Minutes
Arlington Select Board
October 6, 2025
Members Present: Dan Harvey, Matt Bykowski, Jamie Paustian(arrived 8:15) Karen Krulikowski
Members Absent: Glenn Sherman
Also Present: Mark Robinson-HY Supervisor, Don Keelan, Leigh Ullman, Fred Pickering, Willy Knight-Park Supervisor, and Rachael Senecal, 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 the Cambridge Mutual Aid Agreement to 5.3 FD in the agenda. Ms. Krulikowski seconded the motion. Motion carried with Mr. Paustian not yet at the meeting, and Mr. Sherman absent.
New Board Member: Ms. Krulikowski was formally welcomed to the Board and Liaison reorganization occurred. Mr. Bykowski explained the liaison duties to Ms. Krulikowski.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to appoint Karen Krulikowski to be a Water Department and Administration Liaison, positions previously held by Ms. Browning. Mr. Harvey seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Paustian not yet at the meeting and Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Harvey made a motion to appoint Matt Bykowski as Vice Chair of the Select Board. Ms. Krulikowski seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Paustian not yet at the meeting and Mr. Sherman absent.
Minutes of the Meeting of September 22th, 2025: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the minutes of September 22, 2025, as presented. Ms. Krulikowski seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Paustian not yet at the meeting and Mr. Sherman absent.
Public Comments: Leigh Ullman was at the meeting to complain about road maintenance and an incident when a fallen tree on Berwal Road was not removed in a timely manner. He feels roads are not as well maintained as in the past, and even though he complained to the Town Clerk office the tree was not removed for six months. He has concerns of ditches not being maintained and contractors dumping brush in them. He said grading was not completed on Berwal Road. Highway Supervisor, Mr. Robinson was also at the meeting and said he ran out of gravel so couldn’t complete Berwal Road and it has been very hard to grade when it has been so dry. He will check on the ditches. It was recommended that Mr. Ullman call the Town Administrator office or the Select Board office if he has any other issues with road care.
Mr. Keelan spoke at the meeting about the unsightly and dangerous sidewalk north of Town Hall, to Arlington Inn. Ms. Browning said it is on the list of things that need to be completed and accounted for in the new budget. She said there are marble pieces leftover. Mr. Robinson suggested using sure-pack for a temporary fix for the winter. Ms. Browning will find out if these repairs would be part of the 7A Sidewalk project.
Mr. Pickering was at the meeting to discuss a letter he received from the Town about his fence by the river. He said he had received permission fifteen years ago from then Select Board Chair, Keith Squires. It was mentioned that there is an absence of official permits from this agreement and that fences cannot block access to the river. Ms. Browning said this is still a work in progress and she will get further guidance from the Town attorney to discuss at a future meeting.
Highways: Updates: Warm Brook Paving: Mr. Robinson said Warm Brook South will be paved this week. He said Green Mountain Power moved poles on Tory Lane North as part of the ditching project. He said he had received the winter sand ordered from Peckham. He also said the backhoe has transmission issues and is at United Construction to get a repair estimate.
Ms. Browning said she and Mr. Robinson visited the site on River Road where a homeowner had said she felt Town snow plowing was contributing to foundation issues of her home. It was determined that the plowed snow is not the issue, but it is how the house is built against the hillside that is more likely to cause this issue. A letter will be sent to the homeowner.
Park and Rec: Updates: Mr. Knight said the new greens are now open. He had a plumber look at the water pressure issue in his office and a pipe will be replaced. He said he worked on cleaning the tennis courts, and for fifty minutes of work he could only clean a 10×5 foot area with the pressure washer. It was decided this is too labor and time intensive to obtain the desired effect. He spoke with a company that said detergents and chemicals cannot be used as it will make the paint flake. The possibility of renting or buying a machine to aid the pressure washer in cleaning was discussed, and the budget will include funds for this project.
Fire Department Discussion: Service Reimbursement Ordinance Amendment: Mr. Bykowski read the revisions he had made in the Service Reimbursement Ordinance draft that he read at the previous meeting. The ordinance will help reclaim costs for consumable items used at car accidents and the money will go towards the new truck sinking fund. The 15% service fee will go towards outsourcing the insurance billing, which can be streamlined with the firefighters using their tablets on scene. It will be open for public comments at the next meeting.
WEX/Fleet Cards: Mr. Bykowski had details about having WEX Fleet fuel cards for the Fire Department and Highway crew, that was mentioned at the last meeting. It allows fuel to be purchased when local stations are closed, or personnel are out of Arlington. They have a 95% nationwide acceptance rate, and plenty of controls and ways to track spending. It is a State contract so no RFP is required.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to authorize WEX Fleet cards, State Contract #36354, and to authorize the signing of the addendum by Mr. Harvey. Ms. Krulikowski seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Cambridge Fire Agreement: The Board reviewed the Cambridge Fire Agreement. There were questions about dates, and it was decided that legal guidance is needed about any potential disputes being held in New York State courts even though it is Vermont being serviced. This will be clarified and decided on at a future meeting.
Town Hall Computer Purchase: Mr. Bykowski had a quote from CDW-G for replacement computer equipment for the Town Administrator. The current laptop being used by the Town Administrator will go to the Land Use office, whose laptop battery is damaged. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to accept the single source, State contract quote from CDW-G for full-sized monitor, keyboard, mouse and laptop for $1614.43 to be paid for from the technology sinking fund. Ms. Krulikowski seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously with Mr. Sherman absent. (The cost of the purchase increased before meetings end by $13.18)
New Business: Board of Authority Composition Discussion: Ms. Browning discussed the request from head of the Arlington Republican Party to appoint three Republicans to the Board of Civil Authority immediately. Currently Arlington has been electing the Justices of the Peaces as Independents, and they must collect petition signatures to be on the ballot. Ms. Browning will check with the Secretary of State for guidance on this matter and report back at a future meeting.
Arlington Energy Committee Appointments: There was a slate of names the Energy Committee wanted the Board to appoint to their committee. Mr. Paustian said he would prefer meeting anyone wishing to be appointed to a committee in person at a Board meeting prior to the appointment. It was agreed that Ms. Browning will inform the Energy Committee of this decision and have the appointees at a future meeting.
Health Insurance Planning: The Board reviewed the 2026 health insurance information currently available. There are more figures to come from the Acrisure consultants, and they will Zoom into a future meeting to explain the options.
Budget Planning: Some items that need to be addressed in the new budget were mentioned, such as website updating, Town Hall and sidewalk repairs. Having separate budget meetings in December, where department heads will meet with the Board to discuss their needs for the new year, was suggested.
Old Business: Wastewater Committee Report: Ms. Browning said there will be a public meeting with the consultant the first week of December.
Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning had submitted a written report to the Board. There were no additional questions as the items had already been addressed in the meeting.
All Other Business: None
- Warrants and Orders: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #20, dated 10/3/25, in the amount of $7,524.26. with most significant items being VOSHA required repairs and Otter Creek invoices. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Warrant #19, from the General Account, dated 10/3/2025, in the amount of *$74,122.16, with the most notable items being Peckham for winter sand for $26,000, FD repeaters for $9,218, and Manchester dispatch fee for $8,250. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
- *The amount of the Warrant was changed the following day, per Chief Hawley, for an invoice deletion. The final amount was $70,447.16.
- Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to that premature discussion of a personnel issue 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 a personnel issue and to allow Interim Town Administrator, Cynthia Browning and Highway supervisor, Mark Robinson, to remain in the room. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. The Board entered into the Session at 9:19PM.
- The Board exited the Session at 10:11PM. No decision was made as a result of the Session.
Mr. Paustian made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr.
Bykowski seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:11PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry