Town of Richford

The Selectboard held an organizational meeting to elect a chair, vice chair, and clerk. The board adopted Robert's Rules of Order and established a meeting schedule for the upcoming year. Task representatives were appointed for various municipal roles, including highway commissioner, economic development, personnel, legal affairs, and animal control. The board also appointed representatives to regional bodies, such as the Northwest Regional Planning Commission and the Northwest Regional Solid Waste District. Additionally, the meeting included a discussion regarding site location for a proposed building and an announcement of local election results, including the approval of a local option tax.

The meeting included a review of ambulance service maintenance, specifically addressing the replacement of sirens and the need for fluid changes and alignment on one of the units. The annual report for the previous year was submitted and recognized donations received in honor of a founding member. Additionally, the Board discussed current personnel changes, including staff resignations and leaves, as well as the need to address open shifts by hiring a full-time employee. The meeting concluded with an executive session regarding personnel and contract negotiations.

The meeting featured a presentation on the family support programs offered by Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, which include nurturing parenting programs, strengthening families programs, a circle of parent support group, and the Inside Out Dad program for incarcerated men. These evidence-based, free, and primarily virtual programs focus on building parenting skills, strengthening family functioning, reducing stress and isolation, and preventing child abuse. The organization also provides support for safe sleep and healthy relationships, and assists families with access to technology by providing refurbished laptops.

The town meeting included the election of various municipal officers, including a moderator, collector of delinquent taxes, grand juror, cemetery commission member, library trustees, and trustees of public funds. The voters approved various financial measures, including property tax due dates, the authorization of the select board to set tax rates and borrow money, and the appropriation of funds for road work, the town budget, a new conservation reserve fund, a paving grant fund, a bridge repair fund, and equipment funds.

The board meeting included a review of school performance data, with a spotlight on academic improvements in reading and mathematics at Bakersfield school. Public comment featured community members expressing support for maintaining the vice principal position at Sheldon Elementary. Additionally, the meeting covered an update on the Berkshire school water system and its ongoing testing for PFAS, as well as an informational report on the recent school board election results.