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Resident questions Greenway equipment purchase and town insurance coverage; board authorizes counsel in three cases
Summary
A resident asked whether the town properly used reserves for a roughly $164,500 Greenway snow‑removal purchase and whether insurance covers potential claims; the board later authorized legal defense in three pending matters but did not vote on one federal case at the meeting.
During public comment at the April 6, 2026 meeting, resident Randolph (Randy) Adler asked the Board of Selectmen a series of questions about a recent Greenway purchase of snow‑removal equipment he estimated at about $164,500. Adler asked whether FEMA reserve funds and municipal infrastructure funds were used lawfully, whether the Board of Finance had been given an opportunity to review the purchase, whether the town's insurer has confirmed coverage for negligence claims, and whether any reservation‑of‑rights communications exist regarding pending claims.
Adler also asked the board to clarify the town's potential exposure to litigation, suggesting possible exposure "in excess of $30 million" and asking how that figure compared with available insurance limits and the potential impact on taxpayers.
Board members did not provide a detailed public accounting of the procurement or insurance limits during the public comment period. Resident Bill Callahan urged caution in discussing legal strategy in public and recommended routing legal matters through the town's attorneys. The board then entered executive session for legal matters; after executive session it authorized Zellenburg & Schellenberg, PLLC to defend the town in three pending matters (Pugliese v. First Selectman; Miller v. First Selectman; Kurze v. Town of Middlebury). The board did not take a vote on Southford Park, LLC et al v. Town of Middlebury during this meeting.
No on‑the‑record confirmation of the procurement funding source, insurer reservation‑of‑rights letters, or an insurance‑coverage comparison was provided during the meeting. Residents seeking specific financial or insurance details should request those documents through the town clerk or during upcoming public hearings.
