MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 23, 2026
Present: James Bulger, Bradford Calhoun, Tom Otterman, Carl Hildebrandt and Jake Thompson, (Select Board), Karen Walker (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via phone Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Visitors: Jim Clark, Nick Milburn, Donna Otterman, James Salinas, John Hood and via Microsoft Teams Pat Plaisted and Marc Welch
Meeting called to order at 7:03 pm.
Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve minutes from meeting of March 9, 2026. Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Planning Commission – Jim Clark reported the Energy Section of the Town Plan will be ready for Select Board approval at the next meeting.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment. Grader - The need for a grader was discussed. Brad advised they will be looking at a used grader. New Garage – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on the building construction progress.
Certificate of Compliance for Town Road and Bridge Standards – Motion made by Brad Calhoun and seconded by Jake Thompson to sign. Passed unanimously.
Grants-In-Aid Letter of Intent – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Tom Otterman for Jim Bulger, Chair, to sign the letter of intent to participate in the program. Passed unanimously.
Overweight Permits – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve and for Jim Bulger, Chair, to sign permits for Ricker’s Excavation, Amerigas, Feed Commodities International, Irving Energy, Superior Plus, S D Ireland, Cadwell Logging & Firewood, N A Manosh, Dead River, Kris Bullock, Sidney Smith Trucking, Barrett Trucking, Martin’s Quarry and Fornwall Excavation. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Appointment of Town Officers – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to appoint the individuals as shown on the attached sheet. Passed unanimously.
Open Positions – NEKWMD Alternate
If anyone is interested, please contact the Town Office or a member of the Select Board.
West Topsham Community Hall – Tom Otterman updated the Board on this project. He has received a few bids, which he will present to the Board at a future meeting. The president of the Preservation Trust of Vermont has also written a letter of support for this project to help secure further funding.
Act 181 – The Select Board discussed concerns with the Tier 2 and Tier 3 rules and how they will affect small towns such as ours. They have prepared a letter voicing these concerns. Jim Bulger, Jim Clark, and Tom and Donna Otterman will be attending a rally tomorrow at the State House regarding this.
Use of Town Hall – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve use of Town by Bernice Dow for a funeral reception on April 11. Passed unanimously.
Use of Town Hall – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve use of the Town Hall for a rummage sale from April 27 through May 13. Passed unanimously.
Liquor and Tobacco License – Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve license for Gramp’s Country Store. Passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
Historical Society – The Board reviewed the thank you note and approved the request to sell coffee and donuts at Town Meeting again next year.
F INANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2606 in the amounts of $182,488.670 for accounts payable and $8,206.97 for payroll.
Welch Road Cemetery CD – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to renew for one year. Passed unanimously.
Lister Hourly Rate of Pay – Motion made by
Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to increase the rate of pay to $21.00 per hour for John Hood and to $19.00 per hour for Pam Langlitz and Amelia Evans. Passed unanimously.
OTHER
Land Use Property Tax Adjustment – John Hood discussed a property where a tax adjustment was made by the State and there is an additional tax owed. He asked if the Select Board would waive it. Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Brad Calhoun to waive the additional tax. Passed by a vote of three. Tom Otterman and Jim Bulger voted no.
After the vote more discussion followed regarding the amount of the tax adjustment. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to rescind the motion made above regarding waiving the land use property tax adjustment and to follow the Board of Abatement procedures. Passed unanimously.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded
by Jake Thompson to schedule a Board of Abatement meeting to consider the State tax adjustment on both the Sweet and Batten properties. Passed unanimously.
Executive Session – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to go into executive session to discuss a legal issue.Passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned to executive session from 8:40 pm to 8:42 pm. No action taken.
Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Jim Bulger to adjourn. Passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:44 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Emerson
Administrative Assistant
Town Officers - 2026
Appointed at Select Board Meeting
On March 23 2026
Board of Directors/VNHVTNH Nancy Frost, Topsham 2027
Animal Control Officer Dyani Hazlett, West Topsham 2027 Tree Warden Wyatt Hayward, West Topsham 2027
Energy Coordinator Nick Milburn, Topsham 2027
Fire Warden - Key Man Richard Sampson, Topsham 2027 Planning Commission Nick Milburn Topsham 2029 Flood Zoning Administrator Thomas Otterman, West Topsham 2027
VT Emergency Manager Bradford Calhoun, Topsham 2027 for Topsham
Green-Up Chairperson David Elias, West Topsham 2027
Constable David Mott, Topsham 2027
911 Committee Yvette Tomlinson, West Topsham 2027 Nancy Frost, Topsham 2027
Select Board & Town Clerk 2027
NEKWMD Representative Jake Thompson, Topsham 2027 Alternate Vacant 2027