Councilmember Steve Bicknell summarized a proposed state funding change intended to expand and better finance flood mitigation measures, urging the council to support a higher town allocation and prevention-focused language.

The proposal discussed would raise the amount the states disaster response account can award without further governor approval from $500,000 to $3,000,000, with an option to reach $10,000,000 if the governor approves. Under the plan the program would also be usable for mitigation (prevention) rather than only for cleanup, and the proposal removes the local match requirement for small towns. Councilmembers discussed asking the sponsor to increase the baseline allocation to $4,000,000 and noted that an executive appropriations committee would have authority to award amounts up to the stated limit.

Why it matters: Town leaders said mitigation authority and larger grant amounts could help Bicknell pay for upstream barriers, holding ponds or other measures the town's engineers and residents have suggested. Council members said the changes would make state funds more useful for preventing repeated flood damage rather than simply funding post-disaster cleanup.

Water system problems dominated the meetings operational discussion. Council members reported multiple water meters that are not reporting properly, some meters showing implausible readings and others not connecting to the towns reader software. Councilmembers said the meter-reader software provided three years ago is now outdated and that the vendor has not yet delivered updated software. The council agreed a staff member or councilmember should press the vendor for the software and follow up because unread meters mean lost revenue and difficulty completing required compliance tasks such as cross-connection surveys, lead-and-copper inventories and culinary mapping.

Separately, councilmembers discussed an irrigation line that runs through private yards near the school and told school district staff the line must be moved before May 1 to match planned work. Council and staff said the town will mark and paint the line location and expects the district or its contractors to relocate the line where necessary.

The council also heard about ongoing grassroots projects: a resident, Jason Mathis, is offering to donate or help fund work on local historic assets including the gristmill, and asked whether cemetery mapping data could be shared with his family organization. Councilmembers said a searchable cemetery database is in progress but will take months to complete; the town will notify him when the dataset is ready.

On community facilities and grants, councilmembers discussed a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for a greenhouse. Initial contractor solicitations found no local bidders registered in the federal SAM system; Brock (a regional contact) suggested purchasing a greenhouse kit and then hiring installers if the town wins the grant. The council agreed to pursue a larger $30,000 greenhouse (rather than a smaller $15,000 kit) so the project meets the minimum grant threshold and includes a finished floor and related site work. Councilmembers also discussed pursuing playground replacement funding and adding electrical service at the town park to support events, lights and food vendors.

Parade and events: Councilmembers reviewed the holiday light parade outcomes and volunteer observations. Members said turnout greatly exceeded expectations, recommended changes to float staging and parking for next year, proposed using radio or Bluetooth transmissions to broadcast parade announcements, and suggested adding traffic marshals to slow vehicles during the procession.

Formal actions: The council approved the December meeting minutes by voice vote and later voted to pay town bills after a motion, second and voice vote. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the minutes.

Whats next: Councilmembers asked staff to follow up with the state contacts on the mitigation bill language and funding level, press the meter vendor for updated software and remote support, continue cemetery database work, and pursue the larger greenhouse purchase if the CDBG application proceeds.