Weathersfield Select Board Meeting - October 28, 2025

The Weathersfield Select Board met on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, for a regular evening meeting. The board approved prior minutes, adopted the town ethics and personnel policies, received presentations on four capital plans, reviewed the FY27 budget outlook and COLA, and handled several administrative items. At one point during the meeting, the board noted the time was almost 8:30 p.m.

Agenda Review and Minutes Approval

• The agenda was reviewed and kept as presented; no changes were made.
• Minutes of September 22, 2025 were approved with a correction: the vote on formation of the Memorial Grove Committee was deferred to the next select board meeting, not the next town meeting.
• Minutes of October 14, 2025 were approved as presented.

Public Comments and Testimony

• Mr. Murray, representing the Veterans Memorial Committee, announced the Veterans Day ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 2025, and proposed a January public meeting with other town committees to discuss the future of Veterans Memorial Park and possible fundraising for a bandstand or gazebo. He expressed support for partnering with parks and recreation, the garden club, and the historical society.
• Julie Levy requested that the board add Governor Scott's Declaration of Inclusion to a future agenda, noting that 164 towns and municipalities have signed it and that most neighboring towns are on the list. She described it as complementary to the town's existing declaration of inclusion.
• Susan Wilder supported the Declaration of Inclusion request and said it was a critical time for Weathersfield to step up, especially as DEI initiatives are being ended. The board said it could not add the item that evening but would discuss it and place it on a future agenda.

Code of Ethics Ordinance - Third Reading

• The board adopted the Town of Weathersfield Code of Ethics Investigation and Enforcement Ordinance as written on October 13, 2025, following the third and final reading. The vote was unanimous, with no opposition or abstentions.

Personnel Policy - Third Reading

• The board adopted the Personnel Policy on its third and final reading by roll call vote: 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. Rika Henderson, Nate McNaughton, Mike Todd, and Kelly O'Brien voted in favor; Deforest abstained.

Capital Plans Presentations

• The highway superintendent and town manager presented four capital plans: Paving Capital Plan, Highway Department Motorized Equipment Capital Plan, Fire Truck Capital Plan, and Technology Capital Plan.
• Paving plan: uses a road-scoring system to prioritize work; for every dollar spent now, the town saves about $1.50 later. The plan covers crack sealing, shim and overlay, micro-milling, and reclaiming. This year, a $200,000 grant will be added to the Center Road project, with Airport Road deferred to next year.
• Highway equipment plan: aims to replace trucks and graders before residual values drop and maintenance costs rise. Examples included a 2012 dump truck that cost $11,000 to prepare for winter and $14,000 for radiator and DEF-system repairs, totaling $26,000 in two years. A prior grader purchase delay added about $75,000 in cost and $23,000 in maintenance. Used or rebuilt equipment would be considered where practical.
• Fire truck plan: the fleet has eight trucks, four purchased by individual fire departments and four by the town. The plan stretches replacements and increases by $15,000 per year. Cited costs included $800,000 for a new pumper, $450,000 for a rescue truck, and $1-2 million for a new aerial. The 1998 ladder truck is expected to be kept for another 10 years and eventually replaced with a rescue truck. The fire chief noted the fleet maintenance budget was already 70% spent for the fiscal year.
• Technology plan: most equipment has a five-year useful life; first computer replacement costs $49,269 and second replacement costs $56,000. The proposal would contribute $9,500 per year to a reserve for three years, then reduce contributions by $500 each three-year period. Board members asked about cybersecurity training; the town manager said the town is moving to a cloud/serverless environment and adding another layer of security training.
• Phase-one capital plans total about $591,000, including $20,000 for parks and recreation and a restructured $25,000 for the Bowen Hill culvert. The town manager said the plans would save more than $2 million in interest over 20 years, roughly $45,000-$50,000 per year. The initial tax impact would be about 18 cents per $100, potentially 20-24 cents with other budget increases.
• Board members discussed three funding structures: a separate annual capital reserve fund vote, four annual special appropriations, or one special appropriation followed by annual budget transfers. Some board members leaned toward building the costs into operating budgets, but no decision was made. The town manager will restructure the numbers and return with options.

Finance Report

• The town manager reported the town's overall financial position is very good. General fund revenues were at 27% and expenses at 21%; highway fund revenues at 25% and expenses at 23%; solid waste fund revenues at 53%. No significant issues were identified.
• Fund balance projections were about $150,000 in the general fund and $100,000 in the highway fund, totaling around $250,000. The town may use $20,000-$30,000 of fund balance this year. Board members suggested using fund balance strategically to reduce the capital-plan tax spike.

FY27 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

• The town manager recommended a 3.5% COLA, citing the Social Security Administration's 2.9% and the latest compensation study. Options from 1% to 5% were presented with total costs.
• Board members expressed concern about taxpayer burden and the gap between COLA and Social Security increases; others worried 3.5% might be too low to remain competitive.
• A motion to approve 3.5% failed on a 2-2 vote: Nate McNaughton and Rika Henderson voted yes; Mike Todd and Kelly O'Brien voted no; Deforest recused. The board later approved a motion to record that vote. The board consensus was not to go below 2.8%.

Memorial Grove Committee Policy - First Reading

• The board accepted the first reading of the Memorial Grove Committee policy, including previously requested changes such as adding the historical society to the work plan. The motion carried by roll call.

Political Sign Guide

• The board reviewed a draft political sign guide based on a Brattleboro model. Members requested revisions: remove redundant public property language, define presiding officer, clarify the two-week display period, and have the town clerk and zoning administrator review it for compliance with state law and zoning ordinances before returning.

Town Manager Report and Reappraisal Update

• The town manager reported that the water line replacement project received approval; it is a $2 million project not funded by the town, with a bid opening on December 18 and most construction in the spring.
• The town manager recommended $20,000 for parks and recreation in the FY27 budget and said the Bowen Hill culvert capital allocation would be restructured.
• The fire department received 18 applications for firefighter positions; appointments and oaths will occur over the next few weeks.
• Board members raised public concerns about the reappraisal and reports of interior and exterior inspections. They clarified that property assessments are exterior only and agreed to invite the assessor to a future meeting to explain the process.

Budget Committee Policy Compliance

• The board discussed the policy requiring the select board and town manager to hold an orientation meeting for the town budget committee. They agreed to follow the policy, schedule a joint orientation, and incorporate a timeline for receiving budget recommendations.

Warrant Approval

• The board approved the October 27, 2025 warrant. Payroll totaled $29,886.43 and operating expenses totaled $135,618.38, covering general fund, highway fund, solid waste fund, library, and grant/reserve project accounts.

Executive Session

• The board voted by roll call to enter executive session under 1 V.S.A. 313(1)(E) to discuss a legal matter involving a DRB appeal. The remote board member received a new Zoom invitation, the recording was stopped, and no public action was taken afterward in the open session.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the September 22 and October 14, 2025 minutes.
• Adopted the Code of Ethics Investigation and Enforcement Ordinance on third reading.
• Adopted the Personnel Policy on third reading by a 4-0-1 roll call.
• Accepted the first reading of the Memorial Grove Committee policy.
• Approved the October 27, 2025 warrant.
• Did not set the FY27 COLA; the 3.5% motion failed 2-2, with consensus not below 2.8%.
• Received capital plan presentations; no funding decision was made, and the town manager will return with restructured options.
• Agreed to place the Declaration of Inclusion on a future agenda.
• Agreed to invite the assessor to a future meeting on the reappraisal.
• Scheduled review of the revised political sign guide after town clerk and zoning administrator input.