MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 11 2024
Present: James Bulger, Carl Hildebrandt, Jake Thompson, Bradford Calhoun and Thomas Otterman
(Select Board), Karen Walker (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Cynthia Flannigan (Assistant Treasurer),
Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Visitors: Jim and Nancy Clark, Becky Christian, Bill Johnson, Carol Appleton, Heidi Wright, Kaitlyn
Hankins and via Microsoft Teams C J and Sue Altland and F. Tierney
Meeting called to order at 7:06 pm.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve minutes from meeting of
February 26 2024. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Brad Calhoun to elect Tom Otterman as Board Chair. Tom declined.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to elect Jim Bulger as Board Chair.
Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for the Board meetings to continue
to be held the second and fourth Monday of the month, starting at 7:00 pm. Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Kaitlyn Hankins discussed her interest in the Animal Control Officer position.
Carol Appleton discussed her interest in the Animal Control Officer position and the Health Officer
position.
Jim Clark updated the Board on the Village Designation Project.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment.
Road Liaison – Motion made by Jim Bulger and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to appoint Brad
Calhoun as Road Liaison. Passed unanimously.
New Garage – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on the New Garage Project. Jim Bulger advised that
VLCT is sending a packet regarding the administrative work needed for the Bond. Jake Thompson will
look at the material from VLCT. Jake will attend the future Garage Committee meetings. The next
meeting will be in two weeks on the 25th at 6:00 pm.
VTrans Packet – Brad Calhoun will handle.
Ben Dexter Road Property –The boundary line agreement has been completed. Two offers were
received for the property. One for $82,000 and one for $55,000. Motion made by Jake Thompson and
seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to accept the $82,000 offer. Passed by a vote of four. Tom Otterman
abstained.
Overweight Permits – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve
permits for Connecticut Valley Trucking, Limlaw Chipping, Consolidated Communications and R. K.
Miles. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Appointment of Town Officers – The Board asked Janice Emerson to contact the individuals who
served last year to ask if they are willing to serve another term.
Administrative Assistant – Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Jake Thompson to
appoint Janice Emerson as Administrative Assistant to the Select Board. Passed unanimously.
Open Positions – The Board discussed the open positions for two Auditors, two NEKWMD Reps,
Animal Control Officer and Health Officer.
School Director – Kara Appleton resigned as school director. Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and
seconded by Jake Thompson to appoint Desiree Thurston as School Director of the Waits River Valley
School for a term of one year. Passed unanimously.
West Topsham Community Hall – The transfer of the West Topsham Community Hall to the Town of
Topsham has been completed.
Jim Bulger thanked Jake Thompson for his work on the sale of the Ben Dexter Road property and the
transfer of the West Topsham Community Hall to the Town.
Highway Personnel Policy Holiday Paragraph – Jake Thompson will re-send the material to the Board
for review and comments.
Use of Town Hall – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve use
of the Town Hall for the rummage sale from April 28, 2024 to May 15, 2024. Passed unanimously.
The actual sale will be May 4 to May 11.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Board reviewed the following correspondence:
US Bankruptcy Court
VLCT – Upcoming Event on Grants
Email re Safe Community
NEKWMD – Complete Form for New Officers
NEKWMD Annual Report
Agency of Natural Resources -Amendment to CWSRF
Email Regarding ARPA Funds – Nancy Clark will contact VLCT to get more information.
FINANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2405 in the amount of $31,015.96 for accounts payable and
$3,848.49 for payroll.
Training Workshops – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to pay the
cost for all Town Officials who wish to attend workshops/conferences related to their work as an
Official of the Town. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to authorize the Town Treasurer to
make payroll and payroll related payments, make payment to receive discounts, refund tax over-
payments, issue checks for tax sale redemptions, pay motor vehicle registration fees to the State and
make payments for postage to the East Corinth Postmaster, as needed throughout the year. Passed
unanimously.
Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Tom Otterman to authorize the Town Treasurer to
redeem and renew CDs as necessary in the best interests of the town throughout the year. Passed
unanimously.
Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Tom Otterman to authorize the Town Treasurer to
close out the checking and savings accounts at Wells River Savings Bank for the Waits River Cemetery
and the East Topsham Cemetery and transfer the money to CDs. Passed unanimously.
Highway Building Fund CD Renewal – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake
Thompson to renew the Highway Building Fund CD for 30 days. Passed unanimously.
General Fund Surplus CD – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to renew
the General Fund Surplus CD for 90 days. Passed unanimously.
OTHER
The Board discussed and updated Projects and Goals for 2023 and Time Line for Bids.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to appoint Carol Appleton as Health
Officer. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt for Jim Bulger, Chair, to sign the
papers required by the State for the appointment of Health Officer. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to appoint Kaitlyn Hankins as
Animal Control Officer. Passed unanimously.
Veterans Memorial – Cindy Flannigan requested to continue work on the Veterans Memorial. The
Board unanimously approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:29 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Emerson
Administrative Assistant