Brookfield selectmen authorize resident road repairs, approve Tri-County mobile service and several budget and tax actions

The Brookfield Board of Selectmen met in public session and approved a series of administrative and community-service items, including authorizing a private landowner to perform limited road repairs to the access off Camp Road, allowing a Tri-County mobile services van to park at the town office in June, and approving software and budget transfers intended to improve the town’s financial tracking.

The actions reflect routine town management decisions that the selectmen said are intended to address near-term needs — repairing a road approach that the owner said prevents forestry work, providing on-site social-service access for residents, and clarifying available budget figures — while keeping larger policy choices for future meetings.

Resident road repairs: The board voted to permit a property owner identified in the meeting as Mr. Snell to use his own gravel and equipment to rebuild the crown on the portion of the road that leads to his gate off Camp Road. In public comment, the resident said water was running down the middle of the roadway and that the condition prevented him from continuing forestry management work on the property. “I just wanna use some of my own gravel to, affect some repairs on the road,” the resident said during public input, adding he did not intend to make the road an all‑weather improvement and that the parcel has a conservation easement. Selectmen asked him to notify adjacent property owners before work begins and said he should return to the board if neighbors object; the motion to authorize the work passed by voice vote.

Tri-County mobile services van: The board approved a request to host Tri-County’s mobile services unit — described by staff as a self‑contained van with offices and Internet that offers application assistance for services such as fuel and childcare assistance — for two days in June at the town office/townhouse area. Karen (Town Clerk) said the program would impose “no financial burden to the town at all” and that Tri‑County would handle promotion. Selectmen approved allowing the van to park on town property so residents may access the services without appointments.

Budget and administrative moves: Selectmen voted to purchase an annual $250 software module from the town’s financial software vendor (MTS / Municipal Resources) to track committed expenditures and improve accuracy of available‑fund reporting. The board also approved a $1,000 line‑item transfer from town meeting expenses (account 0141304370) to board/selected expenses (account 0141304705) and accepted the payroll and accounts manifest as read. The financial actions were presented as measures to give the selectmen better visibility on obligations that are not yet reflected in current spending reports.

Cemetery gate repair and other maintenance items: The board agreed to front a check to begin repair of a damaged gate at the new cemetery and to seek reimbursement from the contractor’s insurance. The manifest later in the meeting listed a deposit of $3,057.50 (described by staff as a deposit for repair reimbursement by the contractor’s insurer). Conservation and heritage volunteers reported continuing projects including signage for the town preserve, a kiosk planned for the Lifer Road entrance, and maintenance mowing estimates for the Hackett site (an informal contractor estimate of about $200 per mowing; selectmen discussed scheduling three visits per season).

Heritage and volunteers: The board approved designating Bob Servasik (identified in the meeting as having completed research on veterans’ graves) as the selectmen’s representative for placing flags on veteran headstones; Frank Frazier spoke at length about the handoff after 25 years of volunteer work. The motion to appoint Servasik passed by voice vote.

Tax abatements: The board approved two abatements after assessor review. Map 24, Lot 16 was reduced by $56,400 in assessed value, resulting in an abatement of $629.42 plus applicable interest. Map 28, Lot 2 was reduced by $309,700 in assessed value, producing an abatement of $3,456.25 plus interest. Selectmen said the assessor updated values after staff were allowed into the structures and adjusted the assessment on that basis; both abatement motions carried by voice vote.

Policy and minutes: The board accepted public and nonpublic minutes from the May 6 meeting, approved a formal unsealing/nonpublic minutes policy as written, and voted to authorize various routine invoices and disbursements as presented on the manifest.

Other items and follow‑up: Town Clerk Karen reported operational notes: beach parking passes were ready for weekly issuance, 95 dogs were licensed with 34 owners still unlicensed and subject to enforcement after the June 1 deadline, and the town clerk’s office planned an expanded Tuesday schedule around a state training day. A records‑management project was reported as progressing: several town committees had completed document sorting and archives transfer work and others were scheduled for follow‑up.

The meeting closed after the selectmen completed the advertised agenda and agreed to revisit budget details in two weeks when updated financial data were expected.