Minutes
Arlington Select Board
July 21, 2025
Members Present: Dan Harvey, Cynthia Browning, Jamie Paustian, and Matt Bykowski
Members Absent: Glenn Sherman
Also Present: Jim Henerson-BCRC, Doug Lyons-Trout Unlimited, Bill Budde, Don Keelan, Steve McClafferty, Mr. Hess, Willy Knight-Park Supervisor, Brian Hawley-AFD Chief, GNAT-TV, Andrew MacArthur, Jacob Fetterman, and Janet Barry ( via Zoom)
The meeting was called to order at 7:00PM, by Mr. Harvey
Additions or Deletions from the Agenda: None
Minutes of the Meeting of July 7, 2025: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of July 7, 2025, as presented. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried, with Mr. Harvey abstaining because he had been absent.
Public Comments: Mr. Budde was at the meeting to invite the Board to the 250th anniversary of the death of Remember Baker celebration on August 22, 2025 at 11:30. He also asked Board Chair, Dan Harvey, if he would speak at the event.
There was a discussion about the difficult situation with a homeowner at the covered bridge, blocking public access. Ms. Browning will do a site visit and contact the Town’s attorney and the State for guidance on how to proceed.
New Business: Policy on Management of Trees in the Battenkill: Procedures for downed trees in the river was discussed. The Town is notified first, then the Town calls the State and Trout Unlimited. Leaving as much of a downed tree as possible for habitats was mentioned. Ms. Browning will update and recirculate the procedure memo. Mr. Henderson spoke of having more substantial, visible signs to warn of downed hazardous trees for people trying to use the river.
Highways: Updates: Ms. Browning said Highway Foreman, Mark Robinson is on vacation this week. The crew has been working on mowing. Mr. Paustian said there is a mechanical issue with the John Deere tractor, and it will need repairing.
Paving Procurement for Warm Brook Road South: Dates were set for the pre-bid conference for the Warm Brook Road paving job as July 31, 2025 at 8AM at the garage, and accepting bids until August 8, 2025, postmarked or dropped at the drop box at Town Hall by 11:30AM.
Policy for Drainage Concerns and Tree Management in Town ROW: The need to have a comprehensive way to deal with drainage issues and Town ROW tree management was discussed. Mr. Henderson suggested having Josh Carvajal from Watershed Management speak at a meeting for guidance.
Having the Highway Supervisor determine if there is imminent danger to the traveling public from hazardous trees be a determining factor for the Town cutting down trees in the ROW was discussed. The Board publicly thanked Blake Pike for his recent work to take down a hazardous tree.
New Business con’t: FD Radio Repeaters: Chief Hawley had quote from CVC to replace the repeater, that was discussed at the last meeting. It was discussed that the booster in use is from 1999, and has long exceeded its life expectancy, and the labor cost is the same if the booster is replaced as well.
Mr. Bykowski made a motion to proceed with replacing the 100-watt repeater, booster and labor for $9189 from the FD New Equipment line. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Mr. Bykowski noted that this purchase is single sourced but is from a vendor that has proven it has the best interests of Arlington in mind through a long business history.
Finances; Audit Materials: Ms. Browning sent the Board the Audit Draft and management letter for review and had been reviewing it and asked questions of the auditor. One item the auditor mentioned was having supervisors sign invoices, which Mr. Bykowski said could be to verify that what was ordered was what was received and signed off on by the department supervisors.
It was agreed that the Board needs more time to review the information, and it will be discussed at the next meeting.
Setting the Tax Rate: Ms. Browning explained there is a delay in setting the tax rate because of a current land use issue that the listers are working with their supervisor to address.
Telematics: Mr. Bykowski said he has been working with Verizon Connect to fix the issues with the telematics after they were damaged from a former employee and all trucks are now operational. He has also created a telematic policy which states in part that tampering with equipment could result in termination. Mr. Bykowski will meet with the Highway crew and Water Department Supervisor to review the policy. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adopt the Town of Arlington Telematics Policy dated 7/21/2025 as presented. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously with Mr. Sherman absent.
Old Business: Arlington Rec Park Updates: Mr. Knight updated the Board on Park projects. He had a quote from Saratoga Sod to install the new sod at fifty-eight cents a square foot for two workers for six hours. Ms. Browning asked for the figures in writing. It was a sense of the Board to have these professionals do the installation.
Mr. Knight said he had tried cleaning the tennis courts with a cleaner to counteract any slipperiness, but it didn’t help the situation. He will try power washing the courts.
Ms. Browning said she is assembling a list of projects that need doing at Town Hall and is submitting it to a contractor. She will include the Park bathroom partitions on the list.
Town Hall Telephone/Internet Updates: Mr. Bykowski said there is progress being made in the switch to Fidium but some things have to be worked out at Town Hall. All Comcast equipment is out and Fidium in place at the Fire Departments, Pump House and Garage.
Alarm System Upgrade: Mr. Bykowski had a proposal from Countryside Alarm Company to upgrade from having to pay for a POTS landline at Town Hall at $101 per month for the alarm system, to an internet and cellular communicator for $675 to install, which would be paid from the Capital Improvement line, and $180 for cell monitoring, with a 8.5 month return on investment. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to move forward with installing a new internet and cellular monitoring system from Countryside Alarms for $675 to be paid from the Capital Improvement reserve fund. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously with Mr. Sherman absent.
Cemetery Restoration Project: Mr. Paustian thanked the Cemetery Commissioners and the many volunteers for the recent successful tombstone restoration project, which he took part in. There were approximately 80 stones straightened.
Interim Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning said she has been working on the paving project, Highway projects and building issues. She spent time on the Water Department finances and working on grant management. The next quarterly Water Board meeting will be Monday, July 28, 2025, at 7PM.
Town Administrator Position: Mr. Bykowski explained the candidate for the Town Administrator position had accepted a counteroffer from their current employer and she was wished the best. The Board will need to discuss the next steps in Executive Session at the next meeting when the full Board is in attendance. He thanked Ms. Browning and said she is doing a great job as Interim Town Administrator and she is appreciated for her hard work and commitment to Arlington. Ms. Browning said her contract had stated 12-20 hours per week, and wanted the approval from the Board if more hours were needed to perform her duties. It was a sense of the Board that she can work up to 40 hours per week if the workload required the additional hours.
Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning said the South Road Chlorine Contact Project is finally done. James Hawley had the lowest bid, which was accepted for $62,450, but with change orders for unforeseen expenses increased to $73,776, all from ARPA funds. All change orders were approved by Water Department Supervisor, Josh Brace. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to approve the change orders for the South Road Chlorine Contact Improvement Project for $11,326.88. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #15, dated 7/18/25, in the amount of $82,517.67, with biggest items being the Hawley payment, health insurance premium for $3700, GMP for $1,000 and tank inspection for $1940. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion carried unanimously, with Mr. Sherman absent. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant #14, from the General Account, dated 7/18/2025, in the amount of $31,842.22, with larger items being BC/BS premiums, Pettinelli for additional Park borders, and gravel. Mr. Bykowski seconded the motion. 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 9:19PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry