Sara Allyn Haskins

The special select board meeting addressed agenda changes, including adding community comments before business. The primary new business was an update on the Jersey Heights 3 stormwater project, detailing significant complications encountered with state regulatory requirements concerning the initial underground infiltration system design. The initial plan, which involved a deep chamber system, was deemed unacceptable by the state due to high water tables, necessitating the addition of a liner, concrete slab for buoyancy control, and extensive underdrain piping, which exponentially increased costs (estimated near $600,000). After intensive negotiation, an alternative proposal was developed: utilizing a Tier 2 practice (gravel wetland) which, although covering a smaller impervious area (around 25% instead of the required 50% for the original Tier 3 plan), performs better statistically. This required paying impact fees for the shortfall, which was significantly less costly than proceeding with the original plan. The presenters sought buy-in from the board for this revised approach.

The meeting commenced with the Board of Liquor and Tobacco Control session, which included adding a Class 3 liquor license application for Lost Nation Brewing LLC. Key actions included the approval of liquor license applications for five entities, including Dollar General and Maplefields locations, and three tobacco license applications. During the main Select Board meeting, the board welcomed a new member, Rose Balon. Agenda changes involved correcting the wording for an authorization request concerning LCPC and LURB designations, and reordering items related to rules of procedure, meeting notice locations, and newspaper of record. The board approved the minutes from February 17, 2026. A transition of leadership occurred where the outgoing chair stepped aside, and Don McDow was nominated and elected as the new Select Board Chair, with Richard Craig elected as Vice Chair. The regular meeting schedule was set for the first and third Mondays of each month at 5:30 p.m. The board also addressed town appointments, confirming the continuation of certain roles despite changes in associated associations, and noted vacancies on the Marshville Development Fund Loan Advocate Advance Committee and the DRB. Finally, the board adopted the Select Board Rules of Procedure for the year and designated locations for posting meeting notices and the official newspaper of record as the News and Citizen.

Key discussions included updates on the Community Value Mapping Event, Trail Signage, the Big Tree Contest, Bryan Pond Parking Lot, and the Green Up Update. Regarding Morrisville Village and Town Lands, New England Forest Foundation plans to conserve 100 acres, and discussions are planned concerning Village properties and the Bridge St property easement. New business covered a temporary resignation from the Commission, potential invitation of Eric Dodge to discuss property management, a description of conservation design subdivisions, and planning for the first Town Forest Work Day on May 14th. Updates on the Green Up Day logistics, including dumpster ordering and tire disposal, were also reviewed, along with an update that Susan Morse's talks on Mountain Lions are postponed until late fall.

The Selectboard meeting included several agenda changes, primarily adding 'financing' to the police car financing bids review. New business covered the approval of Radio North as the sole source vendor for Fire Department radios and the subsequent purchase of eight radios totaling $47,879.60. The board accepted a conservation easement deed for 21.17 acres of land, authorized the renewal of HRA amounts for 2023, and approved an application for a VTRANS grant up to $40,000 for the LVRT. Approval was also granted for Northstar Fireworks for the July 4th, 2023 display at a minimum cost of $12,500, and the acceptance of a bid from Union Bank for police car financing. Other actions included approving a Right-of-Way permit for Vermont Electric on Cote Hill Road and approving Fire Department level one training in the town forest on October 22, 2022. Old business focused on the parking signage implementation plan, resulting in a motion to install two-hour parking signage on specified streets to discourage commuter parking. The session concluded with warrant approvals and an executive session to discuss pending or probable civil litigation.

The primary discussion focused on an application for funding submitted by the Copley Country Club for two projects: replacing the clubhouse porch decking with low-maintenance Trex material and refinishing the original maple hardwood floors while replacing old vinyl flooring in the restrooms. The total funding request was $95,700. The Copley Country Club Board indicated that current trust income was insufficient to cover both projects, prioritizing the deck replacement due to safety concerns. A request was made for the Board to approve the concept of the projects so they could be prioritized for funding when income accumulates. It was determined that a review of the Alexander Hamilton Copley Fund Trust documents would be conducted, and a representative from the managing Community Bank, N.A. would be invited to the subsequent meeting to discuss the account.