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 & Treasurer

Others Present: Andi Higbee, Phyllis Bryden

Pledge of Allegiance

Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger led the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Public Hearing | 6:35 p.m.

a. FY24-FY29 Capital Budget Program | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to open a public hearing to consider the draft Town of Colchester Capital Budget Program for fiscal years 2024 through 2029.

The MOTION carried.

Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall presented the draft FY24-FY29 Capital Budget Program and explained that the FY24 Capital Budget contains 44 capital projects totaling $3,721,863 in spending. Approximately 53% or $1,970,000 is expected to come from state and federal grants as well development impact fees. The remaining $1,751,863 will be funded by local property tax dollars from voter-approved capital plans. She previewed some of the projects planned for FY24 as well as for the following five years, which total $14,191,664 with approximately 52%, or $7,407,500 expected to come from state and federal grants as well as development impact fees.

3. Citizens to be Heard*

Andi Higbee shared his appreciation for the Colchester Technical Rescue and the professionalism during their recovery efforts at the Huntington Gorge.

Phyllis Bryden questioned how the public that is unable to attend meetings are informed about town business and concerns that are submitted in writing for Citizen To be Heard. The Selectboard and staff explained that agendas are posted on ClerkBase which include all of the related packet information. Letters submitted for Citizens To Be Heard are sent to the Selectboard and included in the next Selectboard meeting packet.

4. ACTION | Consent Agenda

a. Minutes of 7.11.2023 Selectboard Meeting

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adopt 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 July 11, 2023.

b. Appoint Alternate Development Review Board Member Kathy Cawley as a full-time Development Review Board Member for a 2-year term ending September 30, 2024.

The MOTION carried.

5. Special Business Items

a. ACTION: Approval of the FY24-FY29 Capital Budget Program | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to approve the Town of Colchester Capital Budget Program for fiscal years 2024 through 2029,

as presented and per a memo from Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall, dated July 19, 2023.

The MOTION carried.

b. INFORMATION: Update on Colchester Town Cemeteries | Julie Greater, Town Clerk and Treasurer

Town Clerk and Treasurer Julie Graeter updated the Selectboard on the number lot sales and burials that have occurred during FY20-FY23. She noted accomplishments by the Town Clerk’s Office, including a completed survey of the Munson cemetery; grant award of $750 by VT Old Cemetery Association to help offset costs of monument repairs; new Sexton responsibilities shared by Erin Hogan and Julie Graeter; software updating project; survey work on Fort Ethan Allen cemetery. In addition, she acknowledged the work performed in the cemeteries by the Parks Department including bi-weekly mowing/trimming and annual spring/fall clean-up; removing dead trees on an emergency basis; aerating and over-seeding lawns; updating cemetery flag pole at Fort Ethan Allen cemetery; gravestone repair at Village Cemetery; cutting back perimeters of cemeteries.

She provided further details on the Munson Cemetery project, work planned at Fort Ethan Allen Cemetery, progress on the cemetery software project, as well

as efforts that will be made to get new members to join the Cemetery Advisory Board so it can become active again.

6. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations

a. ACTION: Cancel Meetings of August 8, 2023 and September 12, 2023, and Authorize Town Manager to Sign Warrants

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to cancel the Selectboard meetings on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 and Tuesday, September 12, 2023, and to authorize Aaron Frank, Town Manager, to sign the end-of-month warrants.

The MOTION carried.

b. Pictures of Progress

7. Informational Items

8. Announcements

Selectboard Chair Pam Loranger offered, on behalf of the Selectboard, our thoughts and condolences to Nicholas Ringuette’s family and everyone impacted by the tragic car crash at Rt. 2 and Clay Point.

9. ACTION | Warrants

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #23-39 in the amount of $163,841,.54 and Warrant #24-03 in the amount of $361,558.14.

The MOTION carried.

10. Executive Session

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to find that premature general public knowledge of contracts, pending or probable civil litigation, 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.

The MOTION carried.

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy to enter executive session to discuss contracts, pending or probably civil litigation, and personnel issues under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313 (a)(1)(a)&(e) and (a)(3) of the Vermont Statutes, Executive Sessions.

The MOTION carried.

11. Adjournment**

MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adjourn the meeting.

The MOTION carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.