Minutes
Arlington Select Board
July 7, 2025
Members Present: Cynthia Browning, Jamie Paustian, Glenn Sherman and Matt Bykowski
Members Absent: Dan Harvey
Also Present: Dara Zink-BCRC, Michael and Eleanor Murno, Mark Robinson-Highway Supervisor, and Janet Barry ( via Zoom)
The meeting was called to order at 7:00PM, by Ms. Browning
Additions or Deletions from the Agenda: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to add the Clean Water Grant to 5.1 in Highways. Mr. Sherman seconded. Motion carried, with Mr. Harvey absent.
Minutes of the Meeting of June 16, 2025, and June 23, 2025: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 16, 2025, and Special Meeting on June 23, 2025, as presented. Ms. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Harvey absent.
Public Comments: None.
Highways: Clean Water Grant: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the Clean Water Grant. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried, with Mr. Harvey absent.
Updates: The Highway crew have been working on Benedict Hollow Road culvert job and doing ditching work. There is a clump that has developed on Tory Lane North, making the road even more narrow and will be removed.
New Truck: Mr. Robinson said he is waiting for a quote from Allegiance Trucks for a truck with two axles to be able to haul more gravel in the winter, and for the trade in amount that will be allowed.
Warm Brook Road Paving: It was discussed that there is $313,000 in the sinking fund that the voters approved for paving Warm Brook Road. It was the sense of the Board to have Ms. Browning get bids. Doing at least the worst part of the road south of RT313 was discussed. Mr. Robinson said State grants are based on amount of blacktop and Arlington has the least amount of blacktop in Bennington County, so it is difficult to qualify for paving grants.
Mr. Robinson said he is renting a hot box for filling potholes with asphalt for $200 a day on Wednesday.
New Business: Hazard Mitigation Plan: Dara Zink, Emergency Management Program Manager, was at the meeting to give an update on the Hazard Mitigation Plan that was started last July, and is a community driven process and requires community input. There was an online survey, and the Arlington Fire Department and Highway crew were also asked for input. Some of the issues addressed are flooding, infectious diseases, extreme cold and heat, and wildfire and drought. The next step will be to prioritize actions and then it goes to public comment. The Select Board will adopt the final draft.
AFD Radio Repeater Problems: Mr. Paustian explained the problems with the outdated repeaters that were bought in 1999. He said half the town is not receiving the tones. He will get prices on a repeater system and antenna. He also had a list of parts needed for the UTV that the firemen working on repairs have compiled and they will be ordered from Amazon.
Finance Review: The Board reviewed the financial reports submitted from the Treasurer.
Old Business: Arlington Recreation Park Updates: It was discussed that the golf course renovation is in progress. Having the sod delivered was discussed, as well as having someone experienced to put it in.
Mr. Bykowski asked the status of the new partitions for the bathrooms, which have yet to be installed. Having these put in for the busy summer and fall seasons was discussed and obtaining a price to have it installed.
Mr. Sherman said a pole near the parking lot is leaning and needs to be straightened. Mr. Robinson will check on it.
Town Hall Internet Updates: Mr. Bykowski said the Town Hall Fidium install is complete, and he will be reviewing a quote from Countryside Alarms for updates that could be made to the alarm phone. And Comcast will be cancelled at all the Town buildings that have now switched to Fidium except for Town Hall that will have Comcast for a backup service because it is free to municipalities.
Health Insurance: The Board had the contract to sign for Acrisure, that was recommended by VLCT for health care guidance for the Town. Mr. Bykowski feels the cost is worth the services they can offer, including helping employees with claims as well as guiding the Town in lowering premium costs and finding the best options to offer the employees, who he said are the Town’s most valuable assets. The contract would be for one year and would not automatically renew. Ms. Browning said she feels the option Mr. Harvey suggested, of gradually lowering the plan level and employee premium obligation could be implemented, and perhaps having the money spent on this contract instead offered to the employees affected by the insurance changes, without contracting with this company. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the contract with Acrisure for health insurance consulting for a one-year contract. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried with three votes in affirmative and one nay vote, and Mr. Harvey absent.
Town Administrator Update: It was discussed that the candidate that had been offered the position had decided to take the counteroffer from their current employer and will not be accepting the position. The Board will discuss the next step at the next meeting.
Interim Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning said they have discussed the projects she has been working on and she will be getting paving, and bathroom partition installation quotes, and will order the parts for the FD UTV. It was decided that RK Miles generously accepted the two-year-old return of the park pillars and offered store credit and no cash refund will be sought.
Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #14, dated 7/2/25, in the amount of $10,588.76, with biggest items being health insurance premium, and Otter Creek payments for hydro and wastewater studies. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Harvey absent. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant #13, from the General Account, dated 7/2/2025, in the amount of $33,331.54, with larger items being BC/BS premiums, Centerline Architects for energy grant work, Miles Fuels, and Peckham for sand for the greens. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Harvey absent.
All Other Business: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to purchase an AC unit for Town Hall meeting room, with possibly using the RK Miles credit. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Harvey absent.
Ms. Browning showed the Board the Covered Bridge banner that will be hung on the covered bridge for the August Covered Bridge week. Arlington was the only town in Bennington County that purchased the banner.
Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion that premature discussion of legal, and personnel issues would cause the municipality to suffer substantial disadvantage. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to enter into Executive Session for discussion of legal, and personnel issues, and to allow Mark Robinson to remain in the room. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:45PM. The Board exited Executive Session at 9:35PM. No decisions were made as a result of the session.
All Other Business: None
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr.
Sherman seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:35PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry