1.      Call Meeting to Order | Roll Call | 6:30 p.m.

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

Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager; Kathi O’Reilly, Economic Development Director

Others Present: Lawrence Johnson, Dustin Lamore, Glenn Curtis, Kim Morinsourdiff, Mark Hoppmann, Cindy Hoppmann, Laurette Atkins, Ann Atkins, Heidi Viens, Kathy Viens, Lianne Tuomery, Kathy Stubbing, Ken Wagstaff, Debbie Drewniak, Marion Villalibby, Joel Long, Jan Shamberger

2.      Pledge of Allegiance

3.      ACTION | Special Business Items

a.    INFO: Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities (O&D) Transportation Program Update | Aaron Frank, Town Manager

Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager, gave a statement regarding the events that led up to this public forum.

Debbie Drewniak, a resident of 407 River Road, spoke to the importance of SSTA in her life after she was disabled in a car accident. She explained that SSTA was the only form of daytime transportation available to her and that she uses the service to grocery shop and attend necessary medical appointments.

Kim Morinsourdiff, of 61 Hickory Lane, described that she lives two miles away from her job at Price Chopper. Due to the pending cutbacks to SSTA’s service, she stated she will have to take an Uber to work which usually costs $13 per way. Ms. Morinsourdiff also spoke to the importance of SSTA in the Town considering the lack of bus service and that she uses SSTA for more than just work trips.

Ken Wagstaff, of 305 Mills Point Road, said he had been taking SSTA for several years and had been using them to get to work in Winooski and doctor’s appointments after having a recent hip replacement. After his work trips were canceled recently, he attempted to get rides from coworkers, but none live in town. Without the SSTA service, Mr. Wagstaff will be forced to utilize a cab to get to work which costs over $500 a week. Mr. Wagstaff stated that he hoped the program could be restored to what it was before.

Dustin LaMore, a resident of 111 Stuart Avenue, stated that he works early in the morning and without SSTA has no way to get there. He worries about losing his source of income to pay rent and bills. Mr. LaMore stated that he had still not received the letter from GMT regarding the cutbacks. He noted that even if he had received the letter, he would have been unable to read it because he is blind. He said that 80% of blind people are unemployed and he worries about becoming part of this group if these cutbacks go into effect and he is unable to get to work.

Joel Long, of 100 Pine Meadow Drive, stated that he has only had to utilize SSTA once after a recent operation. He relies on transportation from his family as well. He said he struggled to understand the logic behind these cuts as there is no regular bus service in Colchester.

Glenn Curtis, of 181 Cobbleview Drive, said he was troubled by these cutbacks especially at a time when he believed that services such as these should be expanded. Mr. Curtis said that he has utilized SSTA on a few occasions and has been satisfied. Mr. Curtis stated that with the older population in the state growing and the existing lack of bus service, the situation would only get worse.

Jan Shamberger, of 273 Williams Road, appeared to represent her daughter who utilizes the service provided by SSTA. Ms. Shamberger noted the line in the Pledge of Allegiance that says, “liberty and justice for all” and how pertinent it was to the situation. Ms. Shamberger said that her daughter’s condition makes it so she cannot do a number of things, but she is able to work. Ms. Shamberger said her daughter loves to work and that working gives individuals a feeling of independence and value. Ms. Shamberger noted the current worker shortage in our community and how there are many people, including her daughter, who want to work but can’t get there. She noted that SSTA is the only option for her daughter and that is has been a godsend for her family. Ms. Shamberger discussed how these cutbacks will not only affect the individuals who utilize the program but also their employers and their families. She said that Uber isn’t an option for her daughter and prefers she be transported by SSTA who has vetted drivers.

Ann Atkins, of 121 Nottingham Court, stated that Dustin LaMore is her son. Her mother is older and also utilizes the program. She noted that her mother was resistant to using SSTA but after having tried it out she really likes it and feels safe using it. SSTA helps her mother get to the grocery store and helps bring her groceries inside. Ms. Atkins stated that she worries most about her mother’s social isolation if these cutbacks go into effect. As a social worker, Ms. Atkins sees how people struggle in town without a regular bus service. Ms. Atkins hopes that the community can band together to figure this out.

Heidi Viens, of 87 Thomas Drive, is completely blind and worked in Burlington before COVID. She recently suffered an injury and is hoping to go back to work but now is unsure if that will happen due to these changes. She noted that we are presently begging people to go to work and that denying a room full of people begging to go to work seems unequal. Ms. Viens said that she has a degree in finance and was confused at the business end of these cutbacks. She questioned how much money the state would be losing by taking people out of the workforce. She recalled that during her pregnancy she was required to visit the doctor three times per week and that visits like these would not all be allowed under the new O&D guidelines. Ms. Viens said she didn’t understand how the new guidelines were arrived at.

Marion Villalibby-Hendricks, of 453 Bean Road, said she attends Bone Builders for physical therapy for the past three or four years. She said she hoped that this program could be covered for transportation under this service.

Kathy Stubbing, of 122 Foreman Drive, spoke in support of Ms. Shamberger and her daughter. Ms. Stubbing expressed how important working was to Ms. Shamberger’s daughter. She said that she works with vulnerable adults for her job and understood how important this program was. She said she would love to see this program enhanced.

Aaron Frank, Town Manager noted that rides under the O&D program were still available through the end of the month and gave a presentation on the history of the O&D program, how the current situation was arrived at, and work that the Town is going to do to support the community members who use this program.

Chair Loranger and Vice Chair Papillo thanked the community members for attending the forum and sharing their stories and stated that, while the Town of Colchester doesn’t have decision making authority on this issue, the Selectboard will direct the Town Manager and Deputy Town Manager to continue to strongly advocate to GMT for a better evaluation of the transportation needs provided by this program in an effort to find cost effective alternatives that don’t negatively impact the individuals that rely on this critical transportation service.

4.      Citizens to be Heard*

None.

5.      Public Hearing - 6:30 p.m.

a.    FY27 Town Municipal Services Budget | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to, having been duly warned, open a Public Hearing to consider the following:

·         05a – Proposed FY 2027 Municipal Services Budget

·         05b – Reauthorization of Public Safety Capital Plan

The MOTION carried.

b.    Reauthorization of the Public Safety Capital Plan | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

Deputy Manager Marshall presented the Public Safety Capital Plan which is up for reauthorization. Deputy Manager Marshall discussed the reasoning for using multi-year capital plans. She explained that the funding amount for this plan is $30,750 annually for five years.

This money funds the specialized equipment needs of the Town Rescue Squad, the Town’s Technical Rescue team as well as the Town’s police department. For the owner of a home with an assessed value of $300,000, this plan at a rate of $30,750 annually, costs approximately $4.15 per year.

6.      ACTION | Consent Agenda

a.    Minutes of the 12.16.2025 Selectboard Meeting

A 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 to take the actions

indicated for each item:

a. Approve the Selectboard Minutes of the meeting of December 16, 2025

The MOTION carried.

Chair Loranger abstained from the vote because she was not present at the December 16 meeting.

7.      ACTION | Special Business Items

a.    ACTION: FY27 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Application | Aaron Frank, Town Manager

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to receive public comment regarding an application for the FY27 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP); authorize the Selectboard Chair to sign the attached letter of support to allow the Town of Colchester to submit an application for the FY27 UPWP as described in a memo from Aaron Frank, Town Manager, and Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager, dated January 13, 2026.

Town Manager Frank explained the Town would be applying for funds via the UPWP program to conduct a theoretical study to determine the feasibility of public transit access for the rural portions of Chittenden County, which include most of Colchester. Manager Frank noted that this project would be considered a regional project and thus would not require a local match by the Town.

The MOTION carried.

b.    ACTION: Proposed Executive Session

c.    ACTION: Approval of FY27 Municipal Services Budget | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the FY 2027 Municipal Services Budget in the amount of $18,163,756 (Eighteen Million, One Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars), to be placed on the March 3, 2026 ballot for voter approval, having held a public hearing.

The MOTION carried.

d.    ACTION: Approve Current Funding Amounts for Reauthorization of the Public Safety Capital Plan | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve the current funding level of the Public Safety Capital Plan, for the purpose of reauthorization by voters on the March 3, 2026 ballot, per a memo dated January 9, 2026, from Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager.

The MOTION carried.

e.    ACTION: Approve and Sign Warning for Annual Town Meeting | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve and sign the warning for the March 2, 2026 Annual Town Meeting per the attached warning.

The MOTION carried.

8.      ACTION | Adjourn to Meeting of Liquor Control Commission

A 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.

9.      Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations

10.   Informational Items

11.   Announcements

12.   ACTION | Warrants

A MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #26-19 in the amount of $1,125,463.35 and Warrant #26-20 in the amount of $390,323.01.

All Warrants have been reviewed by the Selectboard, Finance Department and the Town Clerk & Treasurer’s Office and are available for in-person inspection by request.

The MOTION carried.

13.   Proposed Executive Session

14.   Adjournment**