West Fairlee Select Board: Approves Brushwood Forest logging contract and $6k tree work

West Fairlee Select Board · Meeting recap · meeting of Monday, October 5, 2026

The West Fairlee Selectboard met Monday, October 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm at the Town Offices. Stuart (Tiger) Bacon joined by Zoom. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm.

Decisions

• Consent agenda: The board unanimously approved the September 21, 2026 meeting minutes and amendment #3 to the MERP grant Scope of Work. Excess weight permits were deferred.
• Brushwood Forest: The board met in executive session from 6:01 to 6:31 pm about the Brushwood Forest timber harvest. Afterward, it unanimously voted to contract with Ben Rubinfeld - Borderline Tree Works, LLC for the logging, as a stumpage sale. Delsie Hoyt is authorized to sign for the board. The County Forester is to draft the contract.
• Tree thinning: The board unanimously approved spending $6k as quoted to thin trees, remove buckhorn and reseed.
• Orders: The board unanimously voted to sign the orders.

Also discussed

• The Treasurer's financial statements. Year-to-date spending looks good. Electricity is up a bit, which was expected with more heat pump use. The board will review the Capital Plan at its next meeting.
• A Better Roads grant for Middlebrook Rd. Delsie is unsure a river engineer assessment can be done before the October 31st deadline.
• A dog complaint follow-up, still awaiting confirmation that the dogs are licensed.
• The Village Trust/Paul Bruhn grant. The town attorney had questions about some language, and Delsie is working with VLCT MAC on an MOU.
• MERP grant spending. The solar system is complete, with a final inspection set for 10/6. Ideas for the remaining grant balance include a food shelf refrigerator and staff refrigerator, windows and an attic ladder.
• The draft Community Building Systems Guide. Bree Carlson will review it and look into security access options.
• A possible new set of tasks for the Administrative Assistant.
• A renewal quote for the public Wi-Fi hotspot, still awaited.
• The West Fairlee Community Club's request for a 2027 property tax exemption. Reviews by the Lister, PBR, the town attorney and VLCT MAC are pending.
• Recognition of the West Fairlee Town Report's bronze medal. Updates on the LHMP and PFAS are still pending.

Money

• $6k approved for tree thinning, buckhorn removal and reseeding.
• The Community Club's tax exemption request is for under $2k.

A Board of Abatement hearing is set for Monday, November 9 at 5pm.

This is an automated summary of the town's posted minutes. The official record is the original document. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.