Select Board authorizes CDBG grant agreements, subgrants and PM-1 to advance childcare project

The Braintree Select Board on Oct. 7 authorized several agreements to advance a Community Development Block Grant‑funded childcare project, and the board directed the chair to sign final documents.

Chair (speaker 2) moved that the board "authorize the grant agreement with the State of Vermont, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, grant number 07110DashIGDash2024DashBraintreeDashO9 and to authorize the chair to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the town," and members voted in favor. The slate of approvals included the main state grant agreement, a subgrant with Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, an administrative‑services contract with Two Rivers Regional Commission, a subordinate mortgage in favor of the town and a permission agreement file. The board also approved the PM‑1 grant agreement resolution and agreed to sign the PM‑1 form together.

Erica (speaker 8), representing the project team, described construction status and cash‑flow timing, saying, "until last Wednesday, we were 8 weeks ahead of schedule," and warned that a federal reimbursement still pending could affect contingency plans and whether an elevator is folded into current work. Board members noted that town counsel reviewed the agreements and inserted indemnification language to limit the town's exposure if the project did not come to fruition.

The board asked staff to arrange DocuSign for permission agreements where feasible and to circulate signature pages for town signing. The approvals were unanimous; the chair will execute the documents and staff will follow up on any remaining administrative steps, including account setup for grant funds.