DRAFT MINUTES
 | COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD March 10, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. 781 Blakely Road 3rd Floor Conference Room __________________ |
Live Broadcast: http://lcatv.org/live-stream-2
1. Call Meeting to Order | Roll Call | 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Pam Loranger, Chair; Charlie Papillo, Vice Chair; Maureen P. Dakin, Paul Pecor
Staff Present: Aaron Frank, Town Manager; Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager;
Cathyann LaRose, Director of Planning and Zoning
Others Present: Rich Paquette, Planning Commssion Chair, and Jeanne Welch
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. ACTION | Organizational Meeting
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adopt the 2026 organizational items per the attached document, to take effect Tuesday, March 10, 2026 and expire on Election Day, March 2, 2027 and that;
Pam Loranger is hereby elected to serve as Chair for a period of one year.
Charlie Papillo is hereby elected to serve as Vice-Chair for a period of one year.
Jacki Murphy is hereby elected to serve as Clerk for a period of one year.
The MOTION carried.
4. Citizens to be Heard*
5. ACTION | Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of the 2.10.2026 Selectboard Meeting
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo 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 February 10, 2026
The MOTION carried.
6. ACTION | Special Business Items
a. ACTION: Approval of Audit Contract | Lara Alemy, Finance Director
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to enter an agreement with Kittle Branagan & Sargent (KBS) to perform an audit of the financial statements of the Town of Colchester as of and for the year ended June 30, 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Town Manager Aaron Frank explained that Finance Director Alemy had done research into local external CPA auditors and felt confident that this firm would perform a high quality audit at a fair price.
The MOTION carried.
b. ACTION: Proposed Amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations – Supplement 49 – and Warn Public Hearing | Cathyann LaRose, Director of Planning & Zoning
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to warn for public hearing on April 14, 2026, the proposed amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations, known as Supplement 49, as outlined in the memo dated March 5, 2026 from Rich Paquette and Cathyann LaRose, and as reviewed and considered by the Selectboard on the evening of March 10, 2026.
Cathyann LaRose, Director of Planning & Zoning, and Rich Paquette, Chair of the Planning Commission, presented the proposed amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations, known as Supplement 49.
This supplement proposes changes to the following:
a. Definition of Medical Office
b. Standards for temporary fencing
c. Standards for food trucks/mobile food units
d. Automobile sales use
e. Umbrella permits for multi-tenant commercial properties
f. Calculation of ADU size
g. Parking standards
h. Escrow account requirements
i. Minor changes for purposes of clarity:
i. Add definition of finished space consistent with Code of Ordinances
The MOTION carried.
c. ACTION: Claims Reauthorization | Aaron Frank, Town Manager
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to authorize a resolution as follows:
Town Manager Aaron Frank, or in his absence the Acting Town Manager, is authorized to negotiate and settle claims including fiscal and non-fiscal settlements and union grievances as follows:
A. Claims by the Town against other parties
1) Claims exceeding ½ of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so more than $91,000) in payments require written Selectboard approval.
2) Claims between 1/10 and ½ of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so $18,200 to $91,000) require notice to the Selectboard offering them
the opportunity to discuss in executive session.
3) Claims between 1/20 and 1/10 of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so $9,100 to $18,200), require notice to the Selectboard after they are
executed.
4) Claims below 1/20 of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so less than $9,100), require NO approval and no notice to the Selectboard after
they are executed.
B. Claims against the Town by other parties
1. Claims exceeding 1/10 of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so more than $18,200) require written Selectboard approval.
2. Claims between 1/20 and 1/10 of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so $9,100 to $18,200), require notice to the Selectboard offering them
the opportunity to discuss in executive session.
3. Claims below 1/20 of 1% of the general fund budget (Currently $18.2M, so less than $9,100), require NO approval and no notice to the Selectboard after
they are executed.
Nothing in this resolution would prevent the Town Manager from sharing more information with the Selectboard about a negotiation or proposed settlement, based on the sensitivity of the issue in the community. The Town Manager would be expected to consider such sensitivities in making a decision about sharing information at levels below the required thresholds.
The Town Manager is advised to consider the possible financial and nonfinancial
magnitude of a claim and seek the advice of counsel when appropriate, unless otherwise agreed to by the Selectboard. Claims requiring written Selectboard approval according to this resolution shall require an attorney’s involvement.
The Authority of this motion shall expire on the Selectboard’s annual Organizational Meeting in 2027, at which time it shall be renewed or revised based on the experience of the prior year.
The MOTION carried.
d. ACTION: Adopt Validating Resolution to Address a Clerical Error in 2026 Town Meeting Day Warning | Renae Marshall, Deputy Town Manager
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adopt the Resolution Regarding Town of Colchester 2026 Town Meeting, as written, to address a clerical error in the 2026 Town Meeting warning as recommended in a memo dated February 6, 2026, from Town Attorneys Brian Monaghan and Kristen Shamis.
Deputy Town Manager Renae Marshall, explained that the resolution was to correct a clerical error in the Town Meeting Warning. The Warning erroneously stated that Articles 13 and 14 would not be considered by Australian Ballot. The intent of the Warning was to state that Articles 13 and 14 would be voted on by Australian Ballot.
Deputy Manager Marshall explained that Vermont law does not provide an alternative for addressing an error in advance of Town Meeting Day. As advised by the Town’s Attorneys, information about the error was posted on the Town’s website to provide notice to the public. The Town Moderator also informed voters of the error at Town Meeting.
The MOTION carried.
7. Additional Business | Manager’s Recommendations
8. Informational Items
Chair Loranger mentioned that the Selectboard had sent letters to our Congressional delegation regarding the mail services. All three responded to the messages and expressed their appreciation for the Selectboard’s concerns.
Vice Chair Papillo noted that he wrote a personal letter to Senator Welch and received a response from Sen. Welch’s office sharing the concerns.
Member Dakin asked if there was anything else that could be done to advocate for more support for the Howard Center’s Community Outreach Program. Manager Frank and Deputy Town Manager Marshall explained that a similar effort was successful last year, and that officials in other affected municipalities were also reaching out.
Member Dakin also inquired about the success of the outreach to recruit volunteers and gather donations for SSTA. Manager Frank informed the board that he would touch base with SSTA about this.
Chair Loranger wanted to clarify the information listed on the Town’s logo copyright registration. Manager Frank noted that the Town was the owner of the copyright, but the address and name listed on the document was for the local artist who created the logo on behalf of the Town.
9. Announcements
Chair Loranger thanked the voters for passing the municipal budget, attending Town Meeting, and coming out to vote.
Member Dakin, on behalf of the Friends of the Burnham Library, thanked the citizens for their support of the library and its services.
10. ACTION | Warrants
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to approve Warrant #26-25 in the amount of $934,139.11 and Warrant #26-26 in the amount of $1,056,411.13.
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.
11. Proposed Executive Session
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin 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.
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to enter executive session to discuss contracts, pending or probable 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.
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to exit Executive Session.
The MOTION carried.
12. Adjournment**
A MOTION was made by Charlie Papillo and SECONDED by Maureen P. Dakin to adjourn the meeting.
The MOTION carried.
DRAFT MINUTES