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Brentwood Select Board OKs $1,000 Planning-Board Legal Consult Threshold
Summary
The Brentwood Select Board approved a policy allowing the Planning Board to obtain up to $1,000 of legal consultation per incident without prior Select Board approval, after debating budget history and invoice transparency.
The Brentwood Select Board voted to permit the Planning Board to obtain up to $1,000 in legal consultation per consult without first seeking Select Board approval, a threshold members said should cover roughly three hours of routine advice.
The discussion centered on how the Planning Board previously had a dedicated legal line in its budget that was removed and is currently covered from the town's general legal budget. Mark Kennedy, land use administrator for the Town of Brentwood, described past practice and said routine contacts with town counsel are common and often brief.
Select Board members debated whether the Planning Board should continue to ask the Select Board for authorization for consults that exceed a modest threshold. Speaker 5 proposed the $1,000 limit, noting it would reduce administrative delays; Speaker 6 seconded the motion. The board approved the proposal by voice vote.
Members agreed the Planning Board should receive invoice detail that identifies time spent on planning-related matters so Mark Kennedy can monitor usage. The board also discussed reinstating a dedicated Planning Board legal line in next year’s budget if demand warrants it.
The threshold is intended for routine consultations; the Select Board said litigation or other large matters would continue to be handled through the town’s general legal process and would exceed the $1,000 threshold and require separate approval.
