TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday June 9, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Mike Klopchin, Chair
George Ambrose
Robert Congdon
Cash Ruane
Don Pratt
Heidi Congdon
Kimberly Young
William, PEGTV
Kevin Peck
Shelly Lutz
Bob Bixby
Ed Baker
Agenda additions/deletions
–Robert Congdon motions to add under New Business a follow up discussion of the Special Meeting that was had on June 4, 2025.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
-Approval of the last meeting minutes from May 28, 2025
Robert Congdon makes a motion to approve and sign the last meeting minutes. George Ambrose provides the second and it is approved unanimously.
Highway
-Road Commissioner’s Report
Road Commissioner Cash Ruane ask the board’s permission to sell the old trailer which was recently replaced with a new one. He would ask around $3500. Robert Congdon motions to approve listing the old trailer for sale. George Ambrose seconds and it is approved by all.
-Discussion of Enclosed Trailer
Ruane would like to have Town of Clarendon stickers put on the new enclosed trailer as well as a door on the Western Star which has had some damage to it. The Town Treasurer indicates that there are funds available for this. Robert Congdon makes a motion to approve up to $1,000 dollars for reflective stickers/letters for the new trailer. George Ambrose seconds the motion and it is approved by all members. Ruane briefly relates that Viking has provided a quote for a small 150-gallon ply brine tank with spraybar and pump for $4800-$5,000 dollars for future consideration.
-Discussion on Overhanging Trees on Quarterline Road
Ruane discusses that there are trees overhanging a small section of Quarterline Road of which the land owners wish to not have them cut back. Mike Klopchin reads Vermont State Statute 19 V.S.A. Sub chapter 904 regarding tree and brush removal by a municipality. Robert Congdon recalls that the owners are more against roadside mowing. He suggests the road crew possibly use a pull saw to remove overhanging branches instead of mowing. Congdon motions to have selectboard members George Ambrose and Cash Ruane stop by to have a conversation with the Quarterline property owners regarding the trees in question. Guest Ed Baker confirms that he has also experienced an issue with the trees in regards to travelling through the area with Sap trucks and a mower. Don Pratt seconds the motion for the proposed conversation with the owners and the board approves unanimously.
Approval of Select Board Warrants
All warrants are approved and signed.
Guests
Public Comments
New Business
–Financial Management Questionnaire – Town and Cities to be signed
Treasurer Heidi Congdon states that this annual survey asks questions regarding financial controls. Robert Congdon motions to approve the signing of the FMQ by the board’s chair. George Ambrose seconds the motion and it is approved by all members.
-Financial Report Form for FEMA reimbursement to be signed
Heidi Congdon explains that this form in front of them is an updated FEMA Reimbursement Form. The percentage was upped from it’s original 70% to now 90%. This form’s approval would allow a reimbursement to the town for the difference; specifically, $1006.00
Robert Congdon motions for the Chair to sign the Financial Report Reimbursement Form on behalf of the board. Don Pratt seconds and it is approved by all members.
-Letter to Legislature to be signed
Robert Congdon reads the letter he had previously written to the legislature which was approved by the board and updated with grammatical corrections. This letter is in regards to how the Unified School District Vacancy was recently handled. All members then sign the letter and it will be mailed to the VT Legislature the following day.
-Law Enforcement Contract to be signed
Robert Congdon motions to sign the Law Enforcement Contract. Don Pratt seconds the motion and it is approved and signed by all members.
-Mowing Contracts
Kevin Peck, Lister and Cemetery Committee member is asked to speak. He discusses that the mowers have now been out and about. He relays that one of the owners had stopped in to the office with their received letter, but he did not speak with this person himself. Peck describes that the cemeteries are looking better however leaf refuse still exists. They were invited to attend tonight’s meeting if they so wished as it is on the agenda. He noted that the weather has been wet, nevertheless the town’s ballfield was mowed 3 times to the cemeteries one. He would like the issue to be postponed to our next select board meeting in July. George Ambrose makes a motion to table the Cemetery Mowing Contract for another meeting. Congdon provides the second and it is approved by all. Congdon additionally motions for signing both the Transfer Station and Recreational Fields Mowing Contracts. It is seconded by George Ambrose and approved by all board members.
-Discussion of Special Meeting June 4th, 2025
Robert Congdon states that feedback specific to the Land Use Map was given to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) but the consensus of displeasure over the process was not. Congdon feels that it is important that the Board and Planning Committee give the citizens voice by passing on their thoughts and opinions from the meeting. George Ambrose mentions that he had asked the Administrative Assistant Kimberly Young to add a simple statement to the Feedback Letter to the RRPC mentioning the public notion of withdrawing from the RRPC. Don Pratt has looked at the Rutland Regional Draft Plan on their website and notes that it is approximately 400 pages long. Robert Congdon feels that the definitions outlined in all those pages would be terrifying to read in depth. A guest remarks that we have to consider what we might lose if we were to back out. Congdon suggests outreach to the Town of Pittsfield who has pulled away from the RRPC to ask them how that has worked for them and what has changed? It is mentioned that possibly towns could collectively do their own thing.
Robert Congdon motions that a draft letter to both RRPC and the Legislature be drawn up for review at the next Select Board meeting June 23, 2025, outlining the public response from the Special Meeting/Hearing. George Ambrose adds that the minutes from that meeting would be a good resource for the project. Ambrose seconds the motion for the letter and it is approved by all members.
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Treasurer Heidi Congdon discusses the Budget Status that has been given noting that the banking interest will be allocated to various town funds. Robert Congdon notes that the Transfer Station numbers are up and we are on the right track with the revisions we made.
Lister Kevin Peck remarks that there are 3 days left to the grievance period on the preliminary Grand List that was warned and posted. Praise from the board is given to him from how wonderful the cemeteries are looking in addition to the work him and Bob Underhill have done as town listers.
Administrative Assistant Kimberly Young remarks that a draft of the minutes from the Special Meeting has been completed from her notes at the meeting. The draft was forwarded to John Mckenna chair of the Planning Commission for his review and the Select Board will receive the draft subsequently.
Select Board Member Concerns
George Ambrose discusses the mutual agreement to meet with the Road Crew. He proposes an executive session for this discussion at the next meeting at the end of June.
Robert Congdon brings up concerns regarding information he has received on issues with the Solid Waste District, specifically within the Board. He suggests that Kim Young invite our town’s representative on this board to our first Select Board meeting in July. At this meeting for privacy reasons the issue can be discussed in Executive Session.
Adjournment
Robert Congdon motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 PM. Cash Ruane seconds. The meeting is officially adjourned.
TOWN OF CLARENDON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING REGULAR
Monday June 9, 2025
Clarendon Town Hall @ 6:00PM
AGENDA
Call to Order
Agenda additions/deletions
Approval of Meeting Minutes
-Approval of the last meeting minutes from May 28, 2025
Highway
-Road Commissioner’s report
-Discussion of Enclosed Trailer
-Discussion on Overhanging Trees on Quarterline Road
Approval of Select Board Warrants
Guests
Public Comments
New Business
–Financial Management Questionnaire – Town and Cities to be signed
-Financial Report Form for FEMA reimbursement to be signed
-Letter to Legislature to be signed
-Law Enforcement Contract to be signed
-Mowing Contracts
Old Business
Town Officer’s & Committee Member Report
Select Board Member Concerns
Adjournment
