Brookfield selectmen appoint website subcommittee, approve tax abatements and warrants; discuss roads, culvert and FEMA maps

The Brookfield Board of Selectmen at its June meeting appointed four volunteers to a town website/IT subcommittee, approved two property tax abatements and a timber warrant, signed the town manifests, and discussed road-safety measures, a 72‑page road-maintenance (RSMS) report and preliminary FEMA floodplain maps.

The board appointed Brad Williamson, Jan Ledbetter, Liz Stefano and Joe Tully to the website/IT subcommittee and approved a charge that asks the group to develop a request for proposals (RFP) and help run the procurement process. The charge sets a draft timeline: develop an RFP by July 15, issue it by Aug. 5, evaluate proposals by Sept. 16 and assist with contract award by Oct. 7 so the town can align any new contract before the current one expires Dec. 31.

The subcommittee will be a volunteer board-appointed committee required to follow the same open-meeting rules as the Selectmen; the board also named an on-board representative who agreed to serve. The board said it will consider transition timing for any vendor the committee recommends.

The board did not adopt a volunteer-release/waiver form as written. Selectmen said the draft waiver, which would limit town liability for volunteers who are injured while helping the town, read as too harsh. Selectmen asked to have the form reviewed by municipal counsel and asked staff to return with…