TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
February 27, 2023
Minutes
Attendees:
Select Board
Mike Klopchin, Chair
Robert Congdon
Cash Ruane
Art Menard
Katie Nop, Secretary
Gloria Menard, Town Clerk
William Chmielewski, PEG-TV
Kurt Hathaway, K.T. Hathaway, LLC
Sarah Kumm
Riley Kumm
Kevin Peck
Call to Order
Chairman Klopchin called the meeting to order at 6:02PM.
Agenda additions/deletions
N/A
Chairman Klopchin mentioned that Selectman Bixby was unable to attend due to health reasons. This would have been his last meeting because he is not running for Select Board again. Chairman Klopchin thought it would be nice to give him a call at the hospital. Selectman Congdon called Bob and put him on speakerphone. The Board thanked him for his service to the town. Selectman Bixby hopes to make it to the March 6th informational meeting.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Selectman Congdon motioned to approve the Regular Meeting minutes from February 13, 2023 and Selectman Ruane seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Highway
Road Commissioner Report-
Creek Road Improvements Contract Award–
There was a public bid opening held on February 22nd where 7 out of the 8 contractors that attended the pre-bid conference, submitted a bid. After the bid opening, the results were emailed to the Board and posted to the website as well. The results were as follows:
Richard Reed & Sons-$222,500.00
DeBisschop Excavating- $139,350.00
Belden Construction- $197,050.00
Markowski Excavating Inc.- $194,045.37
Neil H. Daniels Inc.- $123,500.00
KT Hathaway- $92,100.00
Casella Construction Inc.- $167,250.00
The Board received a letter of recommendation from the engineer on the project to award the contract to K.T. Hathaway. Selectman Congdon motioned to award the contract to KT Hathaway and have the Board chairman sign the contract, Selectman Ruane seconded, and all approved.
Chairman Klopchin wanted to mention how well a job the road crew has done in putting the addition on the garage.
Chairman Klopchin mentioned that he received an email from Division on Addictions, asking the town to consider listing them on Clarendon’s resource page on the town’s website. The Division on Addictions website has compiled a list of rehab centers in Vermont for those who struggle with addiction. The Board was agreeable to it and Selectman Congdon noted that the Division on Addictions website could be listed under “Links” on the town’s website.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
All new warrants and warrants previously signed by the designated Select Board Member were approved and signed by all Select Board Members.
Guests
Chairman Klopchin asked if Kevin Peck was on the agenda for tonight. Kevin said he and Katie were going to discuss information about the Gene Stone/Spafford Cemetery issue but Katie had planned to bring it up in her officer’s report. Chairman Klopchin said they could present now.
Katie said that from the last meeting the Board had directed her and the Cemetery Committee to research further whether the burials that are on Gene Stone’s land were town burials or private burials. Katie said it was suggested to look on the death certificates to see if they indicated what type of burial. She was able to review the death certificate for Louis P. Dazzi but it did not say what type of burial. The other gentleman (Wayne Pelkey) did not die in VT so Katie could not obtain the death certificate. Katie said she reviewed minutes around the time that they died and the summers after and couldn’t find anything that would indicate if the town approved their burials or not. She found that in the minutes from April 24, 2006 it says “G. Stone reported that in 1950 based on a handshake several persons had been buried at the south end of the cemetery (off cemetery land) on land that he now owns.” Selectman Congdon said it sounds like he bought the land in “as is” condition and was aware of the people buried on his land. Kevin said he looked through the minutes and searched for anything under their last names, burials, Spafford Cemetery, cemeteries, etc., and couldn’t find info on those burials, only info on the land dispute that’s been going on for years. Selectman Congdon figured before the Board reaches any finality with this issue, Katie and Kevin should reach out to Hugh Spafford to see if he has any information on the situation. The Board also asked that the deeds to Gene’s property be reviewed to see if the burials are referenced at all in them.
Public Comments
N/A
Old Business
N/A
New Business
N/A
Town Officer’s Report
Gloria, Town Clerk, reported that next Tuesday is election day. Voting is from 10am-7pm at the Town Hall. There is an informational meeting on Monday, March 6 at 7PM at the Community Center to go over the articles that will be on the ballot.
Katie, Secretary, reported that she could not locate a newer purchasing policy that the Board had thought they completed. Selectman Congdon and Chairman Klopchin also noted that they couldn’t find one. Katie will have the Board review the 2004 policy at their next meeting. Katie also reported that she is working on the AARP grant and will have that ready for the Board to review at their next meeting.
Select Board Member Concerns
Selectman Ruane wanted to remind the public to be cautious of all snowplows, public and private, and that it is illegal to push snow across the road.
Chairman Klopchin said that on Friday on East Tinmouth Road, there was a car that went off the road and wanted to thank Mark Chapin for coming down with his tractor to pull it out of the ditch.
Adjournment
Selectman Congdon motioned to adjourn at 6:28PM, Selectman Menard seconded, and all approved.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday, February 27, 2023
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting: February 13, 2023
Highway
Road Commissioner Report
Creek Road Improvements Contract Award
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
Old Business
New Business
Town Officer’s Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
