Brookfield group asks select board to back community visit after Old Town Hall assessment

Colleen Casamira, of the Brookfield Community Partnership, opened public comment to describe a recent structural assessment of Brookfield’s Old Town Hall and the Partnership’s interest in seeking broader community input.

A structural review brought in through the Preservation Trust found the building largely sound but recommended a range of work from new fire exit signage and mold mitigation to stabilization under the main floor and rehabilitation of the second and third floors, Casamira said. She told the board the Partnership wants to survey the community before committing to fundraising or large renovations.

Alyssa Johnson, a staff member at the Vermont Council on Rural Development, described the council’s four‑month “community visit” facilitation program, which the organization runs only at invited towns. “We only work where we’re invited,” Johnson said, adding that the program asks the select board for a short invitation letter, a town‑wide mailing and a kickoff meal; the nonprofit covers staff costs through grants. Johnson said the process brings residents, business owners and officials together to prioritize a small set of projects and produces a final report with suggested next steps.

Casamira noted the Partnership will seek potential grant matches (the Preservation Trust is already engaged with the building) and flagged a local grant option to help cover a free kickoff dinner. The council staff said there is some seed money to support early project work but no dedicated long‑term funding for implementation.

The board asked for example invitation and support letters and said members would review a sample request the council offered to email. The Partnership left printed example reports for board review. The board did not take formal action on the request at this meeting; members asked staff to circulate the sample invitation language and to consider the item on an upcoming agenda.