Springfield Select Board Meeting - March 24, 2026: Licenses, Problem Properties, Camera Contract, and Snow Equipment Loan Approved
Springfield Select Board Meeting - March 24, 2026
The Springfield Select Board met on March 24, 2026, to address a wide range of business, including liquor and tobacco license renewals, updates on problematic properties, approval of special events, a 10-year contract for police body and in-car cameras (Axon), and a state loan for snow removal equipment. The meeting also covered committee appointments, a grass mowing height discussion, and citizen concerns about the Wall Street one-way implementation and sidewalk project.
Consent Calendar
- Liquor, Tobacco, and Tobacco Substitute License Renewals: Approved unanimously for three businesses: Chabora Spirits LLC (dba Joe's Discount Beverage), Amina and Rehan LLC (dba Minamar), and Penguin Market LLC (dba Penguin Market). The licenses cover second class, tobacco, and tobacco substitute categories. Voting: 5-0.
- Approval of Meeting Minutes: Approved minutes from the February 23, 2026 regular select board meeting and the March 4, 2026 organizational meeting, with noted corrections (typos on page 6, 8, and page 2 of March 4 minutes). Voting: 5-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tim Wallace (resident): Expressed concern about a second camper at 10-12 Central St property and questioned the timeline for cleanup.
- Richard (resident): Criticized delays in addressing interior issues at 10-12 Central St, noting no reinspection occurred 17 days after the March 6 deadline. Expressed frustration with the lack of progress on sewer, water, and structural concerns.
- Dan Keebler: Questioned the connection between resident behavior and landowner responsibility. Town Manager and Police Chief explained that under Vermont law, property owners are responsible for tenant actions, and enforcement is a due process that takes time.
- Nicole (neighbor of 482 Sebus Brook Rd): Raised safety and garbage concerns at the property. The town explained that as no owner can be located, they will pursue administrative probate to gain ownership and then enforce ordinances.
- Robin Gardner: Asked about the firmness of the Axon contract's exit clauses. Town Manager stated there are performance standards allowing termination if not met.
- Robin Gardner (later): Asked about the availability of decibel readers for noise enforcement on the new camera system. Chief clarified they are not included.
- Citizen (unidentified): Asked about the status of the Wall Street one-way project and sidewalk reconstruction. Town Manager and Highway Foreman explained that plastic barricades have been ordered to replace jersey barriers, and sidewalk engineering is pending after paving bids are awarded in April. The citizen requested a list of sidewalk projects.
- Citizen (unidentified): Asked about the Middle Income Housing Committee recommendations. Town Manager confirmed it was an ad-hoc committee and that its report is on the town website.
Discussion Items
- Updates on Problem Properties
- 78 Valley Street: After police activity, the building has been boarded and secured. Owner is incapacitated (not out on bail). Efforts to prevent reoccupation. Concerns about debris near creek will be investigated.
- 516 Spencer Hollow Road: A violation letter was posted March 13 regarding an unregistered camper. 30-day removal deadline; if not complied, the town will remove and bill owner.
- 10-12 Central Street: Exterior debris partially removed. Owner working with the town, expects exterior cleanup within 7-10 days. Interior issues (roof, structural) still pending a follow-up inspection. Town Manager noted the process is slow but moving toward compliance.
- 482 Sebus Brook Road: Previous owners deceased (over 7 years). Town attempting to locate family. If unsuccessful, will begin administrative probate to take ownership. Tenant's relationship unknown; enforcement currently not possible.
- Springfield on the Move Event Permit (Summer Park Events): Approved six outdoor concerts on Fourth Fridays (May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, 2026) at Main Street Park. Bands announced. Voting: 5-0.
- Appointments to Committees: Approved board liaison and committee assignments for various town boards, including Planning Commission (Mike Schmidt), Ordinance Committee (Doug Johnston), Airport Commission (Mike Schmidt), Long-Term Capital Planning (Heather Fram and Doug Johnston), SRDC (Christy Morris), Springfield School Board (Tara Chase), Trails and Rural Economy (Christy Morris), and others. Vacancies noted for DRB and DEI committee; Mike Schmidt added to DRB. Voting: 5-0.
- Springfield Alumni Association Parade Permit: Approved annual parade on June 20, 2026 from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, assembling at Clinton Street and ending at Riverside Middle School. Theme: "Game Shows." Voting: 5-0.
- MOU for Springfield on the Move Office Space: Authorized the Town Manager to sign a one-year MOU allowing SOM to store records and materials in town hall during their relocation. No financial consideration. Voting: 5-0.
- State Equipment Loan for Snow Vehicles: Approved application for a $150,000 low-interest (2%) loan via the state equipment loan fund to purchase two new snow removal vehicles: a dump truck (with pre-wet system, plow, wing, 7-year warranty, total $308,139) and a one-ton pickup ($73,000). Voting: 5-0. Purpose: improve reliability, reduce salt usage via pre-treatment, and manage rising vehicle costs.
- Axon Police Camera Contract: Approved a 10-year contract with Axon for body cameras and in-car camera systems, including cloud storage (evidence.com). First year cost: $14,000 implementation; annual costs range from $16,987 to $27,825 (escalating). Total contract value: $338,256 over 10 years. Equipment includes 18 cameras. Town Manager cited improved reliability, data protection, and public expectation. Voting: 5-0.
- Town Manager's Report:
- Ordinance Committee Deadline Extension: Approved extending the committee's deadline for land use development ordinance review to May 7, 2026. Voting: 5-0.
- Grass Mowing Height: Discussed recommendation from Black River Action Team and Cemetery Commission to raise mowing height from 2 to 3 inches for environmental benefits. Concerns about public perception and ability of equipment. Board agreed to try it with public education and possibly a staged approach ahead of Memorial Day.
- Prison Land Transfer: Update on land transfer around the correctional facility; state spends $120,000/year on bare roads policy. Potential road ownership concerns noted.
Key Outcomes
- All license renewals, event permits, appointments, and contracts approved unanimously (5-0) as noted above.
- Problem properties: continuing monitoring with specific timelines for compliance (30 days for 516 Spencer Hollow, 7-10 days for exterior at 10-12 Central, probate process for 482 Sebus Brook).
- Wall Street one-way project: plastic barricades ordered; signage to be installed soon. Sidewalk project engineering to follow paving bid awards.
- Axon contract signed; police department to transition to new system.
- Ordinance committee work extended to May 7.
- Grass mowing height change to be trialed with public outreach.
Meeting Transcript
Underground indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone for that. I'll make that correction. I'll no, I saw that when we read the max plus Barbara caught that one. We plus is the right one, but no, it was all staff at the top of the just ran around and pre-posted it. Okay, we'll continue on with roll call this evening, starting on my far left. Steve perhaps with word later on. Doug Johnston. Christy Morris. Tara Chase. Michael Schmidt. And visiting with us on via Zoom this evening is Heather Fram. There you go. Thank you. See uh first order of business is due to local control for purposes of liquor and tobacco license renewals. So we will move into local control. And Barb, do you want to uh take the lead or that's me for tobacco license when you'll just roll in first two or we are um or two of you read them individually? Sure. So you've got um three second classes uh spirit LLC the business of age amina and lc doing business as mean a marks and penguin LLC doing business as penguin L C and then for tobacco it's the same three Chabora spirits LLC doing what is this for this time coverage aminaha and rehan LLC doing them besides meaning marts and penguin market LLC doing this LS and all of those entities have the tobacco substitute as well very good so I would entertain a motion from the board to approve the licenses for the three different organizations. I make a motion that we approve all three uh core spirits amina and rehand and penguin market for all three um classifications I'll second it okay we do have a motion seconded to approve the three sets of licenses for Agora Spirits LLC doing business as Joe's discount beverage a minor and rahan LLC doing business as Minamar and Penguin Market LLC doing business as Penguin Market LLC and that is for the second class license the tobacco license and the tobacco substitute are there any corrections excuse me any any discussion from board members regarding the three sets of licenses for the three companies not seeing any comments from the audience not seeing any attempts to speak or hands up and the uh you you saw this licensing renewal online correct with uh secretary of statements or it all um when the applications come through uh just present them as they uh paid for one for the town speak first, and it works pretty well, it has its hiccups, but for the most part it works pretty well. Licensees are notified through that email system set up with the state 150 days in advance. You need to be gonna need to renotes um most of the entities be a little more timely about the minimum so they all ask me then perfect, and thank you for that effort. There isn't any further discussion or comments. I'll call for the vote, starting on my left with Doug Johnston. Yay, Krista Moore says aye, Tara Chase, aye, and Mike Schmidt, aye, and finally Heather Fram. Hi. There we go. That is five in the affirmative, and they are so approved. Can I just mention that there's a a definite lag time? Can you guys hear me? Yes, yep. Okay, there's a lag time in the audio and the video. I don't know if you can do anything, but FYI. Okay. Now thank you for that. We'll uh we'll just pause a little bit between call for the vote or the approval of the motion and call up on the vote and give you time to chime in. And I can see the video is lagging a little bit as well, the on our end. Not bad, but a little bit. Do we already also have a couple of other documents within our local control? Right. So the next item is a special event permit. It's our application request from Silo Distillery doing business as Mercurious LOC. And they're requesting uh approval of all the tasting events at Vermont Studios on Friday, March 27th. And that's in the studio that's located at um 25 minutes, please. And I did ask that about eventually if you're either in person online, so that we can talk about the event. I mean answering any questions. I haven't had any content other than the board. So let's see. Oh, I see Josie's motion. Yeah.
openpublica.com