Minutes
Arlington Select Board
May 19, 2025
Members Present: Dan Harvey, Cynthia Browning, Jamie Paustian, Glenn Sherman, and Matt Bykowski
Members Absent: None
Also Present: Deborah and Steve Gardner, Brian Hawley – AFD Chief and other AFD members, 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 Resource Sharing Policy to section 11.1, Executive Session to the agenda. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes of the Meeting of May 5, 2025: Mr. Paustian made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 5, 2025 as presented. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments: None
Highways: Updates: Ms. Browning said the Highway crew had difficulties with a machine related to the E. Arlington Road culvert job. Ms. Browning viewed a dead tree on Red Mountain Road and two trees at W. Arlington Cemetery and agreed they do need to be taken down. All are clearly tagged.
Ms. Browning met with Highway Supervisor, Mark Robinson, and a consultant related to the energy project, and measurements were taken at the garage.
A resident had asked to have a 25 MPH speed sign on Dunham Road moved further north to be more visible. Mr. Bykowski questioned regulatory issues related to distances between speed signs and Ms. Browning will check into the issue.
Old Business: Glebe Lot Road: Ms. Browning said she had sent the Bowman firm the 2007 John Wright survey maps and it supports everything the Town had decided about the road.
Road Name Change: The Gardners were at the meeting to propose changing Glebe Lot Road to “Kelly Lane”. Mr. Gardner said the other residents agree with the proposal. It was said there has to be a formal hearing and residents on the road will be sent letters. The change would then have to be made with the State and Fire Department. The hearing will take place at the next Select Board meeting on June 2, 2025.
Arlington Rec Park Project Updates: Mark Robinson has agreed to do the digging for the new pole at the Park that was discussed at the last meeting. He needs the area marked with white paint. Ms. Browning will call Dig Safe, who will also be at the school and may be able to coordinate the day to include the Park.
Ms. Browning said Trout Unlimited will be doing a Battenkill clean up and requested putting a dumpster at the Park for June 28, 2025.
Town Hall Telephone/Internet Update: Mr. Bykowski presented the Board with the information and costs he complied associated with changing the internet provider to Fidium. He recommended keeping the free municipal Comcast connection as a backup connection on the Unifi Router. There will be 300/300 for the garage and South Road, 1 Gig/1 Gig for Town Hall, Berwall Road and Old Mill firehouses. One POTS line will be ported to Fidium for Town Hall for the DACT. All Granite VoIP lines will remain on Granite Service. One existing POTS line will port for each firehouse for the DACT, with keeping the existing phone numbers. There will be a new Static IP for Town Hall to help solve the phone and internet issues. This will allow for 50% faster internet at all locations and will save overall $583 per month over keeping Comcast. He said Ron from E-Enable estimates no more than 3 hours at each site on installation day, with a non recurring expense not-to-exceed $2,480. It should take only 4.25 months to recoup the initial costs. Mr. Bykowski will donate two Roku devices for the firehouses to then be able to eliminate cable TV.
Mr. Paustian made a motion to switch to Fidium and contract with E-Enable for installation and upgrade, not-to-exceed $2,480, as outlined by Matt Bykowski. Ms. Browning seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Interim Town Administrator Report: Ms. Browning said she has been doing grant work. She said the chlorination on South Road will be starting on Thursday.
Ms. Browning informed the Board that the Governor has designated August 2-8th as Covered Bridge Week. She ordered a banner for $80 and will let the Arlington Commons know about the week.
Ms. Browning said at the June 2nd meeting there will be a BCSWA representative to have the Board sign the 2025 Solid Waste Implementation Plan.
Ms. Browning said there needs to be a special Water Department meeting to readopt the updated Water Department ordinances. It will take place at 7PM on June 2, 2025, before the Select Board meeting;
New Business: Chief Hawley said truck #77 is in bad shape. He was able to get one quote for repairs but thinks they should get a second opinion, which the Board agreed with. It will be taken to a Westminster dealership.
Warrants and Orders: Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Water Department Warrant #10, dated 5/16/25, in the amount of $147,373.10 with it being larger than usual because of the annual bank bond payment. Other items are health insurance premium, Otter Creek Hydro Study payment and supplies. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Browning made a motion to approve Warrant #10, from the General Account, dated 5/16/25, in the amount of $43,338.88, with larger items being Highway truck repairs for $6,500, health insurance premiums for $9,000, BCSWA quarterly payment of $3,600, and Microsoft office annual payment of $3,000. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Executive Session: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to 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. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion. The Board entered Executive Session at 8PM.
The Board exited Executive Session at 8:36PM. As a result of the Session, Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adopt the Resource Sharing Policy as proposed. Mr. Sherman seconded the motion. Motion passed with four affirmative votes and one abstention by Mr. Paustian. The purpose of the policy is to better define the resource sharing between departments while complying with applicable laws and personnel rules, such as having the Town Administrator be notified of any resource sharing and amount of hours worked.
All Other Business: None
Mr. Sherman made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:40PM
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Barry