May 26, 2026 Selectboard Meeting

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SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

May 26, 2026   6:00 PM

Townshend Town Hall

Approved: DRAFT

Present: Nick Suarez, Allie Evans, Katie Marrow, Rob Wright, Steve Frisk

In Attendance: Jeremy Zumbruski, Connie Holt

Members of the Public: Dale West, Charlie Marchant, Scott Nystrom, Scott Dorman, Helen Holt, Shaun Marrow

1. Meeting Call to Order: Suarez calls the meeting to order at 6:01pm. Suarez reminds the members of the public that the meeting guidelines will apply with no side conversations.

2. Approval of Minutes: Marrow makes a motion to approve the May 12, 2026, meeting minutes. Wright seconds. Motion carries 5-0-0.

3. Additions and Deletions: None

4. Members of the Public: None

5. Correspondence: None

6. Warrants: Wright makes a motion to approve warrant vote #1: Payroll & Payroll taxes in the amount of $14,710.71. Evans seconds the motion. Motion carries 4-0-1. Wright makes a motion to approve warrant vote #2: General Fund and Highway in the amount of $9,638.46. Marrow seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0.

7. Reports:

   1. Highway: Zumbruski reports that line work on Rt35 continues. Frisk requests that there be only two work zones on Rt.35. Zumbruski reports that residents will see the road crew hauling gravel over the next few days. He reports that the new hire is doing well. Evans requests that the road crew leave a bucket of water by the gazebo for watering the flowers. Zumbruski reports that he spoke to Chuck Mayotte who said that the Windham Hill Rd tree project will start within the next month. No later than July1st.

   2. Treasurer: Holt reports that the treasurer duties are moving along without glitches.

   3. Town Clerk: Suarez gives the report. The Town Clerk took in $704.00 in fees and services.

   4. Chair: reports that the final tax collection of the year is finishing up. Suarez reports that Marrow talked to the attorney about the GMP easement and his is going to get back to us.

   5. Grant Coordinator: Marrow gives a re-cap of grants applied for or awarded;

      1. Congressionally Directed Funds for ADA – Townshend was not chosen but encouraged to apply again.

      2. West Hill Slope Stabilization – the Selectboard awarded the bid.

      3. Bridge 43 – moving along

      4. Bridge 41 – RFP is going out on June 3nd

      5. Highway Safety Signage grant – awarded and waiting on the next steps.

      6. UVM Capstone Sidewalk Study for design. It is completed and she is seeing if they can make a presentation to the Board.

      7. Guardrail Grant – waiting to see if awarded.

      8. Cat D grant: Athens Rd culvert – awarded $56,000 with an $11,200 match 

      9. VTrans Grants in Aid – have been awarded $20,000 for Fiscal year 2027

   6. Auditor’s Recommendations Report: 1^st meeting of the month

   7. Committees: 

      1. Policy Committee is still working on a policy regarding committees that they will present to the Selectboard.

      2. IT Committee: Suarez reports that the committee met. After researching other IT companies, it was determined that Europa is a good deal. Elisha Stratford volunteered to reach out to other towns to see what they do for IT and cyber security.

8. Old Business:

   1. Acton Cemetery: Marchant gives an update on the work of the logger to clean up. Wright makes a motion and it is revised to have Rob Wright and Jeremy Zumbruski meet to determine whether the debris removal should be done in house or if RFP should be put out. Motion carries 5-0-0.

9. New Business:

   1. Town Hall/Common Use Request: None

   2. Dam Road Paving Project bids: Wright makes a motion to approve Bazin Brothers bid to reclaim Dam Road for a cost not to exceed $9,750.00 and to approve the Bazin Brothers paving bid not to exceed $55,000 for a total not to exceed $65,260.00. Marrow seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0.

   3. Truck bids: Wright opens the bids for the Dodge RAM replacement and the 10 wheeled dump truck. Wright makes a motion to receive the bids and to review them with a proposal for the next Selectboard meeting. Evans seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0.

10.  Executive Session: Marrow makes a motion to end the regular meeting and to move to executive session for VSA 1x313(a) – the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee and VSA 1x313(1a) – contracts. Frisk seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0. The meeting is moved to executive session at 7:05pm. Marrow makes a motion to end executive session and reconvene the regular meeting. Wright seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0. Meeting is reconvened at 7:38pm. Marrow makes a motion to move forward with hiring a Town hall cleaner at the casual labor rate. Frisk seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0.

    Frisk makes a motion to rescind the Special Town Meeting scheduled for June 3, 2026. Marrow seconds the motion. Motion carries 4-1-0 carries.

11. Adjournment: Marrow makes a motion to adjourn. Wright seconds the motion. Motion carries 5-0-0. Meeting is adjourned at 7:40pm

12.  Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 6:00pm at Town Hall