Selectboard asks vendor for answers on cart-delivery list, schedules work session to draft ADU policy

Brentwood Selectboard members on Oct. 11 asked a vendor to clarify how accessory dwelling units are labeled on the town’s cart-delivery “scrub list,” directed staff to draft an ordinance, and scheduled a public work session to finish the policy.

The clarification matters because the scrub list will determine how many carts are delivered and billed for each property, including whether ADUs and garage conversions are counted as separate units.

Selectboard members reviewed a scrub list of tax-unit codes but said definitions for several codes were not available. One member summarized the practical question: “Whether it’s a legal in-law apartment that someone went and they they got a permit to to build it over their garage or next house, or if it’s someone that just took their garage and did it without permission.” That distinction, board members said, affects how units appear on the delivery list.

Tony, the meeting guest who advised the board on the rollout, told the board he would provide the missing definitions and follow up with examples from other towns. “So I’ll get you try to get you every answer long before that meeting, like tomorrow or the next day,” Tony said. He also said he would provide a brochure for the town web page and a handout that delivery crews can attach to carts.

Board members agreed to have staff draft a proposed policy or ordinance and hold a public work session next Tuesday to craft the language so the contractor Casella can proceed with the rollout. A board member said they would seek an existing ordinance from Tilton as a template.

The board emphasized the work session will be public and that residents may observe and ask questions. No formal vote was taken on an ordinance at this meeting; the board gave direction to staff and the vendor and scheduled the work session as next steps.

The Selectboard also asked staff to confirm whether ADUs are already listed as separate unit codes on the scrub list; one board member said the ADU codes they reviewed appeared to be recorded as separate units (for example, a single-family code followed by a paired ADU code), but that the town needs definitive definitions to apply consistently.

Next steps: Tony will send clarifying code definitions and examples; staff will draft an ordinance/policy and a brochure; the board will meet in a public work session next Tuesday to finalize language prior to Casella’s rollout.