TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
November 12, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
Minutes
Guests
Mike Klopchin, Chair Shelley Lutz
George Ambrose, Clerk Cindy Davis
Robert Congdon, Selectman Ed Baker
Cash Ruane, Selectman Tom Leypoldt
Don Pratt, Selectman Peg TV-Greg
Heidi Congdon, Treasurer
Kimberly Young, Admin Assistant
Bob Underhill
Call to Order – Chair Mike Klopchi calls the meeting to order at 5:59 PM.
Agenda additions/deletions – N/A
Approval of Meeting Minutes -Approval of the last meeting minutes from October 27, 2025.
George Ambrose motions to approve the minutes with Robert Congdon providing the second. The minutes are approved by all members expect Ruane who was absent at this last meeting.
Highway –Ruane discusses two road salt bids from the companies Cargill and Apalachee. Cargill quoted $98.75 for untreated. Apalachee quoted $99.00 for untreated and $112/ton for Treated. Given that treated material runs similar and past experience with Apalachee has proven top notch service with delivery from Casella, Ruane suggests the board go with Apalachee. Robert Congdon motions to accept the bid from Apalachee with George Ambrose providing the second. The motion is approved by all board members.
-Ruane discusses two tree removal bids to remove problem trees adjacent the Cemetery that could potentially fall on the monuments. Benjamin’s Removal and Excavating came in at $2,300. Vaillancourt Tree and Landscape service came in at $2,000. Congdon motions to accept the lowest bid from Vaillancourt. Ambrose provides the second and it is approved unanimously.
-Ruane provides a heads up that the Town garage currently has (2) 3,000-gallon storage tanks (14 years old) needing replacement, with one having a leak. Ruane mentions a 3-year lease program for new poly tanks. Guest Ed Baker provides the suggestion to look in to a Stainless-Steel Tank that would last forever. Ruane agrees this a good option to look in to before any final decisions are made.
Approval of Select Board Warrants – Warrants are approved and signed.
Public Comments – Town Lister Bob Underhill explains that the listers are getting quotes on a new set of maps. The newer maps provide hard copies as well as the benefit of feeding in to the state’s system.
New Business – Tom Leypoldt of Peg TV discusses the process of a permanent set up of recording equipment at the Town Hall. He would first contact his vendor out of Concord, NH who would come in and assess the room for set up and provide a quote. A control panel would a need a permanent location. If the board is interested and approves of this convenient set up, we could be next on the list after the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. Installation takes approximately a couple of days. Leypoldt provides a flash drive with pictures of a similar set up for the board to look at. Currently Pawlet and Rutland City Hall have this set up. Insurance and Voter Privacy issues are discussed. Signage could indicate the cameras are not in use for disclosure. Robert Congdon is interested in at least hearing the proposed quote and motions for Peg TV’s Tom Leypoldt to initiate the process. Ambrose seconds the motion and it is approved unanimously.
–Regional Emergency Management Committee (REMC) Reappointment Form to be signed by Chair Mike Klopchin. Craig Knapp has agreed to be reappointed as Emergency Management Director and Matt Jakubowski has agreed to continue as Emergency Services (Fire Chief). Robert Congdon motions to approve the interested appointees to the committee with Ambrose providing the second. All approve.
-Cindy Davis opens a discussion of a safety issue with the railroad crossing located nearest the intersection of Walker Mountain RD and the south end of the Middle Road. Davis provides a traffic account report and a past request for crossing warning lights back in July of 2008. Davis feels that the report numbers are askew due to the fact that they do not represent traffic numbers here while school is in session. It is noted that the Alfrechia Road railroad crossing has more visibility than this one and Davis would like the Town to try again for obtaining crossing lights here. Robert Congdon makes a motion to have the Administrative Assistant with the help of Clerk George Ambrose, write letters of the safety concern with this railroad crossing to VTrans, the VT Rail Systems as well as the LT. Governor and Governor.
George Ambrose seconds the motion and it is approved by the whole board.
Old Business – Discussion of a new ordinance. Robert Congdon provides that no trespassing signs were put up at the Recreational Field on Monday November 10th. Also noted a hunter was in the Rec. Field on Saturday the 8th. The process of establishing a new Town Ordinance was provided by the Administrative Assistant for the Board to view. It is decided that the Administrative Assistant will look to other Town’s similar Ordinances to reference how they are written and under what statutes.
Discussion of Speed Limit Change on Route 7B. In review of the 2-step process to get a speed limit changed on a State Road, Administrative Assistant Kimberly Young has initiated the process by sending a written request on behalf of the Select Board to the Agency of Transportation for review of the Speed Limit at this location.
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
-Treasurer Heidi Congdon informs all that the next Budget Workshop will be held on November 24th at 5:00 PM, one hour ahead of the Board Meeting. It is open to the public.
-Bob Underhill on behalf of the Cemetery Committee, explains that green and gold aluminum signs are being created depicting known information of the 27 deteriorated Clarendon tombstones. Information for these signs has been reviewed against Margaret Jenks book of Cemetery Inscriptions.
Clerk George Ambrose compliments Lister and Cemetery Committee member Kevin Peck, whose efforts to upgrade the appearance of the Town’s cemeteries are showing significant results.
-Selectman Don Pratt inquiries about the recent Veteran’s Day event held at Clarendon’s Recreational field. Klopchin provides that over 70 people were in attendance and it went well despite the cold and windy weather. Underhill adds that the event was nicely done with food provided and Mill River Band members performing.
Select Board Member Concerns
–Selectman Cash Ruane expresses concern that there were not many Select Board members in attendance of the Veteran’s Day Event put on by the Recreation Committee. He suggests that next year the Select Board have more of a presence at the event, including a presentation.
Chair Mike Klopchin talks about an idea of putting a Veteran’s memorial between the Elementary School and the Firehouse.
Selectman Robert Congdon discusses having the memorial wall out front be constructed with more names to honor the fallen with the inclusion of more recent wars like the Korean and Vietnam war.
Adjournment – Robert Congdon motions to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 PM with Cash Ruane providing the second. All are in agreement and the meeting is hereby adjourned
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
FY27 BUDGET WORKSHOP
Wednesday November 12, 2025 5:00PM
AGENDA
Attendees:
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
FY27 Budget discussion
Public Comments
Recess
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
November 12, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes -Approval of the last meeting minutes from October 27, 2025
Highway –Tree Removal
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
New Business – Tom Leypoldt of Peg TV to discuss the possibility of a permanent set up of video equipment.
–Regional Emergency Management Committee (REMC) Reappointment Form to be signed by Chair Mike Klopchin. Craig Knapp has agreed to be reappointed as Emergency Management Director and Matt Jakubowski has agreed to continue as Emergency Services (Fire Chief).
-Cindy Davis to discuss Railroad Crossing Safety
Old Business – Discussion of a new ordinance
- Discussion of Speed Limit on Route 7B
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
