Springfield Select Board Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Springfield Select Board met on May 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM to address a wide range of municipal matters including liquor and tobacco license renewals, property nuisances, cemetery fee changes, appointments to boards, a major land use ordinance update, ambulance revenue challenges, a tenant repayment agreement, a culvert project bid, and the adoption of the summer meeting schedule. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Liquor and Tobacco License Renewals: The board approved renewals for JC Smart LLC (JC Market, second class and tobacco), North Springfield Mobile (second class, tobacco, and tobacco substitute), Dollar General Retail LLC (second class and tobacco), and Sunshine LLC / Sherry's Place (first and third class). A motion to approve was seconded and carried unanimously with four affirmative votes (Doug Johnston, Christian Morris, Tom Chase, Mike Schmidt; one member absent).
• Minutes of April 27, 2026: Adopted with corrections: on page two, changed "Terra Chase abstained recognizing Heather Fran as absent" to note Terra was absent at the time; on page three, corrected "stat attorney" to "state's attorney." The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ron Griffin (neighbor on Timothy Brook Road): Reported that three or four people are entering the Timothy Brook Road property every night after sunset and leaving at sunrise, and trespassing on neighbor properties. He urged action.
• Neighbor (unidentified): Asked about environmental concerns and cleanup progress at the Timothy Brook property; described a dilapidated shed on the property line containing trash that threatens to fall onto her property. She also asked about court timelines. The board explained the property is in a legal process and that they lack authority for immediate removal without due process.
• Kelly Byrne: Questioned why police cannot arrest people entering the house at night, expressing frustration over safety risks (syringes, burglary). The board explained that ownership is unclear and taxes are still being paid in cash, complicating enforcement.
• Lee (representing Springfield Supportive Housing): Expressed appreciation for the board considering the HUD grant certification, and detailed how the funds support shelter units, housing navigation, and financial assistance for first/last/security deposits.

Discussion Items

• Update on Municipal Action Properties: The town manager reported: (1) posted the CBR's work property for cleanup; (2) cleanup started at Crown Point; (3) a quitclaim deed is pending for another property to allow state funding; (4) an incident with an individual living in a car near 1012 Central was resolved; (5) the owner of 1012 Central is addressing state inspection issues. Board members acknowledged concerns raised by neighbors about the Timothy Brook property and the need for patience as legal processes move forward.
• Cemetery Fee Schedule and Elimination of Sunday Burials: The cemetery commission proposed flat-rate burials Monday through Saturday at $700, eliminating Sunday burials, and removing grounds crew for the grass restoration service (now included by the vault contractor). The board discussed the changes and voted to acknowledge the new rates and elimination of Sunday burials. Motion passed 4-0.
• Appointments to Planning Commission and Trail Committee: (1) Four planning commission members (Catherine Pratz, Jenny Burke, Hattie Krembach, Robin Bart) were appointed to four-year terms. (2) Harper Schultz and John Bond were reappointed to the trail committee for three-year terms (ending 2029). Both motions passed unanimously.
• Land Use Development Ordinance (LUDO) Update: The ordinance committee presented a comprehensive red-line version of the updated LUDO, explaining the complexity and coordination with the planning commission and state statute. The board voted to accept the report and recommendations and refer the ordinance to the planning commission for statutory review, with a public hearing to be set for June 22, 2026. Motion passed 4-0.
• Fire/EMS Revenue and Aging Accounts: The town manager presented a detailed overview of ambulance billing challenges: federal Medicaid/Medicare rates are not keeping pace with costs, a state contract gap was resolved, and there is a growing gap between billed rates and actual reimbursements. After discussion, the board voted to accept the report, acknowledge aging account write-offs, and defer any third-party private collection efforts pending further information. Motion passed 4-0.
• 45 Red Maple Drive Tenant Repayment Agreement: The town holds this property from a tax sale. The tenant had paid the initial tax liability but fell behind on current water/sewer utilities. The board voted to waive penalties and interest and approve a six-month payment plan for past-due base utility rates, contingent on the tenant honoring the plan. Motion passed 4-0.
• Bid Award – Slack City Culvert (FEMA Hazard Mitigation): Due to FEMA denying the hazard mitigation portion, the town would be responsible for $263,900 in project costs with only $86,000 in federal funds received. The board voted to reject the submitted bids, accepting the current mitigated condition as sufficient for now. Motion passed 4-0.
• Summer Meeting Schedule and Public Hearing Date: The board adopted the proposed summer meeting schedule (including a June 9 strategic planning special meeting at 10 AM and a July 1 tax rate special meeting TBD) and set a public hearing for the land use ordinance on June 22, 2026. The schedule was adopted 4-0-1 (one abstention?); the public hearing date passed 4-0.
• Town Manager’s Report – Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment: The town manager reported on a cybersecurity assessment of the water and wastewater SCADA systems, finding approximately $600,000 in needed upgrades due to obsolete, unsupported systems vulnerable to hacking. A grant application for federal funds was submitted. The board noted the issue for future budget discussions.

Key Outcomes

• Approved four liquor/tobacco license renewals.
• Adopted corrected minutes of April 27, 2026.
• Acknowledged new cemetery burial rates and elimination of Sunday burials (effective after two already-scheduled Sunday burials on June 14).
• Appointed four members to the Planning Commission (four-year terms) and two members to the Trail Committee (three-year terms).
• Accepted the Land Use Development Ordinance committee report and referred it to the planning commission for statutory review; set public hearing for June 22, 2026.
• Accepted the Fire/EMS revenue report and aging account write-offs, deferring private collection efforts.
• Certified local government approval for Springfield Supportive Housing’s state fiscal year 2027 Housing Opportunity Grant Program application (motion passed with three in favor, two not voting).
• Approved a six-month payment plan for 45 Red Maple Drive tenant’s past-due utilities, with waiver of penalties and interest.
• Rejected bids for the Slack City Culvert hazard mitigation project due to insufficient federal funds.
• Adopted the summer 2026 meeting schedule and set the June 22 public hearing for the LUDO.
• Adjourned at 7:52 PM.