1. Call Meeting to Order

Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Vice Chair; Jacki Murphy, Clerk; Charlie Papillo; Maureen P. Dakin

Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager; Julie Graeter, Town Clerk

Others Present: Phyllis Bryden, Chad Hewitt

Pledge of Allegiance

Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Citizens to be Heard*

Phyllis Bryden, of East Lakeshore Drive came forward to ask about information items. She explained that we are in inflationary times and spoke about pricing of the Malletts Bay Sewer Project and the Colchester Recreation Center. She stated that Colchester residents are outdoor people, that the community does not need an indoor recreation center, and that the outdoor pickleball is enough. She asked if the Town could assist the International Sailing Center at the Bayside/Hazlett property and noted the beauty of the sailboat gala on the bay on different evenings of the week.

3. ACTION | Consent Agenda

a. Minutes of 1.24.2023 Selectboard Meeting

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adopt the Consent Agenda as it may have been modified by the Board and to take the actions indicated for each item:

a. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of January 24, 2023.

The MOTION carried.

4. Special Business Items

a. ACTION: Presentation of the FY22 Audit Chad Hewitt, Sullivan, Powers & Co., P.C.

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to accept the 2022 Audit Report dated June 30, 2022, as presented by Chad Hewitt,

Sullivan, Powers & Co.

Chad Hewitt from Sullivan, Powers & Co., P.C. reported that the FY22 Town of Colchester Audit was found to be a clean unqualified opinion. He outlined the audit, detailing the sections and content provided by the auditing team and finance department.

The MOTION carried.

b. ACTION: Approve Certificate of Highway Mileage|Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve and sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for the year ending February 10, 2023 per a memo from Amanda Clayton, Town Engineer, dated January 26, 2023.

Town Manager Aaron Frank shared the two changes including adding mileage for the previously-approved Marble Island Road and a subtraction of 0.02 mileage.

The MOTION carried.

c. ACTION: Authorization for Conveyance of Town-owned Property (102 Canyon Estates)

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to authorize the Town Manager to effectuate the conveyance of 102 Canyon Estates to Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity for the purchase price of $80,000 for the purpose of constructing and selling an affordable home in Colchester.

Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall explained this property was damaged during a fire and ultimately demolished, that the land was then purchased by the Town, and finally, after being directed by the Selectboard, provided notice to the public of the town's intent to convey 102 Canyon Estates to Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity to build an affordable home on the parcel.

The MOTION carried.

d. ACTION: Cancellation of February 28, 2023 Selectboard Meeting and Warrant Authorization

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to cancel the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 and to authorize Aaron Frank, Town Manager, to sign the end-of-month warrants.

The MOTION carried.

5. ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Colchester Liquor Control Commission

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to temporarily adjourn the meeting of the Selectboard and convene a meeting of the Liquor Control Commission.

The MOTION carried.

6. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations

There were no further recommendations.

7. Informational Items

There were no questions on the informational items.

8. Announcements

Town Manager Aaron Frank shared that the Town will no longer be administering the State Wastewater and Potable Water Supply Program beginning March 1^st, 2023; that after that time, applications and design questions and issues should be directed to the State of Vermont; and that if anyone has questions about this, they can contact the Colchester Department of Public Works at 802-264-5620.

Town Manager Frank also announced that Colchester Police Officer Fell was selected to fill the role of investigator for the Chittenden Unit of Special Investigations for the year; Officer Bitca was promoted to Sergeant; and Officer Fish retired after serving the Town since 1989, wishing him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger announced that thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Colchester Police Department and the School administrators, the school was able to return to normal activities within 45 minutes of receiving the initial call last Wednesday regarding a public safety threat to CHS.

Additionally, Selectboard Chair Loranger congratulated the following Colchester businesses that were selected in the Vermont Business Magazine's 2023 Best Places to Work in Vermont: Age Well, Champlain Community Services, Edward Jones, Green Mountain Surgery Center, Nu Harbor Security, Saba Marine, Vermont Information Processing.

Lastly, Selectboard Chair Loranger asked folks to tune in this Thursday at 7AM to WVMT The Morning Drive to hear Glen Cuttitta, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Selectboard member Charlie Papillo discuss the Recreation Center and the upcoming vote on Town Meeting Day March 7th.

Town Manager Aaron Frank added that Peter Brigante recently donated an original oil painting depicting the Colchester Reef Lighthouse and that it will be displayed in the Town Offices.

9. ACTION | Warrants

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #23-22 in the amount of $770,152.26 and Warrant #23-23 in the amount of $304,281.17

There were no questions on the warrants.

The MOTION carried.

10. Executive Session

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to find that premature general public knowledge of contracts, labor relations agreements, and personnel issues would clearly place this Selectboard at a substantial disadvantage because the Selectboard risks disclosing its negotiation strategy if it discusses these topics in public.

Town Manager Aaron Frank shared that a resident inquired about the Town’s relationships to contractors. He explained that the Town Manager is limited to voter-approved funding. He noted that, after discussing it with the Town attorney, the Town could be at a substantial disadvantage regarding pricing if the framework or other elements of these contracts are discussed in public, so it is advisable for the Selectboard to discuss them in Executive Session.

The MOTION carried.

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Charlie Papillo to enter executive session to discuss contracts, labor relations agreements, and personnel issues under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313 (a)(1)&(b) and (a)(3) of the Vermont Statutes, Executive Sessions.

The MOTION carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.