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Pownal Select Board approves warrant edits, signs RSU5/Region 10 warrants and hears driveway-permit dispute
Summary
On April 13 the Select Board approved multiple edits to the draft Annual Town Meeting warrant (including funding language for a potential new facility), signed RSU5 and Region 10 warrants, approved payroll and AP warrants, and heard a resident contest a driveway-permit denial and the town's use of crash data.
The Town of Pownal Select Board met April 13 and approved a series of edits to the Annual Town Meeting warrant, signed school and regional election notices, handled routine warrants and heard public comment challenging a driveway-permit denial.
Warrant edits: The board voted 3–0 on several amendments after packet review by the Town Administrator. Key edits included amending the Select Board recommendation in Article 28 to $271,097.00; adding the words "up to" in Article 36 and Article 41; appending the word "center" to Article 37; striking "this fiscal year" from Article 40; and moving a draft Article 42 (land purchase / proposed lot language) to an approved article after clarifying that purchase funding would be by taxation and limiting the description to a proposed lot. The board also approved language in Article 39 allowing certain legal funds tied to RSU5 to remain in the expense line until the process is complete. Each motion passed unanimously, with motions typically made by Chair Jon Morris or Selectperson Day and seconded by Selectperson Pottle.
Routine approvals and appointments: The board approved FY26 AP Warrant #22 for $84,383.72 and Payroll Journal #416 for $14,162.96, and approved the March 9, 2026 meeting minutes (all votes 3–0). Chair Morris signed the RSU5 and Region 10 warrants and notices of election. The board appointed Cliff White to the Board of Appeals for a term April 13, 2026 to June 30, 2029.
Public comment and permit dispute: Resident Shane Brady raised concerns about a denied driveway entrance permit, saying the town had included drunk-driving (OUI) incidents in the crash history that informed the Planning Board’s determination and that the town office had outdated appeal forms in the lobby. Brady said the decision was “up to us” when recounting his interactions; the Town Administrator said staff offered him an extension to submit a corrected appeal form and that lobby and website materials were corrected. Chair Morris said the Planning Board relied on road grade and accident history in its decision and suggested safety-engineering testimony may be required to revisit the permitting determination. The Select Board did not change the permit decision at the meeting.
Next steps: The revised warrant language will proceed to the Annual Town Meeting as edited; the driveway-permit dispute remains unresolved and could be pursued through the Board of Appeals procedure if the appellant files a timely appeal.
