Town of Woodbury Select Board Meeting Minutes
August 24, 2026
Attendees
Select Board Members: Diana Peduzzi, John Gordon, Chris Casey
Town Officials: Graham Christie (Town Clerk)
Town Employees: Peter Dailey (Road Commissioner); Michael Gray (TH Admin. Asst., WSB assistant)
Members of the Public: Larry Ferno, Robin Durkee ; Greg Farnum & Susan G abor, East Long Dam Association;
Lucas Goldfluss & Dan Koenemann, WNRCD
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 August 10 and August 17 WSB meetings were approved by the WSB.
Public Comment None
Sabin Pond Watershed Project with Dan Koenemann and Lucas Goldfluss
Dan and Lucas were unable to present the final report visually, due to technology issues. Instead they gave a
verbal report. Dan listed several proposed projects they have prioritized throughout Woodbury’s streams and
ponds that are a part of the Winooski River watershed. A few projects are on town property and were discussed
with the WSB at a previous meeting. Some of the proposed projects are on privately owned property or private
roads. The projects are proposed only, not mandated. If the town or a landowner wishes to see the project happen,
WRWCD will pursue funding sources. One such source is the Lake Champlain Basin Project, which i s federal
funding. A public presentation will be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, August 26.
WIFI “Hot Spot” at the Town Office
The state has discontinued support for the WIFI “hot Spot” at the town office that provides free internet access to
the public, in the parking lot. Skip Marchesani has come up with a plan to replace the service. The town can
purchase new equipment, through RB Technologies, for less than $300. RBT will order the equipment and set it up
to align with the existing equipment in the Town Office. There will not be an annual fee. Skip and Wayne can do the
installation. The WSB approve d the plan and the expenditure..
East Long Pond Association (ELPA) w/ Greg Farnum and Susan G abor
Greg and Susan, spokespeople for ELPA dam committee, are seeking support fr om the WSB for the repair of the
dam and spillway at East Long Pond . They would like Woodbury’s support by acting as the fiscal sponsor for the
fundraising they will be pursuing to finance the repair, essentially using Woodbury’s non- profit municipal status to
seek grant funding through many different entities, including FEMA. Woodbury took on a similar role during the
repair of the Nichols Pond dam in the early 2000s. ELPA reproduced a “Joint Operating Agreement” based on one
used 20 years ago – an agreement between the Town of Woodbury, the Town of Hardwick and Hardwick Electric (a
division of the Town). The town’s attorney reviewed the draft agreement and had several concerns. He questioned
why HED would not be a better “fiscal agent” to handle the donated money, and whether the Town actually has the
authority to take on the task. Grants from public and private entities often come with reporting requirements that
would be beyond the duties of the town treasurer. T he ELPA will be meeting with HED the day after this meeting,
and felt it would be of benefit for the WSB and HED to meet to revise the MOU. The ELPA will consider suggested
changes and requested to be placed on the WSB agenda for their next meeting on September 14
th
. This was a long
discussion, lasting an hour. If people wish to review the discussion, go to HCTV.us and click on Woodbury Select
Board.
Road Report with Peter Dailey and Michael Gray
Peter thinks that the section of Valley Lake Road between Rte. 14 and the paved culvert deck should also be
paved; so as not to leave a short section of dirt road, maybe 20 feet, between the two paved areas. Michael
agrees. Negotiations with BLAKTOP, the sub-contractor for the paving, have been ongoing and they are willing to
do the added paving while they are at the site. BLAKTOP estimated approximately $8,000 for the work. Michael will
work with them to refine the cost. The paving is scheduled for the next day. The WSB approved the expenditure.
Peter announced that the town has hired John Phelps as a third full -time road crew member. John lives in
Woodbury, is a member of the WVFD and currently works on Plainfield’s road crew. Peter was responsible for
recruiting John. John will begin work in Woodbury on September 3
after giving notice to his current employer.
Discussion then moves to the 550 replacement. The town’s attorney was asked to review the facts of the issue and
advised that he would not be the best one to negotiate with Ford Motor Company about possible compensation.
He will provide a reference to another firm.. He did advise that the town would need some facts to accompany the
allegation that the failure of the motor was caused by a previous repair. The hiring of a mechanical analyst has
been previously discussed in earlier WSB meetings. John stated that he has not yet called Ford to discuss the
“situation” with the 550 and its dealer, McGee Ford , and suggested that the town wait to do the analysis until after
he has a chance to talk to Ford. Chris expressed concern that a replacement for the 550 would need to be initiated
soon. Discussion then comes back to the present 550 with John asking about the proposed repair cost to put a
new engine in the 550. Peter reminds the WSB that the estimate from McGee was 15K. John suggested that if the
550 were to have a new engine p ut in place the trade-in value for the 550 (once estimated to be 35 to 40K) might
make that investment worthwhile. Peter replied to the question of the wait time for the replacement, anticipated to
be a Ford 350, that there would be no long time delay like there was for the last truck purchase.
Michael reported that the Valley Lake culvert project should be finished by the end of the week. He has overseen
various aspects of the project including the replacement of the water line to the corner building when it was
discovered and broken. This included providing interim water and services to the residents of the building and
running to Williston with water samples before and after the repair.
Town Clerk’s Report with Graham Christie
Graham asked the WSB for advice on how he should proceed with overdue dog licensing. At present, there are 14
dog owners that have yet to license their dogs. Additional fees for late licensing have been added to the license
fee. Diana suggests a “naughty list” be posted in the Town Office. David Barber has submitted the written request
to have the Class 4 road on his property discontinued. The WSB will begin the procedures to do this. The petition
for Australian ballot voting for the election of town officials is discussed. Diana will contact VLCT for their guidance
on this process. The special meeting must be posted (announced) within 60 days of receipt of the petition by the
Town Clerk. The location of such a special Town Meeting, given the current status of the school gym, will have to
be considered.
Town Treasurer’s Report with Lilly Baron
Lilly was unable to attend this meeting but did submit a report to the WSB. In the report she states that the FY27
tax bills have been printed and sent to town residents and that she will be setting up an ACH (Automated Clearing
House) paying option for taxpayers. ACH is a form of a direct bank to bank payment system. The town’s present
financial status does not indicate the town will need to use their Tax Anticipation Note .
The FY27 fuel bids are due to be opened at the September 14
th
WSB meeting. Lilly points out t he FY26 propane
estimate for budgeting was exceeded by1,100 gallons of propane, which she suspects was due to the garage
damage to its roof insulation and the cold winter. Lilly suggests that the bid amount for propane align with the
usage experienced from last year.
Updates on Buyouts with John Gordon
Bids for the asbestos abatement are due at the end of the week on August 28
.
Larry Ferno, the contractor for the
buyout demolition, is making arrangements to deal with the water supply to the post office and the town hall that
will be affected by the demolition.
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 7:50 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; EL PDA – East Long Pond Dam Association; 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.; WNRCD – Winooski Natural Resource
Conservation District; WSB – Woodbury Select Board; WPC – Woodbury Planning Commission; WVFD –
Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department; ZA – Zoning Administrator; ZBA – Zoning Board of Adjustment; ZO – Zoning
Ordinance
