Weathersfield Select Board Special Meeting – August 6, 2026

The Weathersfield Select Board held a special meeting on August 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM to address two board resignations, establish a vacancy appointment process, and approve a tax correction for Green Mountain Power. The meeting was chaired by Rika Henderson, who chaired as vice chair due to the resignations.

Consent Calendar

• (No consent calendar items were noted; the meeting focused on special business.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• A citizen inquired about an update on the police department moving to Scottney Parkroom. The board noted the question but deferred a response due to the meeting's narrow focus.
• John Harrison stated that citizen complaints from five months ago had not been addressed; he withdrew his own two complaints due to staleness. The board chair responded that the board had reviewed all complaints, conducted executive sessions, and adopted a resolution at the last meeting. The board agreed to mail copies of the resolution to all complainants.
• Joe Blasch thanked Town Manager Golmick for his service, noting challenges and the manager's dedication to the town. The manager expressed appreciation and acknowledged the opportunity to serve.

Discussion Items

• Agenda Adjustment: The board added an item to approve an Errors & Omissions (E&O) certificate for Green Mountain Power after noting it was not previously available. The original assessment error of $144,037 was corrected to $339,000, benefiting the town's grand list.
• Resignations of Select Board Members Kelly O'Brien and Michael Todd: The board voted to accept both resignations effective August 4, 2026. O'Brien's letter had been read into the record at a prior meeting; Todd's letter was read aloud. Both resignations were accepted with regret.
• Select Board Vacancy Appointment Process:
  • Town Manager Susanna Terrill outlined a process: post a notice of vacancy, accept letters of interest by August 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM, review at the August 24 regular meeting, with public reading of letters followed by executive session discussion and appointment.
  • Board members favored public reading and interviews to ensure transparency.
  • Amy Beth Main (via Zoom) asked about criteria; the board clarified there are no formal qualifications, encouraging anyone interested to apply.
  • John Harrison recommended that appointments extend to the March town election rather than November to provide continuity during the budget and town manager transition. The board agreed to verify with the Secretary of State.
  • The notice of vacancy was approved, authorizing Rika Henderson to sign, with a note that the appointment term (until November or March) would be clarified before the August 24 meeting.
• Chairperson Status: Rika Henderson raised a question about whether she automatically becomes chair after the resignations. Susanna Terrill clarified that per VLCT guidance, the vice chair remains vice chair until a formal reorganization, though Henderson presided over the meeting. All votes will require a unanimous 3-0 majority due to the reduced board.
• Errors & Omissions Certificate for Green Mountain Power: The board approved the E&O certificate (dated July 30, 2026) that corrected Green Mountain Power's assessment from $95,000 to $339,000. This allows the company to pay taxes and corrects prior errors. The document was entered into the record.

Key Outcomes

• Resignations accepted: Motion to accept Kelly O'Brien's resignation (effective August 4, 2026) passed unanimously (3-0). Motion to accept Michael Todd's resignation (effective August 4, 2026) passed unanimously (3-0).
• Vacancy notice approved: Motion to approve the notice of select board vacancies and authorize Rika Henderson to sign passed unanimously. The timeline: applications due August 20, 2026; public reading and appointment at the August 24 meeting.
• Errors & Omissions certificate approved: Motion to accept the E&O certificate for Green Mountain Power passed unanimously (3-0).
• Next steps: The board will post the vacancy notice widely (Baromore Hall, post offices, library, website, newspaper, Front Porch Forum, Facebook). The town manager will contact the Secretary of State regarding the appointment term. The board will also mail copies of the complaint resolution to relevant citizens.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.