September 14, 2026
Attendees
Select Board Members: Chris Casey, Diana Peduzzi, and John Gordon
Town Officials: Graham Christie (Town Clerk); Lilly Baron (Town Treasurer); Stephen Murphy (Town Moderator)
Town Employees: Peter Dailey (Road Commissioner); Michael Gray (TH Admin. Asst ., WSB assistant)
Members of the Public: Larry Ferno, Robin Durkee; Monty Shatney; Tara Hewett; Susan Gabor
Media: Jerome Lipani – HCTV
Call to Order Chris called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Adjustments to Agenda None
Approval of Meeting Minutes Minutes for 8/24 and 9/3
WSB meetings were approved.
Public Comment Robin questioned a comment by Chris in a recent FPF posting regarding the reasons
for the increase in the tax rate. She believes that to increase the Town Ttreasurer’s schedule to 30 hours/week
(thus giving the treasurer full time employee status) cannot be done by the WSB; this can only be done at a T own
Meeting and voted on by town residents attending the meeting. The WSB will look into this.
East Long Pond D am Association (ELPDA) w/ Susan Gabor
Susan Gabor shared that HED is considering being the financial sponsor for the dam repair project and that the
HED commissioners will be discussing and possibly making a decision about that at their meeting on September
15
th
. Susan then asked if Woodbury could do something with town tax dollars to assist with the project cost. Chris
asked what the ELPDA is thinking about – Susan responded that Greg Farnum (he was un able to attend this
meeting) has been looking into the other funding options. ELPDA’s immediate goal is to have an assessment of
the dam site done by a civil engineer before winter sets in, so that they can be ready to apply for grants next spring.
They have an engineer lined up. This is why they are trying hard to get an agreement fror a town, either Woodbury
or Hardwick, to become the “fiscal sponsor” for the project.
Road Report with Peter Dailey and Michael Gray
Peter received a quote for a new Ford 350 with plow and sander .- $82,296 without a trade-in for the disabled 550.
So, no added discount for removing the trade-in. The future of the 550 was discussed – whether to do the repair
(to replace the engine) or not. Peter thinks that if we pay $15,000 to replace the engine, the truck could be sold for
more than 15 + 7 ($22,000 – new engine cost plus the trade-in value. No decision was made regarding the 550 but
it was clear that the WSB needed to make a decision o n the purchase of the F350. The WSB gave Peter the
approval to order the truck. Lilly stated that we will have the money to pay for it. Pet er will contact Lamoille Valley
Ford and give them the go ahead on the purchase with the plow and sander included.
Tim and John have begun work on Foster Hill Road, allowing Peter to focus on grading.
Peter shared his concern about a new school bus route that goes up and over Wheeler Hill Road. He fears that it
will be too dangerous in the winter and mud season. He will work with the school bus company to find an
alternative winter route that would not include Wheeler Hill Road.
Peter asked if there is a way to discontinue plowing the Class 3 road that goes only to one house (formerly Rip and
Ann Brown). It is difficult to plow as cars are often parked in the way and there is not a good turn-around. This leads
to a discussion of other town roads that have served only one household for many years. The WSB feels that at this
time, with winter approaching, no changes should be made regarding reclassification of roads
But the issue can be studied over the winter (David Barber’s request to discontinue TH 21 will be processed.)
Michael reported that the design work for the Buck Lake Brook/ Cabot Road USDA EWPP project has been
determined by the NRCS engineer to more complex than originally thought and that NRCS would like to have a
geologist study the site for the engineering design. USDA/NRCS has requested the town apply for a one-year
extension for the EWPP projects. Michael will pursue this with CVRPC’s assistance.
Special Town Meeting The warning for the special town meeting was ready to be signed. The
meeting will be held in the school gym on October 15
th
, starting at 6:30. The meeting was scheduled in response to
a petition that was received, asking for a town vote to determine whether Town Officials should be voted for by
Australian ballot instead of from the floor at Town Meeting. Chris ask ed about the moderator’s election. Steve
Murphy explained that the moderator serves through Town Meeting of the year they were elected, and he is
available to moderate the Oct. 15 meeting. Chris corresponded with Paul Cerutti who got permission for the
meeting to be held in the school gym despite a recent warning from the State Fire Marshal. The meeting is allowed
as long as a fire truck and two firemen will be on site. The WSB signed the warning.
Town Clerk’s Report with Graham Christie
Graham reported that the unlicensed dog list is down to six dogs. Graham has a request from a non-profit transit
provider requesting to be considered on the town meeting warning. T riValley Transit (TVT) has taken over some
Green Mountain Transit (GMT) routes and has contacted him about being placed on the warning. Diana questioned
if a new petition is needed from TVT or would TVT be slotted in in place of GMT? The WSB requested Graham
contact TVT to obtain a service record to better understand how they serve Woodbury residents. Graham reported
on the new open hours for the town office and the reasons for the change. New hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m. Tuesdays.
Town Treasurer’s Report with Lilly Baron
The Town's total cash on hand is currently $15,223. The primary reason for the low balance is the Valley Lake
Road/Kingsbury Brook Culvert project. A check for payment of $297,592 to the contractor of the project has been
written and is in the WSB packet to be signed tonight. The Town expects to receive $200,000 in grant
reimbursement shortly after the funds are withdrawn from our account
Lilly also asks the select board to officially approve the use of available existing fund surpluses to pay off the
FEMA fund deficit. In her report to the WSB, Lilly laid out the amount needed to pay off the deficit – $104,216 – and
the funds that she will be tapping to pay the deficit. Rebuilding the existing funds that are tapped into will need to
be done using future tax revenues. The WSB approved the use of existing town fund surpluses to pay off the FEMA
deficit. The General Fund is currently showing a positive year-to-date variance of $37,722, with revenue
$66,586 above budget and expenditures $28,863 above budget. The Highway Fund is showing a
year-to-date deficit of $44,819, with expenditures $59,062 below budget and revenue – 104,880 below.
The Highway Fund's revenue is below budget at this point in the year because the Town's property tax revenue is
collected into the General Fund and will be transferred to the Highway Fund at the close of the tax year.
Through August, the Town received $213,319 in revenue against a year-to-date budget of $250,613, while
expenditures total $220,985 against a year-to-date budget of $250,613. As the town moves through September
and October and receives the majority of our property tax revenue, these figures will change substantially.
In August, the Town collected $142,699 in current tax revenue and $24,932 in delinquent tax revenue.
The Woodbury Community Library is interested in using the town’s credit card to order books through an online
source. The WCL anticipates there would be a low use of the credit card for this purpose. Lilly felt it best to not
have another town credit card and instead created a policy for credit card authorization use. The WSB will review
this policy and place discussion on its September 28
th
WSB meeting agenda.
Heating Fuel Bids Gillespie Fuels was the only company to submit a bid. The pre-buy rates submitted in
the bid for heating fuel is $4.79/gallon and $1.64 /gallon for propane. John moved that the WSB approve for
purchase the pre-buy rates quoted by Gillespie; the motion passed.
Updates on Buyouts with John Gordon
The low bid for asbestos remediation was Catamount Environmental – $39,929. The WSB signed the contract. The
start date for the asbestos removal is October 5
th
. Larry Ferno, who was chosen todo the building removals, had
some questions for the WSB regarding his contract for the removal of the two buildings in the village.. He would
like to place a “curb stop” on the nozzle recently added to the well head to allow for above ground shutoff of the
waterline. Larry’s other concern addresses the town hall addition where the hot water heater is stored. He stat es
that the addition is not properly supported and worries the addition of the pressure tank – each tank estimated to
be about 500 pounds – would compromise the addition’s supports. In her experience, Robin said that the hot
water is rarely used and that much hot water is not needed. It is decided to remove the hot water tank and replace
it with an on demand hot water system. Chris and Gra ham offer to take a look at the addition and its supports for
possible solutions.
Updates and Other Business
Bills and Payroll: Bills and payroll orders were signed at the end of the meeting.
VLCT Annual Town Fair: Lilly shares she will be attending the town fair
Town Garage Roof: No news
Executive Session: The WSB voted to enter executive session to discuss legal advice on the pending
Swenson project. No decisions were made, no votes taken.
Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 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