Council schedules Sept. 12 celebration for FY26 grant recipients

The Council for Human Services will host a recognition event for organizations awarded fiscal year 2026 grants on Friday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at an outdoor tent on Washington Street, Council Chair Veronica Bolchic said at the council’s June 26 meeting.

Bolchic said Mariah Mitchell donated use of the tent and Lemon Press will provide boxed breakfasts for attendees. She asked that representatives of funded organizations be prepared to give brief presentations — “not even … less than 5 minute overview” — about how they will use the awarded funds.

The council plans to send invitations and request RSVPs so staff can plan the program and seating. Bolchic also said the council has instructed staff to include the town logo on organizations’ advertising materials as part of contract terms; she noted the contracts themselves had not yet been distributed but expected them to be issued by July 1.

Alexandria “Lexi” Richards was identified at the meeting as the host and note-taker for the event. Bolchic asked committee members to attend and to consider whether the council should expand future events to a larger public venue such as the Fairground Road auditorium.

The council discussed whether the event should be recorded or streamed and noted that, because the gathering will involve a quorum, it will likely be an official meeting that must be handled through Zoom to permit public access. Bolchic said staff will confirm recording and streaming logistics prior to the event.

No formal vote was taken at the June 26 meeting on event logistics; members agreed to circulate a formal invitation and RSVP in the coming weeks.