August 10, 2026
Special Meeting –
Select Board Members Diana Peduzzi, John Gordon, Chris Casey
and Treasurer Lilly Baron met at 5:00 to go over budget adjustments and to hear from Peter Dailey about a
potential applicant for the open full- time Road Crew Member. Another special meeting was scheduled for August
17 to interview the candidate and to finalize the municipal tax rate. This was an open meeting and was recorded.
Regular Select Board Meeting
Chris called the regular meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Attendees
Select Board Members: Diana Peduzzi, John Gordon, Chris Casey
Town Officials: Lilly Baron (Town Treasurer);
Town Employees: Peter Dailey (Road Commissioner); Michael Gray (WSB assistant)
Members of the Public: Larry Ferno, Robin Durkee
Media: Jerome Lipani – HCTV
Adjustments to the Agenda Authorization to sign GA1412 /MRGP grant award notice placed in
Grant Updates. Chris asked about t he status of the reclassification of TH 21. He was informed that the written
request for reclassification had yet to be submitted. Chris also asked about an email he had received regarding the
Road Erosion Inventory. Michael mentioned he had responde d to the sender of the email and that all was okay
with the sender and the town’s status with its update of the REI.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The minutes from July 21, 2026 Select Board meetings were approved as amended in the meeting. Minutes f rom
the July 27
th
WSB special meeting were approved.
Public Comment Robin Durkee presented a petition signed by more than 5% of registered voters, which
asked the board to convene a special town meeting for the purpose of voting on whether Town Officials should be
elected by Australian Ballot in the future. Robin was advised to deliver the petition to the Town Clerk, after which
date the Select Board has 60 days to warn the meeting.
Robin then asked about status of the Town Health Officer (HO) appointment. She stated Chris is still listed as the
town’s HO on VDH ’s website (and on the Town website.) Kathryn Saunders, HO for Worcester and Calais, was
appointed by the WSB to be Woodbury’s HO but the appointment must be confirmed by the VT Dept. of Health.
Chris was told by VDH that the change would occur after August 1
st
. Chris will follow up with VDH .
Road Report with Peter Dailey
The road crew has started work on Valley Lake Road as it enters Woodbury village. This work is funded by a Better
Roads grant. Dian a asked about the knotweed in the ditches that will be dug up for disposal elsewhere. Peter
explained that the material from the ditching is going to Andrew Laggis’s property, over a bank where the
knotweed will be well buried. Peter also shared that he has not done anything about the 550 and is waiting for
direction from the WSB. Chris is brought up to speed on previous discussions and more discussion followed
between the WSB, Peter and Larry Ferno. Peter estimates that the 550 with a new motor would bring about 35 K to
40k. Larry suggested that the town should consider bypassing the local dealers and instead, contacting Ford Motor
Company directly. Meanwhile, concern is expressed on the need for a working vehicle for winter. The process with
Ford could take some time. The WSB will contact Ford to start a conversation with them. It may be wise to ask for
legal advice on how to approach Ford.
Peter has met with a potential candidate for the third full- time road crew position. The WSB will schedule an
interview with the interested person. A tentative date of Monday or Wednesday of next week – August 17 or 19.
Grant Updates: with Michael Gray
Michael has received the FY 27 GIA grant agreement. The WSB authorized Michael to sign the agreement on behalf
of the town. The grant is for 17k with $4,250 as the town match. Peter is planning on using the funding for work on
Foster Hill Road this summer, if time allows or if not, next summer. Michael thinks it would be best to plan on using
the pavement grant funds for Foster Hill Road repaving next summer. He has not been able to put together the RFP
for this project and feels it is too late to try to have the work done this year.
Town Treasurer’s Report with Lilly Baron
Fund Balance Report The Town's total cash on hand is $284,084, which remains above the threshold that would
require the use of the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN).
As expected, the General Fund has moved into a deficit position. The FEMA-related deficit also remains
in this month’s report , causing the Highway Fund and Town Maintenance Fund balances to appear higher
than they otherwise would. This will be corrected next month when the appropriate fund transfers are
completed to offset the FEMA deficit.
The Reappraisal Fund reflects a slight decrease this month as the town has begun making payments to
NEMRC for the Town's reappraisal project. The work has begun but will not be completed until 2028. Under the
terms of the contract, the Town will make monthly payments of $4,120 over the next 24 months.
The General Fund ended July with a $52,221 deficit, reflecting the seasonal pattern of slower revenue
collections combined with higher expenditures during the month. Significant expenditures included the
first annual payment to the Fire Department for annual membership and service fees and the payment of
one-half of the County taxes. During July, the Town collected $10,559 in delinquent property taxes and $24,667 in
current-year state tax credit payments.
The Highway Fund is currently operating with a $3,576 budget surplus, contributing positively to the
Highway Fund Balance. During the month, the Town received its annual State Highway Aid allocation,
which included a modest increase over last year. In addition, the Town received a $10,198 Swenson
reimbursement. Overall, the Town's net budget position is – $48,645. This position is expected to improve by the
end of this month as the town begins to receive FY27 tax payments.
Updates on Buyouts with John Gordon
Five asbestos abatement contractors met with him today for a site visit of the 2 FEMA buyouts in the village.
Discussion then turn ed to the contract award for the demolition of the 2 FEMA buyout sites. John contacted
references provided by the potential contractor and that the references were outstanding. John recommend ed
that the demo contract be awarded to LG Ferno Forest Products LLC, as they were the lowest bidder, had attended
the site visit and the afore mentioned references were positive. The WSB again approved awarding the contract to
LG Ferno Forest Products. Larry states that he cannot do any work on the demolition of the buildings until the
asbestos abatement work is done but may be able to start other work for the project sites. He anticipates starting
work soon at the “yellow house”, addressing the well and cleaning up the driveway area to prepare for the
demolition. John prepared a draft co ntract for the demolition work and asked the WSB to review it, so that it can be
signed at the special meeting next week.
Updates and Other Business
East Long Pond Dam Repair: A MOU draft from the East Long Dam Repair committee has been sent to the WSB for
their review. Chris will send the MOU to the town’s lawyer, David Mears, for his review.
WSB Special Meeting: The WSB set a tentative date for a special meeting – Monday, August 17
th
– to finalize the tax rate; to interview the potential Road Crew member f or hire and to finalize the demolition contract.
Bills and Payroll: Bills and payroll orders were signed at the end of the meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
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; COI – Certificate of Insurance; CR – Cash Receipts; CVRPC –
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission; EMD – Emergency Management Director; EMS – Emergency
Medical Service; 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; H&H – Hydrological & Hydraulic;
HO – Health Officer; LEMP – Local Emergency Management Plan; K – thousand; LHMP – Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan; MMA – Money Market Account; MRGP – Municipal Roads General Permit; MOU – Memorandum of
Understanding; 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; PR – Payroll; PTO – Paid Time Off; RBT – RB Technologies; RC – Road
Commissioner; REI – Road Erosion Inventory; RFP – Request for Proposal; ROW – Right of Way; 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; VDH – Vermont Department of Health; VEM –
Vermont Emergency Management; VTRANS – Vermont Agency of Transportation; WCC – Woodbury Conservation
Commission; WCL – Woodbury Community Library; W/CFS – Woodbury/Calais Food Shelf; WCSD – Washington
County Sheriff’s Department; WEC – Washington Electric Co.; WSB – Woodbury Select Board; WPC – Woodbury
Planning Commission; WVFD – Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department; ZA – Zoning Administrator; ZBA – Zoning
Board of Adjustment; ZO – Zoning Ordinance