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Selectpersons elect chair and co‑chair, approve contracts and payables and hear harbor, road concerns
Summary
At its July 2 meeting the Selectpersons elected Jack Bridges chair and Bill Birdsall co‑chair, approved a quarterly review contract, flooring and three payables warrants, and heard public comments about a broken street sweeper, a culvert under state review and a harbor trap‑float issue; clerk to send a letter citing local ordinance and state statute.
The Selectpersons convened July 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building and elected John (Jack) Bridges as chair and William (Bill) Birdsall as co‑chair, each on motions that passed with recorded tallies of 5‑0. The board also approved several administrative and financial items, heard public comments about local road and harbor concerns, and directed the clerk to follow up on the harbormaster matter.
The leadership votes were moved and seconded by fellow board members. Bill Birdsall moved to elect Jack Bridges as chair and Carol Lowrie seconded; Adam Foster moved to elect Bill Birdsall as co‑chair and Robin Stratton seconded. Both motions were recorded as passing, and the board proceeded to routine business including contract approvals and warrants.
Why it matters: the appointments set leadership for the board’s next term and the approved contracts and warrants commit town resources and schedule follow‑up work. The meeting also produced public‑works information the board may act on in coming weeks.
During public comment resident Ruth Franzius asked the board when sweeping on Austin Road would be completed, raised the status of the culvert at the intersection of Austin Road and Route 182, and asked about a requested turnaround repair. Road Commissioner George Moon told the board his street sweeper is broken and he is waiting for parts and that he is discussing the culvert with the State. The board did not take a formal vote on those specific fixes but the Road Commissioner said he will pursue contractor and state discussions as appropriate.
Harbormaster Zach Piper reported a problem involving a trap float and asked the Selectpersons for guidance. The board directed the town clerk to draft and send a letter to the property owner that attaches the Harbor and Water Ordinance and the applicable state statute describing the Harbormaster’s authority.
On administrative and fiscal items, the board approved the town’s yearly policies (motion by Adam Foster, second by Bill Birdsall, recorded 5‑0) and voted to sign the RJD quarterly review contract (motion by Carol Lowrie, second by Adam Foster, recorded 5‑0); the clerk asked that the contract be posted to the town website and notices put up around town. The board approved Ron’s Moving estimate to remove furniture for new flooring in three interior offices (motion by Bill Birdsall, second by Adam Foster, recorded 5‑0).
The Selectpersons approved three warrants: Payables Warrant #116 for $35,315.24 (motion by Adam Foster, second by Carol Lowrie); Payables Warrant #117 for $5,262.68 payable to HVFD (motion by Carol Lowrie, second by Adam Foster); and Payables/Payroll Warrant #115 for $5,387.67 (motion by Robin Stratton, second by Adam Foster). Each warrant motion was recorded as passing 5‑0. The board also approved the minutes of June 18, 2025, and accepted an amendment to the third‑party funding policy following research and a motion by Adam Foster (each recorded 5‑0). Les Stratton’s Cemetery Road item was held until the next meeting; Eagle Point/PERC was referred to Dan Pileggi and Pomroy Road remains pending an agreement.
Clerk Cheryl A. Robinson reported that building permits were not yet available on the town website because the website vendor had been bought out and the clerk is awaiting completion of the transition.
The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m. on a motion by Adam Foster, second by Bill Birdsall (recorded 5‑0). The clerk will draft the harbormaster letter and post contract documents as requested; no additional votes were scheduled at adjournment.
