WOODBURY – Alex Peltz took the opportunity during public comment at the Monday, August 11, select board meeting, to remind the select board about Tina Daigle, who was found dead by the side of Vt. Rt. 14 by his mother, Cacky Peltz. A lack of information and speculation about who did it has led to a harrowing few months for the family and others, he said.
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Peltz said he wanted to bring the event, which seems to be fading from public attention, back into the public eye. The event has left members of the community grieving and suffering. The silver lining may be that he’s gotten to know her family a bit better
“It’s sad, scary and unfortunate, but there’s not much that can be done,” said Peltz. He’s been in touch with the investigator, learning there are two detectives on the case. There’s a lot of speculation, which seems strange to sort of know what’s going on and not be able to do anything about it.
Discussion of plans for Daigle’s burial followed between Peltz and the selectboard. Peltz said Tina Daigle will be buried in Hardwick. They discussed what support might be available for people affected by that and similar events.
Peltz then asked about the outdoor classroom at Woodbury Elementary School, for which ARPA funds were donated, but not yet spent, leaving Michael Gray and the select board unclear on whether work might be done, or the funds returned.
Near the end of the meeting, the select board evaluated a number of options for reducing the tax rate. “The education tax is up 11 percent more for homesteads, with a total increase of 18 percent,” said Diana Peduzzi.
The municipal tax rate for FY26 was set at .786.
During the meeting that lasted over two and a half hours, Town Clerk Robin Durkee gave her report, followed by the treasurer. Michael Gray then reported on a USDA/NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program for Cabot Road bank stabilization, shared information about a joint meeting with the Planning Commission and Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) on the regional future land use map it is developing.
Recovery Officer Skip Lindsay received approval on an RFP for basement waterproofing.
On Friday, the town posted a request for bids to recommend and implement waterproofing in the basement of the town clerk’s office where July 2023 flooding left significant damage. Office supplies, computing and internet components and mechanical systems are located there now.
A mandatory site inspection and walkthrough is scheduled for 10 a.m., August 27, at the Woodbury Town Clerk’s office with bids due by September 25.
In addition to answering several questions throughout the meeting, Alfred Larrabee
offered his report as road commissioner.
Adjournment was set for 8:15 p.m., on the agenda, but at 8:50 p.m. the board entered an executive session with John Reid under a provision of the open meeting law that allows for private discussion of hiring or evaluating public officers and employees. Exiting at 9:25, they reported having taken no action.
After signing bills and payroll orders, the meeting ended at 9:50 p.m.
The Hardwick Community Television recording ended as the board entered its executive session, and no audio recording or draft minutes of the meeting were posted on the town’s new website as of Monday evening, August 18. That is several days past the required five calendar days for such information to be posted following meetings of elected town officials under the Vermont Open Meeting Law. A copy of the draft minutes was provided Tuesday morning.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
