Arlington Water Commissioners
Arlington Select Board
March 9, 2026
Members Present: Dan Harvey, Matt Bykowski, Jamie Paustian and Sebastian Massey
Members Absent: Glenn Sherman
Also Present: Josh Brace – AWD Chief Operator, Steve McClafferty, GNAT-TV(Zoom) Mary Anne Holmes, Joan Nash – Arlington Energy Committee, and Janet Barry ( via Zoom)
The Water Dept. Meeting was called to order at 7:00PM, by Mr. Harvey
Mr. Brace had two quotes for the generator project at the Pump House, from Brookfield and Tyler Electric. Mr. Brace’s choice was Brookfield because they already do work for the Water Department and could do the work this spring or summer and Tyler could not do the work until fall at the earliest. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to accept the quote from Brookfield for $38,483 to replace the generator. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:05PM.
Mr. Harvey called the Select Board meeting to order at 7:05PM.
Additions to the Agenda: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to add a Liquor License to the agenda. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to add approval of the previous meeting minutes to the agenda. Mr. Massey seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Public Comments: Mary Anne Holmes and Joan Nash from the Arlington Energy Committee were at the meeting to discuss the MERP Energy Grant. Ms. Browning said the RFP was only for windows and
doors and other items would be separate process, and there are strict deadlines with the state for completing the work.
Reorganization of the Board:
Mr. Paustian made a motion to appoint Dan Harvey to continue as Board Chair. Mr. Bykowski seconded the motion. Motion carried with Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Paustian made a motion to appoint Matt Bykowski to continue as Vice Chair. Mr. Massey seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to appoint Glenn Sherman as Clerk. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried with Mr. Sherman absent.
Liaisons: Mr. Paustian made a motion to appoint the following Liaisons for 2026. Mr. Massey seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Highway: Dan Harvey and Glenn Sherman
Fire Department: Matt Bykowski and Jamie Paustian
Park and Rec: Glenn Sherman and Sebastian Massey
Water Dept: Dan Harvey and Jamie Paustian
Admin: Matt Bykowski and Sebastian Massey
Highway Updates: The Highway crew has been hauling gravel. It was discussed that Truck #1, the 2021 CV515 is in need of repairs. Mr. Robinson has lined up back-up plow drivers.
Fire Department Updates: Mr. Paustian said there had been a tree down on RT313 on Sunday and the FD rerouted traffic and the state removed the tree.
Mr. Bykowski said there have been insurance reimbursements with the new RMS System, which will cover material replacement and also the remainder will go into the Fire Department sinking fund. Irving Oil sent a payment for $8,595 for their accident, and $3,328 is expected from the Tesla car fire, and Geico is reviewing another accident that was submitted.
Mr. Bykowski will help with the Knox Box subscription renewal.
Liquor License: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the Outside Consumption License to Arlington Ramutos, LLC. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Minutes of the Meeting of February 23, 2026: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the minutes the meeting of February 23, 2026, as presented. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent.
Personnel Policy Revisions: Mr. Bykowski had drafted a reformatted Personnel Policy to clarify policies and make it more consistent. It now states that a paid holiday will count towards hours worked for overtime, and holiday pay will continue to be 2.5 the hourly pay rate. Comp time will be capped at 40 hours and must be used in 12 months. Switching to a PTO model from the current vacation/sick day model was discussed. Mr. Bykowski can rewrite the language and it will be voted on in the next meeting.
Mr. Bykowski circulated an updated Town Administrator job posting and VLCT will start recruitment the first of April, interviews should be the first week of May with a start date for the new candidate of June 1, 2026.
Digital Time Keeping: Mr. Bykowski had information from Lathem Time of Georgia for implementing a new digital timekeeping system for Town employees. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the CapX timeclock time keeping platform from Lathem Time, for a Highway clock fee of $770 and annual fee of $685. Mr. Massey seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Deputy Health Officer Report: Ms. Browning said she had spoke with VOSHA on the recent Dollar General septic back up incident. Dollar General corporate management had required employees to open the store in spite of the problem.
Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning said the next Select Board meeting will have a Board of Civil Authority meeting prior to the Select Board meeting, at 6:30PM, with Select Board meeting to follow at 7PM.
She said BCRC liaison, Nick Zaiac, said there will be an independent engineer on board for the 7A Sidewalk Project, and they can use the Highway office at Town Hall. He is bidding it as a two-year project.
Ms. Browning had information from Rich Lederer about solar credits paid by the Town. It was decided the Town will keep paying the solar credits while it is not losing money, and is breaking even with what the Town would be paying to GMP, and it will be revisited next year.
The Board is working on a RFP for website revision.
Warrants and Orders: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #5, dated 3/5/26, in the amount of $624.30. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve Warrant #5, from the General Account, dated 3/5/2026, in the amount of $31,399.76. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Biggest items being Energy Grant work, maintenance of the International, ballots, salt, fuel oil, sand, video company for Town Meeting, unemployment insurance and White Creek Plowing.
All Other Business: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to allow the payrolls to be signed outside of meeting nights. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion, motion carried.
Mr. McClafferty questioned the closing and opening balance differences in the budget. Ms. Browning said the Treasurer finalizing reports, then new journal entries being directed by the auditors is often the reason for such differences. She said the auditors were at Town Hall in February, and there were no significant issues found. The final report will be available sometime in June. Mr. McClafferty said he feels the Treasurer should attend Town Meeting in the future.
Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion 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 Town Administrator, Cynthia Browning to remain in the room. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. The Board entered into the Session at 8:49PM.
The Board exited the Session at 9:05PM. No decision was made as a result of the Session.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:05PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry