Jack Kramer

Key discussion topics included planning for a Christmas event featuring Santa, kids' crafts, and distributing hot chocolate and s'mores, pending vendor confirmations. There was discussion regarding playground safety surfacing compliance requirements and the replacement of existing material. Correspondence reviewed involved physical exam statistics and concerns about insurance deductibles related to town-issued cell phones. Significant time was spent debating the authority to remove a Planning Board Chair, with legal counsel advising that such removal authority rests with the Planning Board alone, not the Select Board, unless removing the member entirely for cause. Updates were provided on Broadband committee activities, including receiving a Spirit of America award from Oxford County, and the status of vendor proposals due December 19th.

The meeting included discussions concerning the adoption status of the comprehensive plan and the enactment of the water extraction ordinance from 2004. A significant portion of the discussion focused on term limits for elected officials, referencing prior legal opinions from the town's attorney indicating that imposing term limits via ordinance or town meeting vote is ultra vires for their municipality status, as they are not a charter town. Further discussion addressed transparency issues regarding the Planning Board, specifically referencing an instance where meeting minutes were modified by removing the chairperson's signature without public notification, and the subsequent removal of specific dialogue from the record.

The meeting addressed various operational and funding topics. Key discussions included reviewing the estimate for the community center, which incorporated costs for escalation and subcontractor quotes. A significant portion of the meeting focused on grant opportunities for broadband infrastructure, specifically the 'Connect the Ready Grant' and the 'Reach Me Grant.' There was discussion regarding Spectrum's applications for these grants in neighboring towns, and the potential implications for the remaining four towns in the district. A motion was made to designate the Brownfield fire department ordinance as a referendum item. Additionally, a public safety concern was raised regarding the intersection of Route 160 and Lords Hill Road, suggesting the installation of a convex safety mirror, which was noted as a State road requiring CMP permission for pole attachment. Discussions also touched upon transferring $7,500 from the Public Works Capital Improvement account for a stainless steel sander.

The meeting commenced with the acceptance of previous minutes. Key discussion points included scheduling informational meetings regarding the revised Animal Control Ordinance and Transfer Station Trucking. There was significant discussion concerning potential contract increases for grounds maintenance, beach maintenance, and cemetery mowing, factoring in a reported 12.99% inflation rate since January 2022. The board also reviewed and voted to institute a draft Social Media Policy for the Town of Brownfield, detailing content restrictions, access limitations, and password management protocols. Furthermore, public commentary addressed issues stemming from a Freedom of Information Act request concerning the sale of town assets by a former Public Works Director and the request for an inventory of Public Works personal property. Planning for public hearings on short-term rentals and municipal fire department ordinances was also conducted.

The special town meeting addressed several articles. Article One involved setting the rules of procedure, with a nomination for moderator. Article Two was briefly mentioned. The main discussion centered on Article Three, which proposed waiving interest on unpaid taxes for the fiscal year 2025-2026 for tax bills due on November 15, 2025, and May 15, 2026. Two amendments were proposed and subsequently failed: one limiting the waiver to tax bills below $1,500, and another suggesting that interest forgiveness should be tied to increases in tax amounts above the prior year's bill. Discussions also touched upon the financial implications of such a waiver, including potential loss of revenue and the current status of town finances and tax collection rates. Further points of discussion included the notification process for mortgage companies regarding late November payments and the number of residents in the beginning stages of foreclosure.