Fuel Loan Assistance Committee

Becky Hoyt
Phone: 802-889-3571, ext 102
Email: treasurer@tunbridgevt.org

The Committee’s mission is to maintain and administer funds that provide assistance to Tunbridge residents, allowing them to get the heating fuel they need. The goal is to keep our community strong and connected and to ensure that everyone has the ability to stay warm.

This is a service offered to help residents of Tunbridge just like you. The Committee can help point you to other resources that are available and will consider applications when a resident is in need. Please consider applying before this becomes an emergency.

Currently, the members include Betsy Sponable, Helen O’Donnell, Anne Mallary, Ben Wolfe, Shari Murawski, Selectboard member, Gary Mullen and Town Treasurer, Rebecca Hoyt. There are lots of things we can do as a community to help one another through cold weather and tough economic times. Consider joining us at a meeting!

We are currently reviewing the application process. It will be available here soon. Feel free to reach out at the above email address with any questions or suggestions.

Donations can be given directly to the Town Treasurer, or mailed to Town Treasurer; PO Box 6; Tunbridge, VT 05077. Include “Fuel Assistance Donation” in the subject line. We want to do this better and look forward to finding ways to reach more people who are struggling financially in the cold months.

Resources available: Capstone Community Action, Randolph Office: 12 Prince St., Randolph; 802-728-9506 and 800-846-9506, Barre Office: 20 Gable St., Barre; 802-479-1053 and 800-639-1053 or capstonevt.org

Community Action can help with crisis fuel, seasonal fuel, utility assistance, weatherization and furnace repair or replacement as long as you meet the income guidelines.

By-Laws

I. Purpose

  1. The purpose of the Tunbridge Emergency Heating Fuel Assistance Committee (hereinafer called the Committee) is to maintain and administer an ongoing reserve fund, for the purpose of providing Tunbridge residents emergency heang fuel assistance. All funds will be acquired by donations, no monies will be raised by tax dollars.
  2. These bylaws shall govern the operations of the committee.

II. Membership

  1. The Committee shall be composed of up to eleven (11) members. These members shall be the town treasurer; one member from the selectboard, to be appointed annually; and up to nine (9) residents of Tunbridge, to be appointed annually, at the beginning of the fiscal year, by the selectboard.
  2. Members shall serve a term of one year.
  3. Members may be removed by the selectboard for cause.

III. Officers

  1. Committee shall elect the chairperson annually, at the next meeting following the selectboard appointments.
  2. A Vice-Chairperson shall be elected annually by the Committee to serve in the absence of the chairperson.
  3. The town treasurer shall serve as the treasurer for the Committee.
  4. A secretary shall be elected annually by the Committee, to keep records of all meetings and other official actions of the committee.

IV. Meetings

  1. The chairperson will call meetings at least quarterly and on an as needed basis. 2. All Committee meetings will be conducted according to the open meetings laws. 1V.S.A§§310-314

V. Decision-Making

  1. There must be at least three (3) committee members present at a duly warned meeting to act on an application.
  2. All decisions at regularly scheduled meetings shall require a quorum of the current members.
  3. The Committee has the authority within these bylaws and current procedures to act on all applications.

VI. Finances

  1. Quarterly financial reports shall be prepared by the Town Treasurer and distributed to the Selectboard and the Committee members.
  2. The bank account shall be audited by the town auditors annually and reported to the townspeople in the town report.

VII. Confidentiality

  1. All discussion at Committee meetings to consider requests shall be held in executive session. 1 V.S.A §313 1a
  2. Disclosure of any information relating to application shall not be made available to anyone except by the written authorization of the applicant.
  3. All applications shall be held confidential.

VIII. Non-Discrimination

In accordance with the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act, the committee may not discriminate in its practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, or sexual orientation.

IX. Conflict of Interest

Committee Members will be asked to recuse themselves from acting on an application if they are related to, or are the applicant.

X. Amendments

Amendments may be proposed at any time by the Committee, and recommended by a majority vote to the Tunbridge Selectboard for approval. A majority of the Selectboard must approve amendments.

XI. Dissolution

In the case of dissolution, the Committee will recommend to the Selectboard an appropriate use of the remaining funds.

Signed this _____ day of _______, 2025
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Rev 5/13/2025

Recent Meetings

Oct. 28, 2025
Agenda | Minutes

Oct. 14, 2025
Agenda | Minutes

Follow this link to see agendas and minutes from prior Fuel Loan Assistance Committee meetings.