November 2025 Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF SUDBURY

SELECT BOARD MEETING

UNAPPROVED

DATE OF MEETING:November 03, 2025 @ 7:00 PM

At Sudbury Town Hall

Select Board Present: Shaun Ketcham, and Tom Williams 

Others: Patricia Bertino, Jay & Olivia Lanza, Vanessa Ketcham, Susan & Michael Kelley, Georgette Nicholas, Colleen Wright, Laurie Bertrand, Eileen Cook, Kloree Parks, David & Jaime Crane, Ted Russell, Susannah Sinozich, Steven & Rebecca Marcoux, Roger Germond, Melody Beth Brown, Paul Limmer, Marguerite Beaudoin & Holly, Janet & Dave Weaver, Larry Rowe, Travis Romano, and Steve Sgorbati

Scheduled Guests: Steffanie Corey, Laurie Bertrand, Larry Rowe, and Patricia Bertino

Minutes subject to approval.

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Shaun called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM

First up is the Zoning Administrator.  Shaun had spoken to her and she had provided 3 or 4 names that she thought might accept the ZA position but none of them responded so she’d be willing to stay on if we would be flexible.  She also would like an increase in her hourly wage.  Tom asked what we paid to Keith and Steve said $20 an hour.  Shaun stated Stephanie hadn’t said a specific figure.  Larry Rowe stated she was very professional.  David Crane said that she had come out to his place and measured everything that was stated on the permit to make sure it was all accurate.

Shaun made a motion to pay Stephanie $25 an hour. Tom seconded the motion.

Next up at 7:09 Patricia Bertino distributed a letter from Jason Batchelder, Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife in response to Shaun’s letter about including the Burr Pond Fishing Access in the proposed Fire District (see attached).  She also distributed a 4-page handout as an update where the Burr Pond Association is in its progress towards the dam and the proposed fire district (see attached).  They found out that their fire district is too small to make them eligible for a bond. They haven’t found any other funding sources and are now looking into a “special tax assessment zone” that the Town of Pittsford formed.

Next, Shaun invited Laurie Bertrand to update the Board on the where the school district is in terms of closing schools and redistricting.  Laurie started by stating the history since the district was unified in 2018.  Laurie said that the Sudbury School was closed during COVID.  There are currently six students at Sudbury and that tuitioning them out would be a lot more expensive than schooling them at Sudbury.  There is a meeting on November 22nd to decide if the Whiting school will close and move the students and dedicated preschool to Leicester.

Laurie was asked if the request from Colleen Wright and others was granted to use the school for soup and bread suppers through the winter.  Laurie said that they needed to formally file the request paperwork and move on from there.

Shaun stated Larry Rowe was next on the agenda.

Larry said he was here for a couple things, the first being an update on the fundraising for the Meeting House.  Larry distributed a sheet showing that they have either cash or commitments of grants and donations totaling $157,016.00 to date (see attached).  He noted that the first phase of the work is estimated to be $330,000.00.

The second thing Larry wanted is for the town to hold a facilitated forum to gauge the town’s feelings towards new development in town or no changes.  Do we want to raise the grandlist to keep taxes low or what? 

Shaun stated that he had lived on Fiddlehill Road before all the development happened at the other end of the road and did not notice a reduction in his taxes when all those houses went in. 

Larry left at 7:53.

Next, Shaun stated he attended a Western Rutland County emergency preparedness seminar in Castleton put together by Maggie O’Brien from the Regional Planning Commission. Shaun was paired with an attendee from Benson.  They discussed equipment loaning during emergencies.  Benson has an extra loaner truck in case the need would ever arise.  Shaun stated Cornwall has one also and we have used it during a storm when ours had a breakdown.  Benson also allows ATV’s on the roads and they have a club called KATZ to help distribute aid like food and water during bad storms and power outages.

Steve S. distributed the Orders and the monthly budget comparison for examination and signatures.

Shaun asked if any of the public in attendance wanted to speak or comment. 

Susannah Sinozich said she was here on behalf of Noel who is working on the town website: sudburyvt.com.  Noel has started setting it up and wants input from the Select Board.  He will be in to show the Board soon. Susannah would like Select Board emails.  Steve S. will email them to her.

Dave Weaver stated he was willing to volunteer to fill the Selectboard vacancy created when Shannon resigned last week.  Dave stated his work history and stated he was now retired.

Jay Lanza asked if the Selectboard could revoke the Village Center designation?  Shaun stated he was unsure how that would impact grants that we have already been awarded or if it would reduce our future opportunities.

Melody Beth Brown held up a sheet titled “Designated Village Centers Program Benefits” listing tax credits and other benefits noting a private landowner Harvey Blake’s property was included in this designated area and thus eligible (see attached).  Beth would like to know if the Village Center designated area could be altered?

Keith Knapp arrived at 8:34.

Marguerite Beaudoin wants to know about the Burr Pond Fire District as she was told the idea was scrapped since it isn’t eligible for any funding since it was  too small.  And now she finds out they are still considering the proposal.  She’s confused.  She received a email from Irma Van Scoy, President of the Burr Pond Association stating thousands of dollars would be required from each property owner just to fix it. Trish and Keith recounted what was on the handout distributed earlier.

Shaun asked if there were any other public comments.  Hearing none, he made a motion at 8:50 to enter executive session to discuss the Selectboard vacancy.  Tom seconded the motion and the public left the building.

Shaun made a motion to leave executive session at 9:00.  Tom seconded the motion and the Board resumed the meeting.

Shaun made a motion to appoint Travis Romano to fill the Select Board vacancy until 2026 Town Meeting.  Tom seconded the motion and Travis was appointed. 

Shaun made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:02.  Tom seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Sgorbati

TOWN OF SUDBURY

SELECT BOARD

AGENDA

DATE OF MEETING: December 1, 2025 AT 7:00 PM At Town Hall

Scheduled Guests

Noel Sinozich re: Website update

Heidi Champine re: Hill School

Keith Knapp re: fire district

Noel update

Heidi

Keith fire district update

Formation of Building Committee for Meeting House project

Treasurers Report

Orders

New Business/Old Business

Minutes of November 3rd meeting minutes corrections /acceptance