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Brentwood budget committee sets hearing dates, debates streaming and site logistics
Summary
The committee mapped the statutory calendar for 2026 budget hearings and discussed whether to host the main hearing in the town—s AV-equipped meeting room or at a larger recreation facility that lacks integrated streaming, with the town—s AV lead warning that professional streaming from the rec would require hiring an outside vendor.
The Brentwood Budget Committee fixed a timeline for the 2026 budget process and wrestled with where and how to hold the public hearing so residents can attend in person and remotely.
Chair Letty walked the committee through statutory calendar constraints and said Feb. 13 is the last day the town can hold a budget hearing; working backward, the committee proposed a first public hearing on Feb. 4 with a potential second hearing on Feb. 11 if needed. She explained the need for a 7-day notice to reopen the hearing after the initial presentation.
Mark Kennedy, who joined the meeting to advise on audiovisual options, said the town—s Sanborn room (the regular meeting room) is the only space with the installed cameras, microphones and presentation displays that support a streamed, interactive hearing. He said that recording at the recreation building would require an independent media vendor because the rec lacks transportable AV infrastructure and live-mixing capability; without that, recordings can be "super choppy." Kennedy noted the Sanborn room—s posted capacity is about 99–100 people but suggested room reconfiguration could increase seating.
Committee members weighed two public-access goals: ensure enough in-person seating or prioritize an AV-enabled venue for live streaming and clear audio for remote viewers. Members discussed practical steps such as placing a livestream screen in the adjacent hall to increase capacity while preserving the town—s integrated AV setup.
The committee also discussed broader calendar coordination: town meeting voting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 (the transcript lists that as voting day) with the town meeting session continuing the following Saturday (noted as March 14 in discussion). The committee asked staff to reserve the Sanborn room and tentatively pencil in dates for January and February review sessions.
