting primarily focused on obtaining a general obligation bond for the construction of a solar array on the public safety facility, estimated at a capital cost of $350,000. The board held an informational hearing to gather public comments on this measure, which would be financed through bonds or other financial instruments and utilize federal tax incentives via the IRS direct pay program. The board subsequently approved the resolution of necessity for this capital construction project. The meeting concluded with the board moving into an executive session to discuss real estate purchase or lease options.