July 13, 2026
Attendees
Select Board Members: Diana Peduzzi, Chris Casey, John Gordon
Town Officials: Lilly Baron (Town Treasurer); Graham Christie (Town Clerk); David Barber (Library Trustee)
Town Employees: Michael Gray (WSB assistant): Robin Durkee (Town Clerk Asst.); Dana Huoppi (part time Road
Crew member)
Members of the Public: Susan Gabor; Greg Farnum
Media: Jerome Lipani – HCTV
Call to Order Chris called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
Adjustments to Agenda None
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The minutes from June 22, 2026 and July 6, 2026 Select Board meetings were approved.
Public Comment None
Road Report
Peter was unable to attend this meeting but spoke with Chris prior to the meeting; Chris reported on Peter's behalf.
Peter has some figures for the Ford 550 replacement. He and the WSB have focused on a smaller truck, like a Ford
350. Peter had obtained a quote from Hardwick Ford of a Ford 350 with a sander and plow. After an allotted
$30,000 trade-in for the 550, the new 350 with sander and plow would cost $77,000. Peter stated he would be
grading West Woodbury, East Hill and Dog Pond Road. Lilly mentioned that she was contacted by the Hardwick
town manager who would like to meet with the WSB to negotiate a new contract for snow plowing West Woodbury.
Grant Updates: with Michael Gray
Michael and Lilly will be completing the final step in the submission of the FEMA BRIC grant application (for a
scoping study of the B uck Lake Brook watershed) on Tuesday. The H&H study for Bailey Bridge Road culvert has
finally been done. The road crew plans on working on Foster Hill Road for the completion of its FY 26 GIA grant (a
portion of that grant covered the work on Wilbur Road last year.)
Town Highway 21Discontinuance with David Barber
The discussion centered around an old stone/earthen dam on David’s property that serves also as the bridge for
this old, long unused road. TH 21 is still a town Class 4 ro ad. TH 21 is undrivable and is not a through road. David
shared a map of his land parcel and video of the dam and its condition, which has been compromised fr om the
past few years of flooding. David plans to repair the dam and improving the road enough to allow him better
access to the interior of his property. He’d like to have the bridge repaired so that heavy trucks could safely cross
and allow for the possibility of building a house on the property in the future. Michael explains the town’s
responsibility for a Class 4 road , which includes the repair and upkeep of bridges and culverts. David would not
expect the town taxpayers to finance repairs to a road that serves only his property, so he has decided he would
prefer to have the town discontinue the road, thus giving up any right of the public to use it and removing any town
responsibility for repairs. The WSB requested that David submit a written petition (a letter) asking for the
discontinuation of TH 21. The WSB will then initiate the process for the discontinuation.
East Long Pond Dam
with Susan Gabor and Greg Farnum
Susan and Greg, representing the dam repair committee of the East Long Pond Assoc iation (ELPA), met with the
WSB to request that the town consider be ing the fiduciary holder of funds the ELPA will be raising towards the
repair of the dam on East Long Pond. The dam is owned by Hardwick Electric (HED) and is considered a high risk
dam in poor condition by the state . As with Nichols Pond Dam, HED is reluctant to finance the project. The ELPA
has been working with several organizations to better understand the situation at the dam and what would be
involved with the d am’s repair. Funding options are being researched A n H&H study was done by the state in 2023
and the repair is estimated to cost around 2 million dollars. Dubois and King Engineers have been hired by HED.
Greg provided copy of a Joint Operating Agreement, between the HED, the Town and the Owners’ Association,
which was used during the repair of Nichols Pond Dam in 2007, and asked if Woodbury would be willing to be a
part of a similar agreement, serving a s fiduciary holder ( as the town did for the Ni chols Pond dam repair) while the
group is collecting the funds to repair the dam. Chris stated that the WSB will need to better understand the
town’s responsibilities and liabilities should it choose to be a support in the dam’s repair. Diana reported a
previous conversation with Norman Etkind who, along with Michael, was involved in the Nichols Pond dam
replacement project, and Norman reported that the handling of the funds by the town, went smoothly.
Town Clerk and Z oning Administrator’s Report with Graham Christie
ZA Report –
Graham met with Scott Ackley of Wheelhouse Motors n Woodbury Village over the fence built in the
town highway ROW. Graham was met with accusations of unfair application of the zoning ordinance , to some and
not others, in the past. Chris suggests that Graham should not feel responsible for practices done before he took
on the role of ZA. Graham plans to post information about zoning permits on FPF, explaining how the process will
work going forward.
Winter Sand Bid Following the ZA discussion, Graham presents the bids submitted for the winter sand
contract; 3 bids were submitted for a 3 year contract. Gravel Construction bid $18.20/yd delivered and $9.30/yd
picked up in Wolcott. Salvas Paving (Stowe) bid $26.50/yd delivered and $11.25/yd picked up. Acker Excavating,
from Bolton, bid $35.50/yd delivered and $16.00/yd picked up (unknown location). Michael and Dana eached
confirmed that Peter would choose Gravel Construction above all other bidders because of the quality of sand and
the proximity of the pit. The contract will be awarded to Gravel Construction for the winter sand, for three years.
Town Clerk Report Graham presented a permit request fro m WEC for a proposed line extension from Cabot
Road to a property where a house is being constructed. The WSB approved the permit. Graham shared a notice
from the state of a statutory change requiring that the town’s fire chief must serve as the Fire Warden.. For
Woodbury, this is already the case Paul Cerutti is and has been the WVFD chief and the town’s fi re warden for
several years. Jacob Ceruttin is the Deputy Fire Warden. Paul Cerutti reported that the East Montpelier Fire
Department will provide Fire Warden services for Calais.
Town Treasurer’s Report with Lilly Baron
Fund Balance Report The town's total cash on hand is $345,583. The General Fund received the anticipated
Education Tax Refund of $39,434.07, which helped improve the year-end fund balance. The return of de-obligated
FEMA mitigation funds created a $104,867 deficit in the FEMA Mitigation Fund. Combined with the current HERF
deficit of $36,874, the Town is carrying a total deficit of $141,741. The total amount of FEMA money returned was
$526,000 . (Most of this was expected to be returned. $105,000 was funds expended by the town that we had
been fighting to keep, unsuccessfully.) Lilly hand delivered the check to VEM to avoid their threats
Financial Dashboard The General Fund finished June with a $41,544 deficit. Overall, expenditures came in almost
exactly at the FY26 budgeted amount. The deficit is primarily the result of lower-than-budgeted revenues, resulting
in the use of most of the General Fund's unassigned fund balance. A significant portion of the revenue shortfall is
attributable to delinquent taxes, and we expect to continue collecting those outstanding amounts.
The Highway Fund exceeded budgeted revenues and, despite a couple unexpected truck repairs, finished the year
$36,206 under budget, resulting in a $54,328 surplus for FY26. Overall, the Town finished the FY26 budget year
with a net surplus of $12,784.
Tax Anticipation Note Lilly is still hopeful that the town will not need to draw on its TAN. Lilly is
monitoring the town’s cash position weekly and will recommend a draw if the town’s projected cash balance is
expected to fall below $175,000. This threshold represents approximately 1.4 months of average
operating expenses and provides a reasonable cushion for payroll, accounts payable, and unexpected
expenses. The goal is to utilize available cash before borrowing in order to minimize interest costs; however, this
must be balanced with adequate liquidity. If projected accounts payable, payroll, or other obligations
would bring the town’s cash balance below the established threshold, Lilly will recommend drawing on the TAN
to maintain a healthy operating position.
WSB Special Meeting to prepare to set Woodbury Tax Rate Lilly and the WSB set a date of Tuesday, July 21
st
at
5:30 for this meeting.
Updates on Buyouts with John Gordon
John stated that Larry Ferno was the only contractor who showed up for the site visit for the demolition of the
buyout buildings. Diana asked about the newly installed spigot by the well site. Robin repli ed that the pump and
line were in need of immediate repair and the spigot was put in place while everything was dug up.
Personnel Policy with Lilly Baron
The WSB reviewed the latest draft of the personnel policy. Robin pointed out items in the PP that need correction;
The WSB agreed and the item will be corrected. The WSB will approve the PP at its next meeting.
Executive Session pursuant to 1VSA 313(a)(1)(E) addressing tentative negotiations
The WSB voted to enter executive session at 7:52 p.m. The Executive session was closed at 8:20. No action was
taken.
Updates and Other Business
Bills and Payroll: Bills and payroll orders were signed at the end of the meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40.
Signatures and Approval
Chris Casey ______________________ Diana Peduzzi _________________________
John Gordon ______________________ Date Approved __________
Guide to Acronyms
ACO – Animal Control Officer; ANR – Agency of Natural Resources; AOT – Agency of Transportation; AP – Accounts Payable;
BR- Better Roads; BRIC – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities; CDT – Collector of Delinquent Taxes; CIP –
Capital Improvement Plan; CR – Cash Receipts; CRC –Consolidated Resource Center; CVRPC – Central Vermont Regional
Planning Commission; DHC – Department of Health; EC – Ethics Commission; EMD – Emergency Management Director; EMS
– Emergency Medical Service; EOA – Elected Officials Agreement; ERAF – Emergency Relief Assistance Funds; ET – Electronic
Transfer; EWPP – Emergency Watershed Protection Program; FIRM – Federal Insurance Rate Map; FPF – Front Porch Forum;
FY – Fiscal Year; GF – General Fund; GIA – Grants in Aid; HED – Hardwick Electric Department; HERF – Highway Equipment
Replacement Fund; HF – Highway Fund; HMP – Hazard Mitigation Plan; HPD – Hardwick Police Department; H&H –
Hydrological & Hydraulic; LEMP – Local Emergency Management Plan; LHMP – Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; MMA – Money
Market Account; MRGP – Municipal Roads General Permit; MOU – Memorandum of Understanding; MTSC – Mountain Tamers
Snowmobile Club; MVUESD – Mountain View Union Elementary School District; NEMRC – New England Municipal Resource
Center; NEWT – Northeast Wilderness Trust; NRCS – Natural Resources Conservation Service; OSSU – Orleans Southwest
Supervisory Union; PDM – Program Delivery Manager; POC –Point of Contact; PR – Payroll; PTO – Paid Time Off; RBT – RB
Technologies; RC – Road Commissioner; REI – Road Erosion Inventory; RFP – Request for Proposal; ROW – Right of Way; SS –
Seacoast Securities; TAC – Transportation Advisory Committee; TAN – Tax Anticipation Note; TC – Town Clerk; TH – Town
Highway; THO – Town Health Officer; TM – Town Moderator; TTr – Town Treasurer; USDA – United States Department of
Agriculture; VEM – Vermont Emergency Management; VTRANS – Vermont Agency of Transportation; VAST – Vermont
Association of Snow Travelers; WC – Workman’s Compensation; WCC – Woodbury Conservation Commission; WCL –
Woodbury Community Library; W/CFS – Woodbury/Calais Food Shelf; WCSD – Washington County Sheriff’s Department;
WEC – Washington Electric Co.; WHRT – Woodbury-Hardwick Rail Trail; WRSC – Worcester Rangers Snowmobile Club; WSB
– Woodbury Select Board; WPC – Woodbury Planning Commission; WNRCD – Winooski Natural Resources Conservation
District; WVFD – Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department; ZA – Zoning Administrator; ZBA – Zoning Board of Adjustment