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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting - June 9, 2026

Town Meetings — Tuesday, June 9, 2026

BodyDeep River, Connecticut

SessionTown Meetings

DateTuesday, June 9, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 18:36

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:47

Good evening.

0:48

I will call the meeting of the Board of Selectment regular meeting January uh June 9th at 6.06 p.m.

0:55

to order.

0:59

First on the agenda is Secretary's report.

1:01

Are you able to review minutes?

1:04

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes for the regular meeting, March 26, 2026, and a special meeting June 1st, 2026.

1:11

That was supposed to say May.

1:13

Can we make a correction?

1:15

Sure.

1:16

We've already approved March.

1:17

Did you look at May?

1:18

So did you review March again?

1:19

I just looked at the minutes.

1:20

I didn't look at that.

1:22

Oh, okay.

1:22

Our last meeting was May, because that was the night of the referendum.

1:26

So approve the minutes for a regular meeting May 26, 2026, and a special meeting June 1st, 2026.

1:32

All right, and uh little second.

1:35

Okay.

1:38

Okay, all in favor?

1:42

Uh audience of citizens, our first audience of citizens.

1:46

Would anyone like to address the board?

1:48

One, two, three, four, five, six.

1:50

We have eight in audience of citizens here.

1:54

And four online.

1:58

Anyone online like to address the board?

2:03

Hearing none, we will move on.

2:06

Okay, discussion and action on the solar energy green bank program is presented by Sustainable Deep River at the May 26th regular meeting.

2:15

If you recall, they did a nice presentation online.

2:18

Uh Sarah and Jeff was that the two people from Sustainable CT were here for deeper.

2:28

So what did you guys uh did you have a chance to review that documentation and maybe review the video?

2:34

Uh I read through it and I I like the presentation, but again, I don't want to get involved in anything that's gonna cost us any money.

2:41

If this is strictly uh investigation to see if it would work and we can walk away from it, then I'm fine.

2:51

But if it's any type of ties to it or any money tied to it, I'm I'm not for it.

2:55

Okay.

2:56

Well with their presentation, they had looked at our the municipal buildings, and the one they thought would be more the most beneficial and most suitable to them solar was deeper elementary school.

3:08

I did confirm with them that basically if we commit to it, then we are locking in our energy credits, which is what is needed, and we need to do that by July 1st.

3:19

Then they would come out and check out the site, they'd bring their structural engineers to make sure the roof could withstand the weight of the panels and to make sure it was going to be cost effective.

3:30

Uh and then they give a presentation to the town or a letter that outlines everything.

3:35

And at that point, we decide as the selectman not to move forward, we can walk away.

3:40

If we decide to take up based on the information, if we want to move forward with it, then we can take that next step.

3:46

So I did confirm that we're not really locked into anything if we just do the letter of intent, and that's really to lock in those energy credits.

3:56

And I'll go back to my initial comment that I made that night.

4:00

You know, if we moved forward with it and there was a issue with the roof, you know, who's responsible for it?

4:06

Are we responsible for it?

4:07

Are they responsible for it?

4:09

So I'd like that spelled out 100% that if we are okay, or if they are, because of their faulty panels, then who would pay to take the panels off and put it back on?

4:19

Okay.

4:20

I mentioned that at the meeting two weeks ago.

4:22

Yeah, I think that would come if we wanted to move it forward after we but these are these are concerns that I have.

4:29

I said if it's cost us nothing, I I like that.

4:32

Um then we go from there.

4:34

I have similar concerns.

4:36

So I put together some documents I'd love to share with you all just questions.

4:40

It's four pages if you wouldn't mind reviewing too and see if we're on the same page or page as here.

4:46

Um I was one of the questions are on page three and four that I was confront with after, and not for right now, but maybe in the future.

4:55

My thought was that the roof is new, relatively new on the elementary school, if I'm not mistaken.

5:02

So I'm wondering about any warranty that it would void.

5:06

And they should be able to answer that one right off the bat.

5:09

And I I think statutorily we have to include the Board of Education in the process since then they have day-to-day operations over there at the school, so I'm not sure that we can even enter into a binding letter for 360 days.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████41%

Technology and Innovation█████████████████████████████29%

Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████20%

Public Engagement██████6%

Personnel Matters████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on June 9, 2026 at 6:06 PM. Key items included a vote to advance a solar energy program, discussion of the failed town budget and upcoming second referendum, updates on neighborhood assistance grants, and committee reports. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 PM.

Consent Calendar

Minutes Approval: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of May 26, 2026 and the special meeting of June 1, 2026 (with a correction from an earlier erroneous mention of March and June). The minutes were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during either of the two audience-of-citizens periods.

Discussion Items

Solar Energy Green Bank Program: The board discussed a proposal from Sustainable Deep River to install solar panels on Deep River Elementary School. Key concerns included potential costs, roof warranty issues, responsibility for panel removal, and whether the Board of Education needed to be involved. The first step is a non-binding letter of intent to lock in energy credits by July 1. After debate, a motion to send the letter of intent, subject to town attorney review, was made and seconded.
Town and School Budget: The first town budget referendum (May 26) failed with 360 no votes to 188 yes. A public hearing was scheduled for that evening with a new proposed budget containing cuts. The board noted a second referendum would be held on June 16. The regional budget referendum (June 2) was reported to have passed with a total of 292 yes votes to 1,018 no votes (though this tally appears contradictory to a passing result); Deep River voters cast 565 no and 269 yes. The board thanked volunteers and encouraged voter participation.
Neighborhood Assistance Grants: The Deep River Housing Authority requested to present but was not ready, so the item was tabled. Tri-Town informed the town it will not participate in 2026. A special meeting may be needed to meet the application deadline.
Transfer Station Committee: The committee requested to discuss updates and ordinance revisions but withdrew due to budget priorities. The ordinance is with the town attorney, approximately halfway through review.
250 Celebration Committee: The committee announced a free bluegrass concert (Grassroots) on Thursday, June 11 at 6:30 PM at Devon Field, with food vendors. No rain date was set.
Selectmen Report: Paving RFPs were received and are under review. Job openings were posted: part-time assistant town clerk, part-time building department land use clerk, and before/after school program directors and staff. These are replacements, not new positions.

Key Outcomes

Solar Program Vote: The motion to move forward with a letter of intent for the solar energy green bank program (with town attorney review) passed 2-1.
Town Budget Second Referendum: Scheduled for June 16, 2026.
Housing Authority: Tabled; a special meeting may be called to consider the application.
Transfer Station Committee: No action taken; update deferred.
Upcoming Events: June 11 concert at Devon Field; job postings available online.
Adjournment: Motion carried at 6:23 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I will call the meeting of the Board of Selectment regular meeting January uh June 9th at 6.06 p.m. to order. First on the agenda is Secretary's report. Are you able to review minutes? I'll make a motion to approve the minutes for the regular meeting, March 26, 2026, and a special meeting June 1st, 2026. That was supposed to say May. Can we make a correction? Sure. We've already approved March. Did you look at May? So did you review March again? I just looked at the minutes. I didn't look at that. Oh, okay. Our last meeting was May, because that was the night of the referendum. So approve the minutes for a regular meeting May 26, 2026, and a special meeting June 1st, 2026. All right, and uh little second. Okay. Okay, all in favor? Uh audience of citizens, our first audience of citizens. Would anyone like to address the board? One, two, three, four, five, six. We have eight in audience of citizens here. And four online. Anyone online like to address the board? Hearing none, we will move on. Okay, discussion and action on the solar energy green bank program is presented by Sustainable Deep River at the May 26th regular meeting. If you recall, they did a nice presentation online. Uh Sarah and Jeff was that the two people from Sustainable CT were here for deeper. So what did you guys uh did you have a chance to review that documentation and maybe review the video? Uh I read through it and I I like the presentation, but again, I don't want to get involved in anything that's gonna cost us any money. If this is strictly uh investigation to see if it would work and we can walk away from it, then I'm fine. But if it's any type of ties to it or any money tied to it, I'm I'm not for it. Okay. Well with their presentation, they had looked at our the municipal buildings, and the one they thought would be more the most beneficial and most suitable to them solar was deeper elementary school. I did confirm with them that basically if we commit to it, then we are locking in our energy credits, which is what is needed, and we need to do that by July 1st. Then they would come out and check out the site, they'd bring their structural engineers to make sure the roof could withstand the weight of the panels and to make sure it was going to be cost effective. Uh and then they give a presentation to the town or a letter that outlines everything. And at that point, we decide as the selectman not to move forward, we can walk away. If we decide to take up based on the information, if we want to move forward with it, then we can take that next step. So I did confirm that we're not really locked into anything if we just do the letter of intent, and that's really to lock in those energy credits. And I'll go back to my initial comment that I made that night. You know, if we moved forward with it and there was a issue with the roof, you know, who's responsible for it? Are we responsible for it? Are they responsible for it? So I'd like that spelled out 100% that if we are okay, or if they are, because of their faulty panels, then who would pay to take the panels off and put it back on? Okay. I mentioned that at the meeting two weeks ago. Yeah, I think that would come if we wanted to move it forward after we but these are these are concerns that I have.

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