Select board approves routine warrants, minutes and several town grants; rejects STRAP grant

The Town of North Brookfield Board of Selectmen approved routine minutes and payroll and vendor warrants, accepted multiple resignations and approved several project and grant actions during its Oct. 7 meeting, while rejecting a state STRAP grant because the required local match would unduly burden the highway budget.

The board voted to approve minutes from meetings held Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 and to approve payroll warrant number 7 for $367,842.18, school warrant number 1028 and general fund and project warrants (numbers recited at the meeting). The board also approved a $7,100 cultural council annual grant application to support arts and sciences programming in town.

Selectmen accepted three written resignations from the sewer commission—Donald Smith, Kevin Valeri and a third member noted in the minutes—and took charge of sewer-commission responsibilities until replacements are appointed. The board also accepted the resignation of Chief Mark Smith, whose last day is Nov. 21, and voted to appoint Brandon Avery to the board of assessors.

On project business, the board approved a package of proposed change orders for the firehouse/headquarters renovation that included credits and additional work on structural ties, insulation, floor work and plumbing; town staff described the net effect as an increase in paid change orders while retaining available contingency. The board also discussed downtown paving and sidewalks and the municipal paving schedule with state Department of Transportation coordination.

The board declined a STRAP grant after discussion about a required in-kind and cash match of roughly $169,683.33 from the Highway Department, which town officials said would effectively consume a large share of highway personnel and budget resources. Town officials and selectmen cited concerns about free cash, stabilization balances and the timing of municipal paving by the DOT as reasons to reject the grant.

A motion regarding permitting software—finding that feasibility, sustainability and necessity for a permitting system were not sufficiently justified at this time—was approved by the board; staff reported that the available systems would likely require a dedicated staff position to administer and that total costs (initial and ongoing, and per-module licensing) remain uncertain.

Most votes at the meeting were taken by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not specified in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Approval: Minutes (Sept. 23 and Sept. 24). Outcome: approved (voice votes recorded as “Aye”). - Approval: Payroll and warrants (payroll warrant #7 and warrants recited). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Reject STRAP grant (motion to reject). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Finding that permitting software is not essential at this time (motion passed). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Accept resignations from the sewer commission (three members). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Accept resignation of Chief Mark Smith (last day Nov. 21). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Appointment of Brandon Avery to board of assessors. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Building/headquarters change orders as described by project staff (multiple PCOs). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approval: Cultural Council annual grant, $7,100. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

The board also scheduled follow-up discussion about a new town website vendor selection (CivicPlus versus Catalyst) in two weeks and continued discussion and planning for downtown sidewalks and municipal paving coordination with DOT.