Town approves capital lease, accepts portrait donation and calls July special meeting on $1M roads appropriation

The board approved several procedural and funding steps during the meeting.

Consent agenda and donation: The select board approved the consent agenda by voice vote. The board then moved to formally accept a portrait of James Madison donated by local artist Alex Provence; a motion to accept the donation was made, seconded and approved.

Capital lease: The board voted to enter a five-year capital lease agreement with First American to fund highway equipment included in the 2027 CIP. Finance had previously reviewed and approved the financing terms, and the board indicated the town is prepared to begin implementation July 1.

Special town meeting — roads appropriation: The board voted to call a special town meeting at Neck River Elementary School on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 6 p.m. to consider a special appropriation of $1,000,000 into the major roads fund as part of the 2026–27 capital improvement program. Board members said the appropriation follows discussion during the budget season and will use excess fund balance dollars.

Votes and outcomes listed in the transcript: the consent agenda passed by voice; the portrait donation was accepted by motion and voice vote; the capital lease motion passed and finance reported favorable terms; the motion to call the special town meeting carried. Where the transcript records explicit tallies, those are noted; many approvals were handled by voice and recorded as "Aye." The transcript does not include a full roll-call vote list for every item.