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 Gabor, 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 is 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 with something
that will not involve an annual fee. 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.
Skip and Wayne can do the installation. The WSB approved the plan and the expenditure.
East Long Pond Dam Association (ELPDA) w/ Greg Farnum and Susan
Gabor
Greg and Susan, spokespeople for ELPDA, are seeking support from 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. ELPDA 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 (now a department 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. The ELPDA
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 ELPDA will consider suggested changes and asked 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 day after this meeting. 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. John will begin work in
Woodbury on September 3 after giving notice to his current employer. Thanks to Peter for recruiting John.
Discussion then moved 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 the recent 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 issue 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. Peter does not believe there will be a long wait time. Discussion then
came back to the present 550. John asked 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 put in place the trade-in value for the 550 (once estimated to be 35 to 40K) might make that
investment worthwhile.
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 driving to Williston with water samples before and after the repair.
Town Clerk's Report with Graham Christie
Graham asked 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 small 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 was 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 re-considered.
Town Treasurer's Report with Lilly Baron
Lilly was unable to attend this meeting but did submit a report. The FY27 tax bills have been printed and maile
to all property owners. 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. The FY26 propane estimate for
budgeting was exceeded by 1,100 gallons of propane, which she suspects was due to the garage damage to
its roof insulation and the cold winter. Lilly suggested 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 (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.
Guide to Acronyms
Diana Peduzzi
Date Approved
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; ELPDA -East Long Pond Dam
Association; EMO -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; 20 -Zoning Ordinance