CRAFTSBURY – On Friday, May 30, the Craftsbury Select Board held a special meeting in response to an alleged open meeting violation. Present was attorney James Barlow to review the complaint and the board’s written response, which denied any deliberate violations of open meeting law.
According to James Larock of Craftsbury, the board violated open meeting law on May 20. Larock was present that evening via zoom in order to discuss an agenda item regarding the sand and gravel pit with Kurtis Mellet.
Larock says he observed a conversation between the select board and Mellet, prior to the meeting’s official 7 p.m. start time, with neither minutes nor a recording taken. Available video of the May 20 meeting begins with Larock addressing the board with this concern, stating “So to be clear that conversation that happened about a substantive item that was on the agenda was not recorded.” Town Clerk Michelle Warren responded, “I just logged in.” to which Larock said, “Sorry, I know that might sound like some of the badgering that Mr. Mellet was complaining about, but I just wanted to mention that. That was the only item I was gonna be on here for today, so I’ll let you guys get to work.”
It was after Larock concluded that board member Jim Jones called the meeting to order. The select board’s response also provided a timeline of the evening in question. According to the board, “At approximately 6:50 p.m. Kurtis Mellet entered the Craftsbury Town Hall and informed the select board members that he would not be able to attend the meeting that evening. Mr. Mellet is your neighbor and the owner of the gravel pit from which the town sources materials for road maintenance under an agreement between him and the Town. You have been involved in litigation with Mr. Mellet regarding the gravel pit.”
The letter states that when Mellet arrived before the scheduled start time to indicate his unavailability, the board members informed him that discussion with him would be removed from the agenda and that the gravel pit would be discussed again in a future meeting when he was available.
Continuing, the board asserts they indicated their intention to revisit the gravel payment structure in a future meeting, noting that future payments would likely be based on an inventory of the gravel rather than the current quarterly payments, and that Mellet also informed the board of the status of the gravel pit litigation.
“Although the select board believes that the conversation with Mr. Mellet was not a meeting, no Open Meeting Law violation occurred, and therefore no cure is required, to the extent that the conversation with Mr. Mellet may have constituted a meeting, the failure to record the exchange and take minutes of the conversation was entirely inadvertent and unintentional. The conversation will be addressed through a supplement to the May 20, 2025 meeting minutes describing the exchange with Mr. Mellet.”
Larock’s complaint indicated there was substantive conversation about the gravel pit and not simply discussion of rescheduling the meeting, which would have been acceptable under open meeting laws.
At press time, neither Larock nor the select board were available to respond to further questions.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
