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Record of Proceedings

Springfield Select Board Meeting - February 24, 2026

Selectboard — Tuesday, February 24, 2026
BodySpringfield, Vermont
SessionSelectboard
DateTuesday, February 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:53

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:18

All right.

0:19

So I'd like to uh call to order the um Springfield Select Board meeting for this beautiful day of um February 23rd.

0:29

We'll start off with a Pledge of Allegiance.

0:41

And two there's one nation under individual liberty and justice for all.

0:53

Thank you, everyone, for that.

0:55

So Scott, that first thing that's there.

0:59

Yeah, it keeps on dropping out and coming back.

1:03

First the with this no, no, you were about to click on the all Ollie or something.

1:10

Oh, the companion.

1:11

Yeah, your companion.

1:12

Do you want to uh we don't want AI?

1:15

So you don't want AI.

1:16

Okay, good.

1:16

Yeah, because all it does is just do this giant transcript.

1:19

We've already got a recording.

1:21

Okay.

1:22

At some point we might want to.

1:23

That's what that's what the thing you want to say on something.

1:27

Okay.

1:29

So we'll continue on with uh roll call starting on my left.

1:33

Michael Murray.

1:33

Christy Morris, Michael Schmidt in attending via Zoom is Tara Chase.

1:40

Thanks, Tara.

1:42

Is uh is Heather Fram on?

1:44

I don't see her.

1:45

I didn't see her.

1:46

Okay.

1:47

She just comes out.

1:49

She may be joining.

2:01

Very good.

2:03

So the first order of business is to approve the regular select board meeting minutes of February 9th, 2026.

2:11

I moved that we um approved.

2:14

So lasting second.

2:20

Okay, we do have a motion seconded.

2:23

Who approve the minutes on the February 9th draft minutes?

2:27

Are there any corrections, errors, or omissions noted?

2:31

Waltz not here.

2:32

Walters know.

2:33

I think I have one.

2:34

Oh select board members in attendance.

2:38

And power power chase is uh shown as being in attendance in all of the motions below.

2:45

She was absent.

2:46

So I'm assuming yeah.

2:50

You you were here in person.

2:52

It was her first.

2:53

Heather was uh also zooming and it says present.

2:57

Thanks for thankful, man.

2:59

I didn't know it was the same thing.

3:01

Okay.

3:03

So we were the three of us were in person.

3:07

Heather was absent.

3:09

Uh no, uh Tara was absent, and Heather was uh Zoom.

3:12

Yeah, I think that's quite very good.

3:18

Could could I ask you one question from Zoom here?

3:22

Um my name's Susan LeDrew.

3:24

I was looking at the minutes last night and it said something about in the about the police car, about how um something about I don't have it right in front of me.

3:34

Like idling it was was worth so many, or something about it was worth so many miles.

3:40

I don't could you just look at that again because the number was way off.

3:44

It seemed to me no, what am I doing?

3:47

Okay, Susan, those are posted online, and if you're free to look it up, and we can look it up later, but we're trying to conduct uh yeah this part business.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Pending Litigation████████████12%
Public Engagement█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Springfield Select Board Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Springfield Select Board convened on February 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The meeting addressed a range of topics including property compliance issues, adoption of road standards, parade permits, a dam removal bid, and infrastructure updates. Board members present: Mike Martin, Christy Moore, Michael Schmidt, Tara Chase (via Zoom). Heather Fram was absent. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (February 9, 2026): Corrected attendance errors (Tara Chase was absent, Heather Fram was on Zoom) and corrected a numerical error in police vehicle engine hours. Minutes approved with amendments. Vote: 3-0 (Tara Chase recused).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Nicole and John (neighbors of 482 Sebasbrook Road): Described ongoing safety and code violations at the property since 2015, including drug activity, structural hazards, and lack of legal owner. Expressed urgency for the town to establish ownership and address conditions.
  • Glenn (citizen): Asked about filling vacancies on the Planning Commission following recent resignations.
  • Robin (citizen): Reported dangerous sidewalk and crosswalk conditions on Wall and Summer Streets, describing a near-miss with a vehicle. Requested snowbank breaks and improved pedestrian access.
  • Garrett Richardson (citizen, earlier in meeting): Inquired about compliance letters for a property; received update on camper removal by March 1.

Discussion Items

  • 482 Sebasbrook Road Property: The board discussed options for a property with unknown ownership (owners deceased since 2015, no probate). The property has multiple code violations and uncooperative tenants. After considering civil penalties (which cannot be served without an owner), the board voted to authorize the town manager to initiate probate proceedings to establish ownership or acquire the property via quiet title deed. Vote: 4-0.
  • Drainage Crossing Standards (Section 5): Adopted updated state standards requiring 18-inch minimum culvert size for new work. This ensures eligibility for state grants. Vote: 4-0.
  • 2026 Town Road and Bridge Standards Certification: Approved a resolution certifying compliance, necessary for MRGP and other grants. Vote: 4-0.
  • Disposal of Town Property Policy: Adopted an amended policy (Section 5) adding procedures for real property disposition, requiring select board approval. Vote: 4-0.
  • Parade Permits: Approved three events: Touch-a-Truck (April 11, 2026, corrected from application), Vermont Senior Games road race (May 17, 2026), and Humane Society pet services event (March 29, 2026). All votes 4-0. Insurance verified.
  • Reorganizational Meeting: Scheduled March 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM for election of officers and committee appointments. Candidate Doug Johnston confirmed availability.
  • Bid Award – Springfield Reservoir Dam Removal: Awarded contract to Hilltop Construction LLC for $324,000 (engineer's estimate ~$780,000). The project is federally funded; unspent funds may revert to the town. Vote: 4-0.
  • Manager’s Report: Update on salt supply shortages (spot purchases at $120/ton, some towns paying $200/ton) due to producer issues. Town plans to test magnesium chloride systems on downtown hills. Also discussed pre-ordering a 2026 Ford F350 with plow and slide applicator via Vermont Municipal Loan Fund (2% interest, $150,000) to address equipment delays. Formal action deferred to next meeting.
  • Ordinance Committee: Member Mike Martin requested adding reappointment of ordinance committee members (himself and Walter Martone) to the March 4 agenda for discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Probate for 482 Sebasbrook Road: Authorized town manager to work with attorney to initiate probate proceedings. Vote: 4-0.
  • Adopted Section 5 Drainage Crossing Standards. Vote: 4-0.
  • Certified Compliance with 2026 Road and Bridge Standards. Vote: 4-0.
  • Adopted Amended Disposal of Property Policy. Vote: 4-0.
  • Approved Three Parade/Event Permits. Votes: 4-0 each.
  • Awarded Dam Removal Contract to Hilltop Construction ($324,000). Vote: 4-0.
  • Scheduled Reorganizational Meeting for March 4, 2026.
  • Future Agenda Proposals: Mike Martin requested water/sewer system updates; ordinances committee reappointment to be added.
  • Citizen Comments: Town manager to follow up on planning commission vacancies and Wall Street sidewalk/safety concerns.

Meeting Transcript

All right. So I'd like to uh call to order the um Springfield Select Board meeting for this beautiful day of um February 23rd. We'll start off with a Pledge of Allegiance. And two there's one nation under individual liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone, for that. So Scott, that first thing that's there. Yeah, it keeps on dropping out and coming back. First the with this no, no, you were about to click on the all Ollie or something. Oh, the companion. Yeah, your companion. Do you want to uh we don't want AI? So you don't want AI. Okay, good. Yeah, because all it does is just do this giant transcript. We've already got a recording. Okay. At some point we might want to. That's what that's what the thing you want to say on something. Okay. So we'll continue on with uh roll call starting on my left. Michael Murray. Christy Morris, Michael Schmidt in attending via Zoom is Tara Chase. Thanks, Tara. Is uh is Heather Fram on? I don't see her. I didn't see her. Okay. She just comes out. She may be joining. Very good. So the first order of business is to approve the regular select board meeting minutes of February 9th, 2026. I moved that we um approved. So lasting second. Okay, we do have a motion seconded. Who approve the minutes on the February 9th draft minutes? Are there any corrections, errors, or omissions noted? Waltz not here. Walters know. I think I have one. Oh select board members in attendance. And power power chase is uh shown as being in attendance in all of the motions below. She was absent. So I'm assuming yeah. You you were here in person. It was her first. Heather was uh also zooming and it says present. Thanks for thankful, man. I didn't know it was the same thing. Okay. So we were the three of us were in person.

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