Brentwood approves $500 for senior‑banner brackets and resumes reading check manifests aloud

The select board voted to allocate $500 from the town events line to purchase extra banner rods or brackets for the annual senior banners program and agreed to resume reading check manifests aloud at meetings to improve transparency.

Trisha Kanty (identified herself as "Trisha Kanty, 290 South Road") described last year’s program (46 seniors displayed), recommended keeping the current banner text format (class year and name), and said larger banners would require longer rods and additional mounting hardware. She provided cost estimates (about $49 per bracket) and said remaining fundraising funds from last year would offset some expenses. The board moved and approved a $500 allocation to buy approximately five to ten additional brackets.

Separately, a board member proposed resuming the long‑standing practice of reading check manifests aloud as an additional reconciliation step and transparency measure. Members discussed logistics—matching manifests to invoices, providing payroll stubs or a summary for checks that are direct deposits, and potential time cost to meetings. A member of the public (Jim Hash of Mohawk Lane) supported reading the checks so the public could hear and ask questions. The board moved and approved adding the check‑reading to future agendas.

Both items passed by voice vote; the board noted that staff will place the reading of the check manifest on the agenda for upcoming meetings and that the banner expense will be drawn from the town events budget.