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Richford Selectboard elects officers, fills posts and approves plow attachment purchase; road renamed for E911
Summary
At its March 16, 2026 meeting the Town of Richford Selectboard reorganized leadership, appointed multiple commissioners and committees, approved the purchase of a plow attachment and a VT Electric Cooperative ROW occupancy request, and unanimously renamed a road 'Park View' for E911 compliance.
The Town of Richford Selectboard reorganized its leadership, approved a slate of appointments, and took a set of routine operational actions at its March 16, 2026 meeting at Town Hall.
Town Administrator Marissa Tessier called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Chair Wally Steinhour, Vice Chair Alan Fletcher, Selectwoman Kristin Murphy, and Selectmen Stephen Fletcher and Joseph Desmarais were present. The board nominated and approved a reorganization slate that affirmed Wally Steinhour as chair and Alan Fletcher as vice chair and Water & Sewer Commissioner; the board also confirmed commissioner assignments for highway, building, parks, ambulance and fire, trash and police functions. All reorganization motions passed unanimously.
The board approved a series of appointments by unanimous vote. Laura Hancock and Karen Cangelosi were appointed to the Planning Commission; Jonathan Hancock was appointed as lister; Tracy Ovitt was appointed Animal Control officer; Andrew Pond, Shelby Paquette and Colby Tanner were nominated as fire wardens; Marissa Tessier was named the Regional Planning Commission representative; Marianne Hall, Rowena Brown and John Libbey were appointed to the Richford Revolving Loan Fund Committee for two-year terms; Jason Wetherby was appointed Road Foreman; Monaghan, Safar, Duchan PLLC was retained as town attorney; Kristin Murphy was named Town Solid Waste Coordinator; Alton Dunakin was named Town Tree Warden; Dan Seeley was named Northwest Communications Union District representative; and Vaughn Comeau was named delinquent tax sale attorney. The Emergency Management chair/assistant and the Transportation Advisory Committee representative were tabled for further information, and the Town Energy Coordinator position remains vacant pending volunteer interest.
On minutes and routine business, Chair Steinhour moved to approve the board’s Feb. 16, 2026 minutes; the motion passed 3-0 with Selectman Stephen Fletcher and Selectman Joseph Desmarais recorded as abstaining.
Operational items included approval to purchase a rear-mounted plow attachment for the town truck that serves the village and South Richford Road; the motion to purchase passed unanimously. Town Administrator Tessier presented a Town Road Right-of-Way occupancy request from VT Electric Cooperative to move power lines onto Guilmette Road; the board approved the request unanimously. Selectman Alan Fletcher reported that pre-construction for the Golf Course Road project has occurred and work will begin shortly.
During public comment resident Heather Privee raised a concern that a zoning violation letter she received lacked a clear list of alleged violations required by "state statute." The board discussed the matter and said future letters will be more detailed. Eric Collins asked the board to change a road name previously called East River Street because the earlier name did not meet E911 standards; the board unanimously approved renaming the road to "Park View." The board also noted it is seeking bids for multiple town projects, including repairs to the Post Office stairs.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m. The Emergency Management chair and assistant and the TAC representative remain on the table for the board’s April 6 meeting.
