TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Wednesday September 10, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
Minutes
Guests
Mike Klopchin, Chair
George Ambrose, Clerk/Parliamentarian
Robert Congdon, Selectman
Don Pratt, Selectman
Cash Ruane, Selectman/Road Commissioner
Kimberly Young, Administrative Assistant
William -PEGTV
Jimmy Austin
Ed Baker
Bob Underhill
Kevin Peck
Shelly Lutz
Horst Gebauer
Call to Order
Chair Mike Klopchin called the meeting to order at 6:02PM.
Selectman Robert Congdon calls for a moment of silence for events in our country over the past couple of days.
Agenda additions/deletions
Robert Congdon provides a motion to add three additional topics to the agenda. Approval of minutes from July 25, 2025 will be added to the Approval of Minutes category. Cash at the Transfer Station and Town Newsletter to be added to New Business. Don Pratt seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
-Approval of the last meeting minutes from August 25, 2025.
George Ambrose motions to approve these minutes with a second given by Robert Congdon. All board members approve.
-Approval of the minutes from Special meeting held on July 25, 2025.
Don Pratt motions to approve these minutes with a second given by Cash Ruane. All in approval.
Highway
-Road Commissioner’s Report
Cash Ruane provides an update on Squires Road. Paving is completed and it should be opened back up tonight. Tom Fuller to put a double line strip on it. Ruane has suggested moving the line to the southern part at the bottom for ease of truck turning. In addition, signs are to be put up indicating percentage of the slope.
Discussion ensues regarding three culverts replaced on this road. One culvert was from a pre-existing permit; a second supplied from a resident and a third added as necessary at the bottom for purpose of better maintenance and keeping the hedgerow back.
Ruane gives a grading update: the majority of the town’s dirt roads are in decent shape. Quarterline Road is powdery. Ruane feels that a grader here would take an enormous amount of dust control product. Ambrose offers that drivers of this road just need to slow down for its washboard conditions.
Chair Klopchin asks the guests if they have any questions or comments. Guest Jimmy Austin speaks up with concern of a recliner chair that was left in a ditch for a long duration. Road Commissioner Ruane explains that he was fully aware of the chair and could not lift it up in to a truck himself. After the busyness of work on Squires Road was completed, he enlisted help to take care of the heavy chair. It has been removed and sent to Hubbard’s.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Warrants were located, reviewed and signed.
Guests
Public Comments
Guest Shelly Lutz shares an error on the Town’s website concerning the Clarendon Selectboard Meeting Schedule. The meeting originally dated for Monday September 8th. 2025 was changed to Wednesday September 10th. 2025, due to PEG TV’s inability to attend that Monday. Administrative Assistant Kimberly Young will make sure going forward that the online calendar is updated properly.
New Business
–Transfer Station Alternate Appointees
George Ambrose discusses the need for back up for our current Transfer Station Attendees. An opening for this job was posted recently with two applicants of interest; Jimmy Austin and Lee Congdon Jr. Ambrose expresses that both candidates would perform well in this position and provides a motion to appoint them both as Alternate Attendees. Don Pratt provides the second. Congdon abstains from voting due to being related to one of the candidates. The remaining members approve.
-Grand List Corrections
Congdon makes a motion to approved the 5 grand list changes. Ambrose provides the second and it is unanimously approved.
-Cash at the Transfer Station
Ambrose examines the issue of accepting cash payments at the Transfer Station. Accepting cash for trash opens up issues with accountability and criticism in our audits. Do we want to continue to allow it? Transfer Station Attendee Horst Gebauer outlines an example of a situation in which they had to accept cash. When a customer has 4 to 5 bags of garbage and only 1 punch left on their card, he encourages them to go to the Town Office to purchase additional tickets. However, when this occurs late in the afternoon on Wednesdays or on Sundays when the Town Office isn’t open, this just isn’t feasible. Discussion ensues with ideas on how to discourage cash transactions and how to handle emergent situations when cash is warranted. Credit card systems and receipt books are mentioned. Congdon suggests that we monitor the trend and discuss again at a later time. It is decided that Horst, the Town Treasurer and a Select Board member can sit down and discuss ideas together at a future time to be determined.
-Newsletter
Ambrose discusses that although many community members utilize Facebook and our website to obtain information, some of our members do not. Ambrose in the past had compiled and funded a newsletter in which about 300 copies were circulated once a month for 2 years. A few surrounding towns provide newsletters run by volunteers. He questions if we now would like to improve messages out to the community. Klopchin mentions bulletin boards are available around town for postings. Congdon feels that considering the current times it wouldn’t be wise to dump money in to a print project. The outcome of the discussion is that the Administrative Assistant and Town Clerk will research getting the Facebook Clarendon Community page linked to the Town’s website for ease of accessing information and schedules.
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Lister Bob Underhill updates all present that the town listers have been busy with training to satisfy the State’s requirements for Listers. Of the 40 hours required training they have completed 22 thus far.
Cash Ruane reminds everyone that taxes are due by October 15th.
Kimberly Young who has been working with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, explains that the Town Hall is still a contributing resource to the Clarendon Village Historic District. It has not been delisted from the State Register as previously thought. It means that the town is eligible to apply for historic preservation funding. A guide of standards to follow as well as detailed funding opportunities are provided as information for the board to think about in terms of the building’s future.
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
Robert Congdon motions to adjourn the meeting. Cash Ruane provides the second. Entire board is in agreement. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Wednesday September 10, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
-Approval of the last meeting minutes from August 25, 2025
Highway
-Road Commissioner’s report
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
New Business
–Transfer Station Alternate Appointees
-Grand List Corrections
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
Public Comment Instructions
Members of the public have the right to participate in public meetings.
If you wish to speak during Public Input, please note that your time will be limited and must follow the below guidelines:
- Before speaking, please state your full name.
- When you are informed by the Chair that your time is up, you will be expected to yield to the next speaker. Speakers will have a maximum of 3 minutes to make their comments.
- Public input is for receiving comment on items pertaining to this or past agendas. Public comment will not be used as a time for problem solving or reactions to comments made. We do take note of your comments as they help to inform the boards’ future actions.
- Rudeness, ridicule or profane language, lack of respect and personal attacks are not acceptable behavior.
