Tremont Select Board votes 3–1 to proceed with modified public safety building feasibility option

The Tremont Select Board voted 3–1 on Jan. 20, 2026, to authorize the Town Manager to inform Hedefine to proceed with a modified option #1 for a public safety building feasibility study. The action followed an initial 2–2 tie on the same motion and a successful motion to reconsider.

Select Board Chair Jamie Thurlow presided over the discussion at the Town Office. The first motion, made by Select Board member Eric Eaton and seconded by Chair Jamie Thurlow, to authorize the Town Manager to proceed with modified option #1 failed on a 2–2 tie, with Select Board member Kevin Buck and Select Board member McKenzie Jewett recorded as opposed. After Mr. Buck moved to reconsider the original motion and Mr. Eaton seconded, the board approved reconsideration 3–1 (Ms. Jewett opposed). A subsequent motion by Chair Thurlow, seconded by Mr. Eaton, to authorize the Town Manager to inform Hedefine to proceed with the modified option passed 3–1 with Ms. Jewett opposed.

The discussion reviewed options provided by Hedefine for layout and location of a potential combined public safety building. Public Safety Building Committee members James LaPrade and Roger St. Amand were present; the board also voted elsewhere in the meeting to appoint Josh Reed as the Fire Department representative to the committee.

The board’s authorization directs the Town Manager to notify Hedefine to continue work under the firm’s modified option #1 as described in the feasibility materials presented at the meeting. The minutes record dissent from Ms. Jewett but do not include verbatim statements or quotations from the discussion.

Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes indicate that the Town Manager will carry out the direction to Hedefine; no timetable for Hedefine’s next deliverable was specified in the minutes.