July 7 2025 Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF SUDBURY

SELECT BOARD MEETING

UNAPPROVED

DATE OF MEETING: July 7, 2025

Select Board Present Tom Williams, Shannon Bryant, and Shaun Ketcham

Others: Patricia Bertino, Colleen Wright, Keith Knapp, Steve Beyer, Irma Van Scoy, John Lanza, Steven Lohrenz, Corey Czarnecki, Shelly Pottorf, Steven Bauer, Eileen Cook, Annemarie Glanzman, Ted Russell, David Crane, Georgette Nicholas, Jason McNolty, and Steve Sgorbati

Scheduled Guests: Maggie O’Brien of Rutland Regional Planning Commission, Keith Knapp & Patricia Bertino of Burr Pond Association

Minutes subject to approval.

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The meeting began at 7:00.

Maggie introduced herself.  She stated she was here to talk about the Rutland Regional Disaster Cooperative whereby towns network and coordinate resources in an emergency.

Shaun said that being closer to some Addison County towns, we have used resources like a plow truck from Cornwall in the past.  We are more likely to turn to Orwell or Cornwall than say Killington in the future.

Maggie said that they have held two in-person facilitated meetings and are planning a third one.  Shaun stated that if she sends the date and time he would try to attend.

Maggie thanked the Board for their time and left at 7:17.

Next Patricia Bertino and Keith stated they were here to discuss the proposed fire district further.  Steve Sgorbati distributed letters from Marguerite Beaudoin retracting her signature, an email from Kathleen Sgorbati in opposition and a letter from Steven Beyer (see attached) Trish stated that she was here to update on a Zoom meeting they held where 12 people attended. Discussion followed on the proposed fire district. No action taken.

Keith stated he had a second matter to discuss.  He stated he had a neighbor that was a disc jockey with big sound equipment that is too loud and disturbs the peace.  He has in the past called the police who won’t write a citation because the town does not have a noise ordinance.  The police suggested the town adopt a separate noise ordinance with fines written into it so Keith would like help from the town with an ordinance.

Shaun asked if any other people in attendance wanted to speak.

David Crane stated that there was a new Conflict of Interest law passed that supercedes individual town policies with new requirements of ethics committees and requires towns to deal with complaints at the municipal level.  He stated that there ought to be a clear code of conduct spelled out for Sudbury.  David spoke to an employee of the State Ethics Committee and they are down to two part-time employees due to federal funds cuts so they are going to pass complaints they receive back to the municipal governing boards.

Colleen stated she feels like the Planning Commission is causing divisions in town with the Subhub group and that they shouldn’t be voting on subdivisions on the Cook farm.

Ted Russell stated on the subdivision that the criteria for a subdivision was met in that it is larger than the required ten acres so it got granted in compliance with the UDO. 

Ted asked if he could talk about the Hill School?  Shaun stated he could. Ted said that he wants to excavate at the foundation to see what is under the floor and what it is sitting on so that he can get an estimate as to what it would cost to move it. He said that Jason McNolty had volunteered to use his excavator to do the digging.  Discussion on moving the Hill School up to the Green followed.  Tom stated that it wasn’t too long ago that we had the stonework repaired and stabilized and that he was against disturbing or jeopardizing further movement and settlement but that they had already approved looking under the floor from the inside.

Colleen, Ted, Steven Beyer, and Eileen all left at 7:57.

Corey stated he was in favor of having professional energy efficiency people conducting an assessment of the town hall before spending any money to tighten up the building.  The use of outside people who do this sort of thing professionally is better and removes the rumors.

Shaun stated there is no harm in more information.

More discussion on the proposed fire district followed.  It is tabled for now.

Steve stated he had received the education tax rates from the state and they are 1.5866 for the homestead and 1.7186 for non-homestead.  This compares to 1.5867 and 1.7672 last year.

Steve said that people at the last Planning Commission meeting want a town website so they can read Planning Commission and Selectboard minutes and know what’s going on in town.  A volunteer came forward that said they could set it up and another volunteered to take over the Selectboard minute taking.  It was Susannah and Noel Sinozich.  Discussion followed on the matter.  Steve will get Susannah to come in to talk to the Board at the next meeting.

Steve distributed Larry Rowe’s letter to the Board regarding getting the school back  “Citizens Request” (see attached).

The Orders and monthly budget comparison were distributed for examination and signatures.

Steve stated he had received the water test results which passed for bacteria.  Steve stated he had asked Tim Williams who to pay and was told it was on Spafford, a donation.

Tom made a motion to go into executive session to discuss a real estate transaction.  Shannon seconded the motion and the room was cleared.  Jason, Corey, John Lanza, and David Crane left the building at 8:40.

At 9:05 Tom made a motion to leave executive session.  Shannon seconded the motion.  No action taken.  The Board agreed to have a site visit on Saturday, July 12^th at one o’clock to examine the land east of the town clerk’s office and the buildings.

Shaun made a motion to accept the minutes of June 2,2025 as written.  Shannon seconded the motion and minutes were accepted as written.

Shaun made a motion to adjourn at 9:15.  Tom seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Sgorbati

TOWN OF SUDBURY

SELECT BOARD

AGENDA

DATE OF MEETING: August 4, 2025 AT 7:00 PM at the Town Hall

Scheduled Guests

Laurie Bertrand re: Sudbury Country School

Susannah Sinozich re: website & Selectboard secretary

Seth Hopkins re: covered bridge warning sign

Additional Fire District discussion

Orders

Treasurers Report

Proposed Tax rates

New Business/Old Business

Minutes of July 7, & 12, 2025 meeting--corrections/acceptance