Minutes
Arlington Select Board
June 16, 2025
Members Present: Dan Harvey, Cynthia Browning, Jamie Paustian, and Matt Bykowski
Members Absent: Glenn Sherman
Also Present: GNAT-TV, and Janet Barry ( via Zoom)
The meeting was called to order at 7:00PM, by Mr. Harvey
Additions or Deletions from the Agenda: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to add hiring of new Town Administrator to 7.5 in New Business. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Minutes of the Meeting of June 2, 2025: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 2, 2025 as presented. Ms. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Public Comments: None.
Highways: RT 7A Sidewalk Project Update: Ms. Browning said Nick Zaiac, in his new position with BCRC, drafted a letter of application for additional funding for the ongoing RT 7A Sidewalk Project. It will require $50,000 over the original estimated amount from the beginning of the project. The Board agreed it is a much-needed project that needs to be completed.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to authorize Dan Harvey to sign the submission of the 2025 VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Application Request for Additional Funds. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Ms. Browning said the Highway crew are continuing to do grading and filling potholes, and Mr. Robinson had been doing the digging of test pits for the Wastewater Project. Ms. Browning met with the EPA representatives on Monday. July will be the start of culvert work.
New Business: Red Mountain Forest Land Proposal: This discussion was tabled at the request of the Arlington Energy Committee to give them more time to compile their information.
Delinquent Dog Licenses: The Board reviewed the information given to them by Town Clerk, Susan Paustian, and Assistant Town Clerk, Robin Wilcox. Late notices had been mailed to dog owners on May 7, 2025. There is now an additional $10 fee for dog licenses. It was discussed that owners of dogs that are now deceased should let the Town Office know so they can be taken off the list. The names will now be turned over to the Arlington Animal Control Officer, Rober Perry, to contact the owners. The Board will ask they he submit a report of his progress at the next Select Board meeting, on July 7, 2025.
Ms. Browning made a motion to refer the delinquent dog license list to ACO Robert Perry. Mr. Bykowski seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Survey Map Digitization Project: The Board discussed hiring Collette Galusha to digitize survey maps, to preserve the information and make it more readily available. There is $1,200 in the restoration line that can fund the project. Ms. Browing can prepare a contract for Ms. Galusha. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve preserving and digitizing survey maps and hiring Collette Galusha for $15 per hour with a Not-To-Exceed amount of $1,200. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Old Business: Fire Truck Discussion: An additional fire truck discussion was not needed at this time.
Park Update: Park Supervisor, Willy Knight, was at the meeting to give updates. He said James Hawley donated his equipment for the greens project, but would like some money for himself and his helper for the labor. He said four temporary greens are set up while the greens project is being done. He said the Grassland representative was very helpful explaining the new greens mower, and he can now do four greens in 40 minutes. The water bottle filler has been fixed by Page Williams Plumbing. The remaining playground borders are supposed to be delivered on Tuesday. He is waiting on Randy Novotny to do the new pole and the concrete will be done at the same time. The sprinklers are set to go. Mr. Paustian said RK Miles is willing to take the unused pillars back even though they are three years old, and will pay $95 a piece for them. Still waiting on Pettinelli Company to place the correct decals on the new playground equipment.
Telephone/Internet Update: Mr. Bykowski said the project is progressing. Fidium has done the installation at all the buildings except Berwal Firehouse, which they will do when they receive the fiber optic lines they ran out of. The FD phone numbers are owned by the Fire Protection, and not the Town. He will work with Chief Hawley on the issue. E-Enable will be at Town Hall soon to make the final switch to the new Fidium lines.
Health Insurance Discussion: After obtaining more information after the last meeting, it was discussed that VLCT does not offer health insurance guidance, but partners with Acrisure who offers a plan for $500 per year, $15 per employee to find different health care plan options to be able to offer the employees and hopefully help with skyrocketing premium costs. It was decided that this was a good way to navigate the health care insurance issues, and money well spent for their expertise. Mr. Bykowski asked that a one-year, non-auto-renewing contract with Acrisure be available at the next Select Board meeting on July 7, 2025 to review and sign.
New Town Administrator Position: Mr. Bykowski said he was pleased to announce that in last week’s Executive Session, the Board decided to take the Search Committee’s recommendation and offer the position to Jennifer Devine, and she has accepted the position, with an anticipated start date of July 7, 2025. He said she is highly qualified with much grant work experience and should be able to bring additional funding to Arlington projects. She currently is a Town Administrator/Highway Administrator in Vermont. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the hiring of Jennifer Devine for Town Administrator with a tentative start date on or around July 7, 2025. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Interim Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning said she met with Mr. Zaiac on Friday and also had a half hour phone call with him to go over various projects. She said she would like to compile a list of projects needed to clean up Town Hall and explore hiring someone to do the work. She said WD Supervisor, Josh Brace, has been very helpful assisting with some little projects that needed to be done.
She said she will be working with the Treasurer on the Water Department finances, and suggested spending some time on finance issues and reports at the July 7, 2025 meeting.
Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #12, dated 6/13/25, in the amount of $5,513.53, with biggest items being truck repair for $1,100, supplies, GMP, and back-up operators salary. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant #12, from the General Account, dated 6/13/25, in the amount of $72,007.69, with larger items being WC/building insurance quarterly payment of $12,673, Bennington County Taxes for $16,228, chloride for $5,500, Hawley’s Paving for $6,000 for the Warm Brook Road culvert project, and Doosan repairs for $2,800, and to allow for a line overrun of truck maintenance line of 12-7-60-432-01. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
All Other Business: Mr. Paustian said the spoke with the fencing company that worked at the school and they will get a quote for the E. Arlington bridge gate spoken about at the last meeting. He said there is a Consolidated pole in the river. A plan of how to get it addressed will need to be done.
Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion that premature discussion of legal, personnel, and property issues would cause the municipality to suffer substantial disadvantage. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to enter into Executive Session for discussion of legal, personnel, and property issues, and to allow Willy Knight to remain in the room. Ms. Browning seconded the motion.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:02PM. The Board exited Executive Session at 9:03PM. As a result of the Session, Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve of the transfer of the Town owned Park Model Trailer to the Arlington Fire Department for training. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
All Other Business: None
Mr. Paustian made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr.
Bykowski seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:05PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry