DRAFT MINUTES of the BROOKFIELD SELECTBOARD MEETING
November 22, 2021
Held at the Office of the Town Clerk
6:30 P.M.
THOSE PRESENT: John Benson, Chair; Dennis LaRocque, Kate Threlkeld, and Betty Lord, Members; Amy Ingrassia, Assistant Town Clerk; Tim Higgins, Road Foreman; Vicki Blanchard, Administrative Assistant to the Board.
A. CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Benson called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
B. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA – FEMA: Grant moved to Highway Report.
C. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None
D. HIGHWAY REPORT
1. Weight limit signs for Rte12 & Northfield Road – Mr. Higgins reported the weight limit sign is up for Route 12 and Northfield Road and a new sign is being prepared for the Witts Bridge Road. Ms. Blanchard will contact VTrans as to what the weight limit and posted sign should be for Parker Road.
2. Mr. Higgins will make a note to contact the property owners and VT ANR river management in the spring regarding the West Brookfield washout.
Mr. Benson indicated that he had the report from DuBois and King regarding the review of five bridges in Town. Four of the bridges are reported to be in good shape with the bridge on Parker Road requiring some maintenance. He said there is still $1,500 in the budget set aside for the inspection of
the five bridges. The Board agreed to ask DuBois and King to prepare an estimate for the work on Parker Road, said estimate not to exceed $1,500.
Mr. Higgins reported the road crew had been busy filling pot holes, grading and getting equipment ready for winter.
CAT has given a February deadline for having the grader up and running. They are currently looking for a replacement grader to be used in the meantime. One truck is inspected and another will be inspected on Wednesday of this week. Chains for the equipment are due by next week.
The permit was issued for the proposed hydrant in Sunset lake on the East end of the Floating Bridge.
FEMA Grant – Halfway Brook Culvert – Mr. Benson reported he had gotten approval from Two Rivers Ottaquechee Regional Commission to proceed with an application for a grant from FEMA as our request for a grant from VTrans had not been approved. Our share of the design and construction of
the bridge will be $28,000.
A Special Meeting of the Board is called for next Monday, November 29, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. to meet with the applicants for the open position on the Road Crew.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. GMEDC Calls for Regional Priority Project Information – TRORC contacted the Board to ascertain if the Town was in compliance with mutual fire coverage with Braintree and Randolph. Mr. Benson responded in the positive.
F. Old Business
1. Brookfield Cemeteries – Sexton Duties – The review was tabled until Mr. Kimmel is present to review the cemetery policy with the Board.
Mr. LaRocque reported that Mr. Paul Flint stopped by his house to ask Mr. LaRocque to thank the Board for the contribution made in Brenda Flint’s name to the Memorial Scholarship Fund at VTC.
G. Meeting Minutes: 08 November 2021 – The reading of the minutes was tabled until the Special Meeting on Monday, November 29.
H. Payroll and AP Warrants – Ms. Lord made a motion to accept the AP warrants as presented with a total of $11,063.98 and the highest payment being made to R. E. Tucker in the amount of $2,983.50.
Mr. Benson seconded and the motion was unanimously approved: 4-0-0 (Mr. Kimmel was not in
attendance).
I. Other Proper Business – Ms. Threlkeld said she had been contacted by a member of the Randolph Energy Committee who asked if Brookfield would be interested in supporting a Shared Energy Coordinator to work with the towns of Randolph, Braintree, and Bethel. The Board is interested in learning what the costs would be for establishing the position of shared Energy Coordinator for the towns.
Ms. Threlkeld said that she had been contacted by a Brookfield resident about having two “Welcome to Brookfield” signs placed at appropriate places to greet visitors coming into Town. Ms. Threlkeld will ask Mr. Kevin Dunwoody if he would be interested in making the two signs and what the cost for the two would be.
J. Adjournment – There being no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Threlkeld moved to adjourn at 7:42 p.m. Mr. LaRocque seconded and the motion was carried unanimously: 4-0-0.