Public Meetings - Weathersfield, Vermont

The Planning Commission met on October 20, 2026, starting at approximately 6:32 PM. The meeting began with a delayed start due to low attendance, and eventually proceeded with a small quorum. The agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes, updates on the town plan implementation, a new enforcement approach for zoning violations, a detailed discussion on adopting a model ordinance for flood hazard areas and river corridors, and revision of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations. The Commission also outlined future agenda items, including subdivision regulations. Consent Calendar - Approval of Meeting Minutes (October 5, 2026): A motion to approve the minutes with corrections was made, seconded, and carried unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public offered comments on items not on the agenda, despite a brief invitation. Discussion Items - Town Plan Implementation Update: The land use administrator reported that the implementation status remains unchanged from the previous meeting; work is ongoing. - Zoning Violations and Enforcement: The Commission discussed budgetary constraints due to the high cost of taking zoning violations to court. A proposed alternative involves a ticketing system (similar to traffic violations) that could be enforced by the police chief, allowing violators to contest tickets before a judicial bureau. This would apply to minor infractions, while serious violations (above a certain dollar threshold) would still go through the traditional legal process. The change would require a bylaw amendment. The Commission agreed to continue exploring the option and to review case studies from other towns. - Flood Hazard Area and River Corridor Model Ordinance: The Commission reviewed materials comparing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements with the state’s recommended above-and-beyond provisions. Key distinctions were discussed: FEMA flood hazard zones map static water levels (base flood elevations), while the river corridor mapping accounts for geomorphology and erosion risks. Adopting the state model ordinance would make the town eligible for a 12.5% to 17.5% discount on flood insurance premiums. The state will assume full administration of flood regulations by January 1, 2028. The Commission decided to invite the new state floodplain coordinator to a future meeting to present and answer questions before making a decision. The land use administrator was asked to start formatting the flood hazard portion into the town bylaws, while river corridor provisions could be considered separately. - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): The Commission revisited commercial accessory dwelling unit regulations, focusing on a numeric limit for the number of units. The consensus was to propose a limit of three units (with flexibility for two or four). The administrator will draft revised language for the regular residential ADU as well, presenting the new numbers for discussion at the next meeting. - Subdivision Regulations: The Commission discussed whether to overhaul the entire subdivision regulations or to adopt a patch amendment defining major and minor subdivisions and waiving certain requirements for minor subdivisions. They favored the patch approach, leaving the major subdivision procedures largely intact. The land use administrator will begin drafting a minor subdivision framework. Key Outcomes - Approved meeting minutes of October 5, 2026. - Directed the land use administrator to research and draft a bylaw amendment for an enforcement ticketing system for minor zoning violations. - Decided to invite the state floodplain coordinator to a future meeting to present on the model ordinance. - Instructed the administrator to begin formatting flood hazard area regulations into the bylaws and to prepare a draft ADU amendment proposing a three-unit limit for commercial ADUs. - Agreed to prioritize work on minor subdivision regulations as a separate amendment. - No votes were taken on substantive policy changes; all items are pending further discussion and drafting.

The Weathersfield Select Board met on September 29, 2026. (The transcript opens with "Monday, September 28th," which conflicts with the meeting metadata date of September 29, 2026; this summary uses the metadata date.) The board approved the September 14 minutes and the fiscal year 2027 highway financial plan (TA60), reviewed highway and transfer station operations, discussed a proposed municipal planning grant, approved a warrant totaling $178,319.10, and — after executive session — authorized the interim town manager to hire a part-time police officer and to let the unfunded resource coordinator contract expire on October 4, 2026. Consent Calendar - Approved the minutes of the September 14, 2026 meeting as presented (voice vote). Public Comments & Testimony - Kelly O'Brien clarified the September 8, 2025 board action on the Bo Sandpit: $52,500 for sand from DD Excavating and $15,000 for Act 250 engineering services from DuBois King, a total of $67,500, to be paid from the Highway Capital Maintenance and Improvement Reserve Fund. Actual spending was $35,411.89 on sand and $8,775 on engineering, so the negative balance discussed at the prior meeting should not have occurred. - Patty Harrison encouraged the board to use Facebook, Front Porch Forum, and other social media to recruit volunteers and candidates, and urged the board to consider a policy preventing the same people from serving on both the planning board and the select board, arguing that overlapping membership weakens checks and balances. - Jacob Chase raised the transfer station's deficit and suggested the board consider selling or leasing it as possible ways to raise revenue or address the deficit; he noted he had also posted about the issue on social media. Discussion Items - Agenda review / executive session transparency: One member asked that executive session topics be listed on the agenda for public transparency; the chair indicated the topics were personnel and contract issues. - Municipal Planning Grant (FY27): Land use administrator Ryan Martin, speaking on behalf of the planning commission, requested a resolution supporting an application for a state Municipal Planning Grant (maximum $50,000) to hire a contractor to rewrite and reformat the zoning bylaws, align them with the adopted town plan, and streamline permitting. The grant requires a 10% match (up to $5,000), spread over two fiscal years (about $2,500 per year). A contractor recommended by the regional commission provided a ballpark estimate of $51,000, and acting planning commission chair Brian Bosenberg had mentioned roughly $45,000. Ryan said the application must align with state planning goals, but the contractor would work under the planning commission's direction so the resulting bylaws would reflect the town's vision. Citing workload constraints (development review board applications jumped from two last year to eight or nine in recent months, and about 30 permits have gone through the office this year), Ryan said doing the rewrite in-house could take three to five years. The land use budget has no grant line item — only about $1,000 in mileage and training funds — so members asked whether in-kind staff labor could satisfy the 10% match and where any cash match would come from. No action was taken: the board asked Ryan to confirm whether in-kind labor is an acceptable match and to check with Steve on the general fund what money is available, before the December application deadline. - TA60 Annual Financial Plan for Town Highways: Highway superintendent Ray presented the annual state highway budget certification required for state reimbursement eligibility; it was late because the town budget was late. The board voted to accept and approve the plan for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), and all board members will sign as the legislative body. - Highway Department Report (Ray): Completed work included the Center Road chip seal project (crack filling from Perkins Hall to Route 131, milling the steep hill on 131, shimming low spots, and chip sealing), roadside mowing and brush cutting (a few intersections remain), and Gerd Law Road ditching (about 25 loads of gravel, cost-shared under a grant with no match). Summer windstorm cleanup took the full crew about three and a half weeks and required a contractor for just under $8,000 to remove trees needing a bucket truck. Catch basins and culverts were cleaned using Springfield's vacuum truck under a shared-services arrangement at significant savings. Fleet work included the grader's 5,000-hour service (valve adjustment and pin replacements; oil leak repair scheduled for winter), the L22 one-ton truck getting wheel bearings and leaf spring repair in Springfield, and the F350 needing a new air conditioning compressor (which had caught fire), front axle, and front wheel bearings at $2,900 in parts and maintenance. On the sand pit, the permit has been with the state since September 15, with a DRB review on October 6; Ray bought 3,500 yards of sand but put out close to 5,000 yards. Ray flagged a possible clerical issue because DuBois King was not the engineer that did the work (MSK was), while Josh said the September 8, 2025 motion listed the correct amounts and company as voted. Grants received for 2027 include $23,000 for Well Orchard Road culvert replacements (three culverts) and $50,000 (no match) for 1,350 linear feet of guardrail on Reservoir under the Highway Safety Improvement Program; Ray hopes to add 150–200 more feet with town funds. Costs are rising: salt went from $98.25 to $106 per ton, and fuel was about $5.17 per gallon versus $2.90 last year; Ray topped off almost 10,000 gallons at the $2.90 contract price in June. The 30 Maple Street tear-down is expected during the third full week of October. Ray continues to build shared-services relationships with neighboring towns (for example, West Windsor brought a trailer to help haul the bobcat for repair). - Transfer Station Report (Ray): The facility operates with one full-time and one part-time employee. Ray is exploring hiring 16- and 17-year-olds (excluding compactor operation) to expand the on-call list, and he will work with the insurance company, which classified the transfer station as the town's highest safety risk — a classification he suggested may reflect assumptions of a full sorting facility. Punch card sales access is being tested through a 90-day trial with a local business; a vending machine was too costly ($15,000–$18,000, plus $3,000 for winterization and Wi-Fi and software requirements). The bobcat was serviced, and the compactor software was updated so the vendor can fix it remotely. The town of Windsor asked whether Windsor residents could use Weathersfield's facility; Ray advised caution and said adding another town is not the answer to the facility's current fiscal problems. Financially, C&D transport cost was $87,000 as of June 30 and will grow with diesel around $6.30 per gallon; Ray projects surcharges roughly 50% higher and fears another $25,000 deficit by year-end. He plans monthly budget-actual reports and a material-by-material breakdown (C&D, trash, tires, propane) with the new accountant to make targeted punch-price adjustments. Board member Dave said the punch ticket price has risen substantially and cited his own tax bill going from about $20 to $63, and said he is ready to hear a plan to charge for recycling. Board member Joe proposed a recycling sticker at 50% of the trash sticker price (example: $60 trash to $30 recycling) plus $1 per five-cubic-foot recycling load, a $100 annual C&D sticker with C&D punches roughly doubled to $10, and a separate bulk stream covered by the existing trash sticker. The board agreed the problem is urgent, cannot be solved tonight, and must involve the other member towns (West Windsor and Reading); Joe will share his plan, and the existing deficit-reduction plan would raise FY28 sticker prices unless modified, so a proposal is needed before the next fiscal year. - Town Manager's Report (Josh): Six applicants had applied for the town manager position as of Friday; the resumes are confidential while Gary Evans manages the search with weekly updates to the board. On the highway budget, pending the audit the highway fund is expected to have a fund balance of about $42,000; FY26 had budgeted a $102,000 use of fund balance, but expenses came to roughly $138,000, mostly due to truck repair overages. The excavator payment was made but had not been budgeted. The earlier grim picture partly reflected the May board vote to move money into the reserve and the unresolved fall sand purchase. - Warrant: The board approved the warrant read by member Rob, with payroll totaling $36,489.58 and operating expenses totaling $141,829.52 (total $178,319.10). The breakdown included general fund payroll of $21,518.91 and operating expenses of $69,513.32; highway, solid waste, and library payroll and operating checks; and three individual items — Route 106 bank repair ($9,045), Bowen Hill scoping ($5,556), and wastewater feasibility study ($457.50). In response to questions, the board heard that the parks and recreation fest roughly broke even, coming in about $100 over budget, and that the $10,107 attorney check (check 2307) was a pass-through of legal fees paid by delinquent taxpayers — a washout with no cost to the town. - Appointments and next meeting: The budget committee still has one opening with no applicants. The next meeting will be a special meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, because the regular Monday falls on Columbus Day. Executive Session and Post-Session Actions - The board entered executive session under 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1)(A) and (B) to discuss personnel and contract issues; the motion was amended so the interim town manager and highway superintendent could join for one of the matters. After returning to open session, the board approved two motions by voice vote: - Allowed the interim town manager to hire a part-time police officer to fill a vacancy. - Allowed the interim town manager to let the resource coordinator contract continue as-is until it expires on October 4, 2026. The position was described as a temporary, unfunded 60-day position; continuing it would have caused a triple-digit increase in that budget item. Key Outcomes - Approved the September 14, 2026 minutes (voice vote). - Adopted the TA60 annual financial plan for town highways for FY27, July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 (voice vote); all board members will sign as the legislative body. - Approved the warrant totaling $178,319.10 (voice vote). - Authorized the interim town manager to hire a part-time police officer to fill a vacancy (voice vote). - Authorized the interim town manager to let the resource coordinator contract expire on October 4, 2026 (voice vote). - Deferred action on the municipal planning grant resolution; Ryan Martin will check whether in-kind labor can satisfy the 10% match and identify a funding source before the December application deadline. - Transfer station: Joe will share his sticker and fee proposal; the three-town committee will continue work, aiming for a revised plan before FY28 sticker price increases take effect. - Budget committee vacancy remains open, with no applicants. - Next meeting: special meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

On September 22, 2026, at 2:04 PM UTC, the Weathersfield, Vermont, Planning Commission convened a public meeting. The commission held a combined public hearing on two proposed zoning amendments – child care home regulations and steep slopes standards – and discussed a potential 2027 planning grant, subdivision regulations, and the town plan implementation checklist. No agenda or minutes were available, so this summary is based solely on the raw transcript. Agenda Review and Chair’s Report - The agenda was adopted without changes. - The chair announced that a 2027 planning grant is available to apply for, requiring a 10% local match and spreadable over two years. The chair noted that a consultant could review half the town’s bylaws in a year, while the town can complete roughly two bylaws in a year, and described the proposed consultant process as starting with an executive summary – “we’ve looked at this, and these are the 25 bylaws that need work, and these five are really horrible.” Public Hearing: Child Care Home Bylaw Amendment - The board reviewed draft two of the child care home bylaw (dated 2026-09-21-clean) – the third or fourth draft considered. Comments from at least one existing child care home owner were integrated, and the owner appeared satisfied with the revisions. - The amendment covers Sections 2.5, 4.2, and 7.1 of the zoning bylaws, with related definitional changes in Section 3.7. - Board discussion noted that attempting to regulate full-time versus part-time child counts went beyond what zoning should address and made enforcement complicated. - No public comments were received. - A motion was made to adopt the amendment and forward it to the Select Board. One member, an owner of a child care home, questioned whether to recuse or abstain; the vote resulted in one abstention and “three or four” affirmative votes. The motion carried. Public Hearing: Steep Slopes Regulations - The steep slopes draft defines steep slopes and related terms and is divided into sections A and B, with performance standards included. - A check-and-balance provision requires the police chief to review and sign off on crossing plans before a zoning permit is issued. - No public comments were received. - The board noted a formatting glitch in the final copy where a struck-through “additional zero” remained visible, which will be cleaned up. Town Plan Work List and Subdivision Regulations - The commission reviewed the town plan implementation checklist, a standing agenda item. - Subdivision regulation amendments will be placed on the next agenda, with defining “minor subdivision” as a primary focus, following recent subdivision applications that raised clarity questions. Priority Bylaw Discussions - The board discussed the “band-aid” amendments that recur frequently. In ranking the top three, one member cited accessory dwelling units, alongside setbacks and conditional-use review for simple structures. - A member noted that requiring conditional-use review for simple structures such as sheds in the village is counterproductive in areas where the town says it wants to allow development. - Setbacks were tied to the larger district-and-map rewrite rather than a short amendment. A map shows where the flood hazard overlay districts would be located, but conflicting language remains in the draft, and the board agreed it would not be wordsmithing the flood hazard language and should consider newer state model ordinances. - The board discussed the order in which to tackle the amendments. Key Outcomes - The child care home bylaw amendment (draft two, 2026-09-21-clean) was adopted by the commission and will be forwarded to the Select Board for adoption; the vote was one abstention and three or four affirmative votes. - The transcript does not record a vote on the steep slopes amendment before the agenda moved on; the police chief review requirement was identified as a key element of the draft. - Subdivision regulation amendments, centered on defining “minor subdivision,” will be placed on the next agenda. Future Agenda and Adjournment - Future agenda items were discussed, and the board agreed to include a clarifying statement in the minutes for the record. - With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

The Weathersfield Select Board met on September 15, 2026, at 6:34 PM. The meeting covered approval of multiple sets of minutes, financial reports for FY26, establishment of a budget timeline for FY28, appointments to committees, and various operational updates. Key financial challenges were highlighted, including a growing deficit in the solid waste fund and an overspend in the highway fund. Public Comments & Testimony - Lisa Slate (Sunset Boulevard resident) alerted the board to a proposed water district boundary adjustment affecting properties in the village of Scotney, urging the board to monitor the prudential committee's discussion at their upcoming meeting. - Several announcements were made: the Weathersfield Conversation Group's second annual summit on September 20th at 1 PM at the Perkinsville School; the PTO's "Paw Drop" at Weathersfield School on September 15th from 5-8 PM (free admission). - A board member requested adding quarterly department head reports to future agendas to increase transparency, noting that monthly reports might be excessive. Discussion Items - Approval of Minutes: The board spent considerable time correcting minutes from July 21, July 23, and July 27, 2026. After extensive debate, amendments were made to accurately reflect that Mrs. Burse seconded a motion and added language about the select board serving as interim town managers. The corrected minutes for July 21, July 23, July 27, August 4, August 13, August 24, and August 31 were all approved individually. A concern was raised that several sets of minutes on the website are still labeled "draft" and need to be updated. - Treasurer's Report (Steve): The preliminary FY26 (year ending June 30, 2026) unaudited reports were presented. The highway fund planned to use $102,500 of fund balance but actually ran a deficit of $180,879 due to $35,000 in unanticipated winter sand expenses, $35,000 in vehicle repairs, and a $31,000 principal and interest payment for an excavator loan that was not budgeted. The solid waste fund had a planned deficit reduction of $29,945 but instead incurred a $40,432 deficit, leading to an estimated cumulative deficit of $195,000-$200,000. Reasons included a $53,000 shortfall in punch card sales and $80,000 in recycling costs (recycling is free but costs money to haul away). The general fund broke even, preserving its $30,000 planned fund balance use. The board expressed concern about the solid waste deficit and the need for corrective action. - Budget Timeline for FY28: The board adopted a proposed timeline for the FY28 budget development, with goals to be discussed at future meetings. The timeline includes department budget development (Sept 15-Oct 6), a health care study presentation (Oct 13), health insurance decision (Oct 26), COLA study and decision (Nov 9), draft budget release (Nov 23), public input (Dec 14 and 28), budget approval (Jan 11, 2027), and town meeting warning (Jan 25). The board discussed using FY26 actuals as a starting point rather than FY27 budget, and emphasized the need to address highway and police department funding, fund capital reserves, and maintain a rainy day fund. The motion to adopt the timeline passed. - Town Manager Report (Suzanne): The town manager hiring process was updated. The job posting will be corrected and released; applications will be reviewed starting October 15th. A weekly call with the recruitment firm (Gary Evans) will monitor applicant interest. The board members will have access to see all applicants. The police building lease discussion was raised but deferred to a future agenda. The fire department is preparing an RFP for a brush truck approved by voters, and a live burn training is scheduled for October 2nd at 162 Quarry Road. - Appointments: The budget committee had three vacancies (one long-standing, two from resignations over the weekend). The board appointed John Broker Campbell and Jacob Chase to fill two of the three seats. For the planning commission, Jacob Chase was appointed to a term expiring March 2029, despite concerns about him serving on multiple boards (he also serves on the DRB and is a select board member). Todd Heninger, who had applied for the planning commission, expressed disappointment and noted his intention to step down from the DRB. - Warrants: The warrants for September 14, 2026, were approved: General fund payroll $22,923.76 and operating expenses $74,818.71; Highway fund payroll $10,248.38 and operating expenses $37,621.99; Solid waste payroll $2,348.16 and operating expenses $29,060.71; Library payroll $272.07 and operating expenses $300.30; plus a Route 106 screen bank repayer item of $108,995.63. Grand total payroll $38,222.37, operating expenses $250,797. Key Outcomes - Approved corrected minutes for July 21, July 23, July 27, August 4, August 13, August 24, and August 31, 2026, with amendments to accurately record motions and seconds. - Appointed Suzanne Terrell as interim delinquent tax collector until a new town manager is hired (unanimous). - Adopted the FY28 budget development timeline as presented. - Appointed John Broker Campbell and Jacob Chase to the budget committee. - Appointed Jacob Chase to the planning commission for a term expiring March 2029. - Approved warrants totaling $38,222.37 payroll and $250,797 operating expenses. - Noted that the solid waste fund deficit has reached an estimated $195,000-$200,000, requiring potential borrowing and operational changes.

This special meeting of the Weathersfield Select Board covered a wide range of topics including public comments on town operations, routine approvals of liquor licenses and errors and omissions, a detailed police department update, a school district consolidation update, and the primary focus: the town manager search process led by consultant Gary Evans. The board set a salary range of $90,000–$105,000 for the new town manager and outlined a timeline aiming for a start date by January 1, 2027. Agenda Review & Opening - The meeting was called a special meeting, not a regular meeting, and the minutes from August 4 were noted missing from the packet. The agenda was accepted. Public Comments & Testimony - Charles Horton expressed frustration about out-of-town residents using the transfer station without required stickers, urging stricter enforcement and on-site fines. - Stephen Dauphin raised concerns about Flock ALPR cameras, citing a website showing cameras on Reservoir Road and at Route 106/10 intersection. He asked if the town had a contract with Flock. Chief Wattras later clarified: the town has no contract and no Flock cameras; the devices on Reservoir Road are access communication surveillance cameras, not ALPRs. - Michael Creighton commented on the Flock camera discussion, expressing disappointment that local law enforcement was unaware of the cameras. - Lisa (unidentified) confirmed September meeting dates and promoted an online town manager survey, noting paper copies were available. Consent Calendar - Minutes: A motion to table the minutes from meetings on July 21, July 23, July 27, and August 24 (with corrections to be included) was approved unanimously. Liquor Licenses (Board of Liquor Control) - The board temporarily reconvened as the Liquor Control Board to consider three applications for the Inn at Weathersfield: a first class license, a third class license, and an outdoor consumption permit. All were approved unanimously after Chief Wattras confirmed no issues. Errors & Omissions - The board accepted an error and omission report for Vermont Electric Power Company, correcting a state valuation error that reduced the grand list by approximately $207,000. The motion passed unanimously. Police Department Update (Chief Wattras) - Staffing: 2 full-time (including Chief), 5 part-time officers. No cap on part-timers; budget line of $40k. - Coverage: 130 hours of active patrol per week; off-hours covered by on-call (6 nights/week) with state police backup. - Calls for Service: 438 since June 1, 2026 (compared to 385 Jan–June 2025). - Proactive policing: 16 arrests, 6 narcotic search warrants, 11 traffic stops since June 1. - Traffic Crashes: 25 crashes since June 1 (Springfield had 42 with triple the population); attributed to speed and distracted driving. - Highway Safety Grant: Awarded for October 1; could fund up to 20 hours/week of highway safety patrol at no cost to town. - Town contracts to provide 13 hours/week of coverage to Reading (additional, not replacing town coverage). - The building project (police station) is awaiting an updated site plan; the Reading contract will cover building costs this year. - Budget status: Part-time labor on track; department is within budget. School Update (John Harrison, Board Liaison) - Reported on Act 170 (replacing Act 73), which makes school consolidation voluntary but may be financially forced via a revised foundation formula. - A regional committee representing districts from Killington to Weathersfield will be formed; Weathersfield must designate a representative by September 15, 2026. - Public meetings on consolidation will be held in the coming year; a town vote on any proposed merger is scheduled for Town Meeting Day 2028. - School choice: Weathersfield currently sends over half its students to Windsor at a cost of $1.2 million with no representation on Windsor's board. Act 129 may preserve some choice. - The Weathersfield School building bond will be paid off in one year, making the school a valuable asset. - PTO fundraiser (Crop Drop) on September 18 at the school. PA System Transfer to Library - A portable PA system owned by the town, purchased for the veterans memorial dedication, will be transferred to the library for public loan (available for private and town events). Motion approved unanimously. Town Manager Search Update (Gary Evans, Pracademic Partners) - Gary Evans presented the firm's background and the needs assessment results (17 responses so far). Key themes: fiscal stewardship, transparency/trust, municipal management/accountability, strategic planning, and community character. - The board discussed the search timeline and salary range at length. - Timeline: Applications close October 15, 2026; phone screening by Gary Evans and interim staff Oct 16–22; finalist interviews (including community meet-and-greet) by early November; offer before Thanksgiving; start date by January 1, 2027. - Salary Range: After debate, the board agreed to advertise $90,000–$105,000 (no additional perks such as travel stipend or relocation assistance). The range is below the budgeted $114,000 to avoid voter backlash and allow negotiation room. - Qualifications: Bachelor's degree preferred but not required; relevant experience and proven ability are prioritized. - Interview Process: Finalists will undergo a one-day blitz including a tour, board interview, department head meeting, and evening community meet-and-greet (no travel reimbursement offered). Key Outcomes - Approved three liquor licenses for Inn at Weathersfield (first class, third class, outdoor consumption) unanimously. - Accepted errors and omissions for Vermont Electric Power Company reducing grand list by $207,000. - Transferred town PA system to library for public loan. - Set town manager salary range at $90,000–$105,000 with no additional perks; applications close October 15, 2026. - Vacancies on Planning Commission and DRB will be posted; applications accepted until next meeting (September 14, 2026) for appointment.

The Weathersfield Select Board met on August 25, 2026, according to the supplied timestamp; the transcript opens by dating the meeting August 24, 2026. It was called to order at 6:30 p.m.; no end time is given. The board filled two vacancies, reorganized, accepted resignations, discussed the town manager search, changed an authorized representative, and approved the monthly warrant. No agenda or minutes were included with the source material. Public Comments & Testimony - A resident asked the board to create a bipartisan committee to hand-deliver absentee ballots to all registered voters if new U.S. Postal Service restrictions on mail voting take effect; the chair said he would pursue the idea with VLCT and the Secretary of State's office. - Dr. Murray, speaking about the Veterans Memorial Committee, said the committee would submit a memorandum requesting consideration of part of the approximately $5,000 reserve fund for landscaping and replanting at the memorial site. - Lisa requested the police department relocation update, saying it was her third time asking; the chair said the site plan is going back to the DRB and a fuller report is coming. - An online resident asked about the Reading police contract; Chief Greg responded that the town has 24/7 road/on-call coverage except for limited gaps, and that the contract with Reading provides 13 hours per week and took effect July 1. - Windsor County State Senator Becca White offered to return for questions on motorcycle mufflers, the DMV miscellaneous bill, and inspections; the board said it would welcome that at a future meeting. Discussion Items - Minutes review: The board tabled the July 21, July 23, and July 27, 2026 minutes for corrections. Points included a missing recorded vote on July 21, a misquoted transition-team-leader motion and missing amendment vote, no recorded departure time for a member on July 27, and a request to add conflict-of-interest language to a comment by Mr. Lad. The recording secretary was also asked to remove draft labels on approved minutes posted to the website. - Vacancy appointment process: The chair read the August 4 notice of two vacancies effective August 4, 2026, and explained that appointees serve until the next town election unless citizens petition for a special election with signatures from 5% of legal voters. Eight applications were received; Virginia Goddard withdrew that afternoon, leaving seven. Dick Clattenberg and Lawrence Turner were not present when called. Applicants who spoke were: Steve Dauphin, David Fuller, Tom Leach, August Marty, and Zach Van Volkenberg. The board agreed not to take public comment on applicants, to avoid turning the process into a campaign. - Steve Dauphin: 40-year resident and 28-year taxpayer; offered common sense, listening, and a commitment to consider all sides, with fiscal responsibility and public safety as priorities. - David Fuller: former school board member/chair and former select board chair; called for lowering the temperature and restarting, and cited his farm's $33,094 quarterly tax bill as a reason to be part of the fix. - Tom Leach: former select board member; said the town has a PR problem, pointed to two defeated budgets and the roughly $22,000 search, and urged the board to include someone with a different viewpoint. - August Marty: retired Army colonel and former select board member; said he would step down from the budget committee if appointed and offered his policy, fiscal, and leadership experience. - Zach Van Volkenberg: state trooper, EMT, former firefighter, and Army combat medic; called for professionalism, transparency, revisiting the select board's handling of complaints, long-term stability, and a strong town manager search. - Executive session and appointments: The three-member board entered executive session under 1 V.S.A. §313(a)(3) for appointment/evaluation of a public officer, took no action there, then returned to open session. It appointed Zach Van Volkenberg to the two-year seat and David Fuller to the three-year seat, with both terms expiring at the March 2027 town meeting. They were sworn in by the town clerk. - Reorganization: The newly constituted board elected Rika Henderson as chair, David Fuller as vice chair, and DeForest Pierce as board clerk. - Resignations: The board accepted with regret Joseph Boublat's resignations from the Development Review Board and the Planning Commission. - Town manager search update: The meeting originally planned for Thursday was postponed because Joe was unavailable; the chair agreed to reschedule, possibly for Monday, August 31. New members requested copies of the search contract, timetable, and status. A needs-assessment survey for employees, residents, and board members was available online and at the meeting. One board member defended the approximately $20,000 search cost as coming from the former town manager's salary allocation, not fund balance. - Authorized representative change: After clarification that the item concerned the wastewater feasibility study, not the water district, the board amended the motion to include loan number RF1-321-1.0 and appointed Josh Compo as authorized representative so bills related to the study can be signed. - Warrant approval: The board approved the August 24, 2026 warrant: general fund payroll $37,574.57 and operating expenses $75,623.56; highway fund payroll $10,385.17 and operating expenses $27,785.94; solid waste payroll $2,552.04 and operating expenses $2,190.52; library payroll $2,718.78 and operating expenses $37.69; Center Road Paving operating expense $101,641.94. Totals were $53,230.56 in payroll and $207,279.65 in operating expenses. Key Outcomes - Appointed Zach Van Volkenberg (two-year seat) and David Fuller (three-year seat), terms through the March 2027 town meeting. - Reorganized with Rika Henderson as chair, David Fuller as vice chair, and DeForest Pierce as board clerk. - Accepted Joseph Boublat's DRB and Planning Commission resignations. - Tabled all three sets of July minutes for corrections. - Approved the authorized representative change for the wastewater feasibility study with loan number RF1-321-1.0. - Approved the warrant with four ayes and one abstention; the abstaining member said they had not reviewed the warrant. - Scheduled follow-up on the town manager search and agreed to provide new members with the search agreement and status. - Adjourned.

The Weathersfield Planning Commission met on August 18, 2026, at 6:31 PM to discuss the town plan implementation, legislative updates, proposed steep slopes and child care bylaw revisions, and future agenda items. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, a resignation announcement, and extensive deliberation on regulatory changes aimed at facilitating development while addressing land use concerns. Consent Calendar - Motion to approve the minutes of the July 20, 2026 meeting was made, seconded, and passed unanimously with no corrections or amendments. Discussion Items - Town Plan Implementation Update: Brian provided an update on current projects, including the steep slopes bylaw and the child care interim bylaw (set to expire in October 2026). He noted that the interim bylaw’s expiration would revert to older, more restrictive regulations. The board discussed the urgency of adopting a permanent bylaw. - Legislative Summary Discussion: Brian highlighted notable changes from the state’s annual legislative summary, including: - New exemptions for on-farm businesses, aligning with the town plan. - Mandates that duplexes be allowed as a permitted use (not conditional) and that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) no longer require owner-occupancy. - Requirements for municipalities to document progress toward housing targets during plan updates. The board expressed mixed feelings about state mandates but acknowledged alignment with their own goals for increased housing density. - Steep Slopes Bylaw Draft 3: The board debated the need for engineered plans, performance standards, and fire department access. Key points included: - Removing the requirement for a certified engineer’s plan for crossings, replacing it with performance standards (e.g., stormwater detention, no erosion to adjacent properties). - Increasing the threshold for conditional use review from 20,000 sq ft to a half-acre (approx. 21,780 sq ft) of disturbance on steep slopes, excluding driveways. - Requiring a plan (not necessarily engineer-certified) that includes contours and proposed grading, reviewable by the fire chief. - Adding a certificate of compliance (zoning compliance) to ensure built conditions match the plan. - Clarifying that conditional use review applies only to structural/use development, not driveways. - Child Care Bylaw: Brian presented a new draft that simplifies regulation of child care homes (accessory to single-family residences) and treats child care centers as commercial uses subject to site plan review. Discussion included: - Traffic safety on high-speed roads (over 35 mph) requiring off-street parking and maneuvering. - Residency requirements: the operator must reside in the dwelling, but the owner need not be the resident. - Capacity limits left to state licensing, to be explicitly stated in the bylaw. - Signage: level one signs (considered too small) retained for now, with a future review of general sign sizes. - Use tables: child care centers and adult day services would be conditional uses in residential districts, but permitted in commercial/industrial zones. The board agreed to add adult day services as a conditional use in the industrial district. - Future Agenda Items: The board discussed attending the Development Review Board’s meeting on August 25, 2026, to clarify subdivision regulations, specifically regarding conditions for subdivisions without immediate development. A planning grant opportunity was also mentioned; Brian accepted an offer of assistance to complete the application. Key Outcomes - Steep Slopes Bylaw: The board directed staff to produce a revised draft removing the engineer certification requirement, requiring a plan with contours and grading, and adding a certificate of compliance. The conditional use review threshold was set at a half-acre of disturbance. The board aims to finalize for a public hearing, possibly combined with the child care bylaw. - Child Care Bylaw: Staff will seek clarification from the author of an email comment, then produce a clean copy for the next meeting. The board intends to schedule a public hearing after review. - Planning Grant: Staff will work with a board member to complete the grant application to hire professional assistance for bylaw updates. - Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned by motion, with no further business.

The Weathersfield Select Board held a brief special meeting on August 15, 2026, primarily to sign the warrant that could not be approved at the regular Monday meeting due to a lack of quorum. The meeting also included a heartfelt farewell to Town Manager Brandon Goldnik, whose last day was the following day (August 16). Board members expressed gratitude for his service and presented a gift. Consent Calendar - The warrant dated August 10, 2026 was approved unanimously after brief discussion and clarification of specific line items. Discussion Items - Warrant Approval: Board member Joey (unclear role) made a motion to approve the warrant. The warrant included: - General fund payroll: $24,365.87; Operating expenses: $81,181.09 - Highway fund payroll: $10,083.01; Operating expenses: $18,252.29 - Solid waste management fund payroll: $2,351.54; Operating expenses: $1,141.29 - Library payroll: $2,702.07; Operating expenses: $330.00 - Reappraisal contract: $7,250.00 - Grant totals payroll: $39,502.49 - Clarifications: One board member asked about a $45.60 mileage posting and ballots line item under the Flo Ann account. The member learned that postings were done at both post offices, and that training and mileage accounts are standard budget categories. The second question concerned a Parks and Rec Festival invoice from Ebbett McGowan; the board member wondered why other festival costs were not on the warrant. It was clarified that payments are made only after vendors submit invoices. - Farewell to Town Manager: The Chair expressed appreciation for Brandon Goldnik's tenure, noting it exceeded the typical 2.5-year term for New England town managers. Board member Jeremy presented a quill pen and ink set as a gift, with a humorous comment about signing contracts. The Chair also announced that on Monday, August 24, the board will interview candidates for the open select board position; applicants are asked to present their background and interest. Key Outcomes - Warrant Approved: The August 10, 2026 warrant was approved unanimously by voice vote (all in favor, none opposed, no abstentions). - Meeting Adjourned: Motion to adjourn passed unanimously. The meeting was briefly lighthearted about the short duration.

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.