The Brentwood Selectboard meeting on November 18, 2025, addressed various town matters including the sale of police vehicles, acceptance of Tanya Lane as a town road despite culvert concerns, conservation contracts, building permit policies, police certification reinstatement, budget discussions focusing on fire department staffing and general government expenses, and health insurance plan adjustments.
The Brentwood Selectboard convened on November 18, 2025, to discuss a wide range of town issues, from police vehicle sales to budget planning and health insurance policies. This comprehensive summary captures the key points and decisions made during the meeting.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the circulation of the accounts payable register and consent agenda, which included building permits. Payroll and accounts payable amounts were reviewed and approved.
Sergeant Spinileri presented on the sale and disposition of three police cruisers: a Ford Taurus and two 2018 Ford Explorers, each with over 300,000 miles. The vehicles were exchanged with an outfitter in Atkinson for labor services valued at $3,000, which included stripping and outfitting other police vehicles. The Selectboard agreed to release the title for the second Ford Explorer to finalize the transaction, with the sale documented for $1 to reflect the labor credit.
Barry Guyire of Jones and Beach Engineers represented the developer of Tanya Lane, a residential development off South Road. The Planning Board had inspected the road and noted concerns about culvert construction not meeting town standards, specifically the use of PVC pipes instead of concrete and insufficient soil coverage leading to washouts.
Despite these issues, the town engineer and Planning Board concluded that the culverts would not degrade the road or drainage system. The Planning Board recommended acceptance of Tanya Lane as a town road with a 5-2 vote.
The Selectboard discussed the responsibility for driveway culverts, confirming that homeowners maintain them, not the town. They also addressed concerns about setting a precedent by accepting roads with non-standard culverts but agreed that notification to homeowners and future ordinance adjustments would mitigate this.
The Selectboard voted 4-1 to accept Tanya Lane as a town road.
The board reviewed and signed contracts related to the environmental survey and assessment of the Stevens property, which is being gifted to the town as a potential future cemetery. The contracts were within the approved budget.
Additionally, the board discussed a consulting services contract for Anna Budro, the Conservation Commission's contractor, noting an increase in her hourly rate from $80 to $90. Due to some discrepancies in contract details, the board tabled the approval pending further clarification.
A policy was introduced to prevent conflicts of interest where town inspectors might review their own work. The board unanimously approved the policy, emphasizing the importance of impartial inspections.
The Selectboard discussed the need for the building inspector to review permits before they come to the board for signatures, as originally intended by town policy. Currently, permits were being signed without prior review, which raised concerns.
The board agreed to restate the policy requiring building inspector review and to send a letter to the Planning Board to consider amending the ordinance to delegate permit approval authority to the building inspector, which would require a town meeting vote.
The board reviewed the process for reinstating the New Hampshire police certification for the newly hired chief. There was some confusion about forms and approvals, and the board agreed to invite Chief Merch to the next meeting for clarification and to obtain written information from Police Standards and Training.
The board discussed the responsibilities of selectboard members serving as liaisons or executive members on other boards and committees. Members are expected to vote and act consistently with the majority viewpoint of the Selectboard.
This discussion was prompted by a recent budget committee vote where the selectboard representative voted contrary to the board's decision on employee raises, causing confusion. The board clarified expectations for future representation.
Dexter Sees, president of the Brentwood Historical Society, requested an updated long-term lease agreement for the Grange building, which the society occupies but does not own. The current agreement dates back to 1992 and is informal.
The board agreed to draft a new lease with a 10-year term, allowing for renewal and amendments by mutual consent. The lease will clarify usage terms and maintain the building's historic integrity.
Chief Roy presented the 2026 fire department budget totaling approximately $1.47 million, a 12% increase from 2025. Key points included:
The board discussed budget details, including overtime, part-time wages, and utility costs. They approved a budget version excluding the deputy chief position, resulting in a 2.57% increase over the previous year.
The board reviewed the general government budget, noting significant reductions in office supplies and grant writer expenses. They approved reducing the grant writer budget from $20,000 to $5,000 and adjusted the town communications budget to $18,000.
The board reviewed insurance costs, noting a slight increase in premiums. Deductible expenses were discussed, with clarification that some claims may not have required deductible payments.
The committee recommended amending the employee handbook to cover 100% of Plan B for singles and 80% for couples and families, with the same percentages applied to Plans A and C.
They also suggested exploring contributions towards deductibles through mechanisms like Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
The board discussed the complexities of shifting plans, employee contributions, and the impact on budgets. They approved changing the contribution percentages to 80/80 for Plans B and C.
The town is awaiting corrected documentation from the auditor to finalize the tax rate. An emergency meeting may be scheduled to approve the rate once the information is received.
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter nonpublic session for personnel matters. The Selectboard thanked attendees and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
This meeting reflected Brentwood's ongoing efforts to manage town resources effectively, address infrastructure and public safety needs, and maintain transparent governance.
