TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
August 25, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
Minutes
Guests
Mike Klopchin, Chair Robert Bixby
George Ambrose, Clerk/Parliamentarian Jim Austin
Robert Congdon Chris Gatti-Palance
Don Pratt Kevin Peck
Cash Ruane Ed Baker
Heidi Congdon Carol Geery
Kimberly Young Jan McCoy
William/Peg TV Harry Withington
Sarah Kumm Rich Clark
Ashley Robinson John Geery
Call to Order
Chair Mike Klopchin called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM
Agenda additions/deletions
George Ambrose motions to add an Executive Session at the end of the meeting as well as the addition of both the review of a Fireworks Permit and signing of the official Cleaning Contract to New Business. Cash Ruane seconds the motion. It was approved by all.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
George Ambrose motions to approve the minutes from the last Select Board meeting held July 28th, 2025. Don Pratt seconds this motion and it is approved by all.
Highway
-Access Permit Application
Selectman Robert Congdon motions to approve an Access Permit for Pinkowski’s on Moulton Avenue. George Ambrose seconds the motion and it is unanimously approved.
Road Commissioner Cash Ruane discusses the Squires Road project. Culverts have been removed and material has been added. The project is coming in over budget in preparation for construction and paving. Ruane updates the board on a truck transmission issue. Ruane will call Mack in the morning and discussions on the matter will continue.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Warrants are approved and signed.
Guests
Public Comments
New Business
–Carol Geery to discuss Schoolboard Community Letter.
Carol Geery speaks about Act 73. The school board had hoped to mail an informational letter with the Clarendon Town tax bills, but it did not work out timing wise. The School Board now plans to do their own mailing for Clarendon utilizing the taxpayers Grand List. Surrounding towns are able to place the letter in their Town Newsletters. Robert Congdon directs her inquiries on the number of copies needed to go to the Town Clerk. Geery proceeds to read a summarization of the letter’s points. There will be a change in the way school choice is paid along with new requirements for numbers of students and class size minimums. A consolidation committee has been formed and will be determining districts and a superintendent. Carol Geery advises that the School Board wants to keep existing school buildings in good shape and invites all to attend board meetings in person or even virtually as these meetings are always open to the public.
-Ashley Robinson to discuss delinquent taxes.
Ashley Robinson, Clarendon’s town tax collector addresses the issue of some Clarendon tax payers who have not been paying their taxes. Robert Congdon made three separate motions; two authorizing the tax collector to put a lien on two specific estates and a third general motion authorizing the tax collector to go forward with liens on all the tax sale items listed on her outline. George Ambrose seconded the first estate item along with the general list of tax sales, while Don Pratt seconded the second specific estate item in question. All motions were unanimously approved by the Select Board Members. Robinson affirms that the delinquent tax amounts are the lowest that they have ever been. Robert Congdon praises her for all of her good work on minimizing them.
-Sarah Kumm to provide an update for the Recreation Committee.
Sarah Kumm first asks guest Chris Gatti-Palance to discuss Chat and Chew. Chat and Chew is described as an informal, enjoyable pot luck event with great conversation. It is held upstairs at the Town Hall Grange/Community Center on both the second and fourth of each month. It is currently posted on the Clarendon Vermont Community Facebook page. It has also been seen on the Town’s website as well as mentioned at previous Select Board meetings. A flyer is discussed to be put out in the future for those who don’t use social media. Special Thanksgiving and Christmas events are also being planned. A cellist who performed at a recent Chat and Chew was well received, opening up the idea to additional musicians for future potlucks. Additionally, Chris discusses having held Early Education Story Time once a month. Parents have stayed with attendance of 3-4 kids who also received library cards. The board thanked her for her time and offering of this type of community experience.
Sarah Kumm, Chair of the Recreation Committee, describes a planned Veterans Day event at the recreational field to include the MRU marching band and a flag raising. There will be tents, full meals, heaters and possible sheriffs to help with parking. Sarah seeks the boards opinion on better security for the area; she would like to have it locked down from dawn to dusk as well as the winter season. Robert Congdon motions to fund new outer gates for the property with the Selectman’s Fund (later altered to the Contingency Fund). George Ambrose seconds the motion and it is approved by all members. Cash Ruane adds that the Highway Department may be able to help install it. Sarah is appreciative of any help they may be able to provide for the upcoming event. George Ambrose expresses gratitude to both Sarah and the Recreation Committee for all of their work.
-Sarah Kumm to discuss a corner sign for her property.
Sarah Kumm expresses interest in putting up a 36” sign on her property with 4 signs below it naming the many businesses on the road she lives on. Robert Congdon mentions that the signs should be 50 feet from the road and also warns that the State most likely will call it a Billboard and have them removed. Signs for temporary events with actual business sponsors are allowed but full-time advertising of businesses other than your own on your property is not allowed at all. Consensus is that the State rules are cumbersome and it would be the Zoning Administrator that would need to provide a permit for the signs.
-Fireworks Permit
The Select Board approves a Fireworks Permit for 951 Airport Rd for the date of September 13, 2025. Initial motion to approve came from Robert Congdon with George Ambrose seconding it.
-Cleaning Contract
The Town’s recently drawn up Cleaning Contract with Commercial Building Services was returned signed by the owner earlier on this day. Robert Congdon makes a motion to approve Chair Michael Klopchin to sign and finalize this official contract. Cash Ruane seconds the motion and it is approved by all.
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Treasurer Heidi Congdon provides input that the tax bills were recently mailed out and payments are readily coming in.
Select Board Member Concerns
George Ambrose expresses his concern for townspeople like himself that do not utilize social media platforms such as Facebook. He would like to see the Chat and Chew and other events communicated in a better manner in order to give everyone awareness and access.
Robert Congdon in acknowledgment of the previous discussion surrounding Act 73, asks everyone to pay attention to it. He feels that it will have an effect on everyone eventually and as Principal of a local Independent School, has seen the collateral damage it is caused them already.
Executive Session
Robert Congdon provides a motion for the board to enter in to Executive Session at 7:08 PM. Cash Ruane seconds the motion and it is approved by all.
Executive Session ends at 7:40 PM without formal motions, as George Ambrose provides that according to Roberts Rules of Order you do not have to motion to come out of executive session. Instead, the presiding members can call to adjourn the meeting without motion. A statement is given that discussion of Highway Personnel issues will continue with no action taken at this time.
Adjournment
Robert Congdon motions to adjourn at 7:40PM; seconded by Don Pratt and approved by all.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
August 25, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Highway
–Access permit application
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
New Business
–Carol Geery to discuss Schoolboard Community Letter.
-Ashley Robinson to discuss delinquent taxes.
-Sarah Kumm to provide an update for the Recreation Committee.
-Sarah Kumm to discuss a corner sign for her property.
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
