Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hartland Selectboard approves road name, moves ahead on FY27 budget and directs letter to library trustees
Summary
At its Dec. 15 meeting the Hartland Selectboard approved naming a private drive Old Oak Lane, reviewed reductions in the FY27 draft budget that leave a 4.6% combined increase for General and Highway funds, and voted to send a letter from the chair to the library trustees following a town employee complaint.
Phil Hobbie, chair of the Hartland Selectboard, opened the Dec. 15 meeting and presided as the board handled routine business, reviewed budget changes and addressed a personnel-related complaint.
John, the town manager, told the board the draft FY27 budget was pared in several places: mileage reimbursement was removed from administrative lines, computer purchases were reduced, the reappraisal fund was cut by $5,000, and a water line formerly budgeted for the North Hartland School was removed because the school’s water need is no longer included. Repairs, maintenance and fuel line items were removed, and the buildings-and-grounds salt expense was moved into the Highway budget; John said those adjustments result in a combined 4.6% increase across the General and Highway funds.
The library director, Tracy Joy, and trustee Meredith Liben described revisions to the library’s budget, including the removal of surplus funds. The board discussed FICA obligations related to library staffing during budget deliberations.
On a separate matter the board revisited a complaint filed by town employees. Phil Hobbie summarized the Selectboard’s follow-up and said the board consulted the Town Attorney about legal questions that arose. After public comment, Jim Rielly moved to approve a draft letter on the meeting packet to be sent from the Selectboard chair to the library trustees; the motion carried unanimously.
In new business the board approved a request to name a private drive off Clay Hill Road Old Oak Lane. John presented the naming request; Jim Rielly moved the measure, Thomas Kennedy seconded and the board voted in favor.
In other business John noted a draft of town meeting articles is in the packet, including an article concerning the possible sale of the North Hartland School building and a discussion about placing an intended use on the library reserve fund. He also reported an Open Meeting Law notification had been emailed to the clerk and chair about minutes not being posted within the required window, and the board urged timely posting by commissions.
During the Town Manager update John said contractors will inspect water issues at the library (served by the Recreation Center system) the following day, a John Deere tractor requires repairs and staff schedules for the Christmas week were set; he added there was no update on traffic-signal work at the Three Corners intersection.
Votes at a glance: The board unanimously approved (1) accepting the Dec. 8 minutes and executive session minutes, (2) accounts payable through Dec. 15, (3) sending the draft letter from the Selectboard chair to the library trustees, and (4) naming the private drive off Clay Hill Road Old Oak Lane.
The meeting record shows routine correspondence including an ACT 250 permit extension notice and information from the Vermont Covered Bridge Society. The minutes were recorded and submitted by Cheyenne Latimer.
