The Waitsfield Selectboard approved several major town initiatives at its March 31 meeting, including a paving project, infrastructure upgrades to the historic General Wait House, and a new fire truck chassis purchase — pending support from its fire department partner, Fayston.
The board met in person at the Waitsfield Town Office and virtually via Zoom, following a site visit to the Town Garage. Members entered an executive session early in the meeting to discuss a confidential legal settlement, which they later approved unanimously.
The board heard from Misha Golfman of the Mad River Path Association, who updated members on e-bike storage and charging plans at the Wait House, and the progress of the regional Active Transportation Corridor. The board unanimously authorized the installation of an electric outlet for bike charging, to be overseen by the Wait House Commission.
Paving Contract
The board approved an amended paving contract with Pike Industries to include Slow Road in this summer’s paving schedule, bringing the total cost for Bridge Street, East Warren Road, and Slow Road to just over $648,000. Including Slow Road in the larger project will result in substantial savings, with an original estimate of $205,000 now expected to be significantly lower.
Members also approved funding requests for repairs and accessibility improvements at the General Wait House. This includes $1,700 for an ADA-compliant parking space, connector, and ramp, and $3,000 for clapboard repair ahead of exterior painting. A lift maintenance contract was discussed, but board members requested a full inspection prior to committing to annual service.
In public safety updates, the board authorized the purchase of a new fire truck chassis, contingent on approval from Fayston, which shares costs with Waitsfield. The fire chief noted potential cost savings if ordered early. The board also accepted a $30,722 bid — not to exceed $35,000 — for building out a newly purchased road department truck.
The board briefly discussed rat complaints, though no formal action was taken due to the lack of official reports.
Additional Actions
The Selectboard approved the adoption of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and appointments to the Regional Emergency Management Committee via the consent agenda. Members also scheduled future meetings and agreed to revisit the 2025 Selectboard work plan in more detail, with member Larissa Ursprung and town administrator York Haverkamp tasked with developing a review framework.
