OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Weathersfield Select Board Special Town Meeting Discussion and Executive Session - May 15, 2026

Selectboard — Friday, May 15, 2026
BodyWeathersfield, Vermont
SessionSelectboard
DateFriday, May 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:43:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:55

If somebody raises their hand to let me know.

1:05

Yes.

1:23

Yeah.

1:26

French.

1:28

So we can make it in general time if we want.

1:31

Okay.

1:36

Yeah.

1:36

Let's see.

1:38

Yeah.

1:47

Okay.

1:52

And talk to you for it.

1:54

I'm just fine.

1:57

Joe?

1:57

I want to allegiance to the flag of the United States mayor to the Republic, which is one beach.

2:05

Under God.

2:06

Individual with liberty and justice for all.

2:15

Uh but leaders agenda review.

2:18

There are only there's only the special town meeting discussion, executive sessions and German.

2:23

Uh this evening.

2:25

Assuming nobody has an image.

2:34

Yeah, that's fun.

2:38

Uh so uh that takes us to special town meeting discussion.

2:43

Uh Brandon, you take this off right here, or you can leave us to this.

2:47

Um what do we start with the lottery here?

2:51

Okay.

2:52

Do you have any for us?

2:54

Oh, uh I'm only here tonight.

2:56

Uh in case the board had any questions or things you want me to know in advance.

3:03

But since you've asked, I want to draw uh the public's attention to the fact that the um this meeting, the town meeting is in person only, and there's no the warning to stop any provision for some participation.

3:18

So uh I would just want to get it out there for the public and to reach out to anyone who might lack transportation or anyone to know who would be helped uh getting to the meeting.

3:30

It is an accessible building, so there should be a problem.

3:34

Thank you, Sean.

3:35

Did everybody hear that?

3:38

The meeting on Saturday is in person only.

3:45

We could uh we could hear that.

3:46

It's just that the voice was a little bit quiet.

3:49

Uh but we can make it out.

3:51

Oh okay, and and and I rescated it, that was good and loud, uh Dr.

3:55

Bray.

3:56

Sorry, I uh yes, sir.

3:58

Thank you.

4:05

So everybody has a printed copy.

4:08

It's also up on the screen.

4:11

Wait, I've already put it back.

4:15

So our one read this out loud.

4:20

And then we would go into a presentation.

4:23

We're focusing strictly on the revised budget.

4:26

Um and the reductions that we made in the general fund on slide one.

4:30

Um total thirty-nine thousand five hundred and twenty-eight dollars.

4:36

Slide two gives everyone just an overview of what the general fund is and what it does.

4:44

I think you can elaborate a little bit more on that during the presentation.

4:49

The next slide discusses the key reductions in the general fund budget.

4:58

The next slide is what the general fund budget is.

5:00

The next slide is what the general fund budget is increase is, which is a 2.8% increase consistent with the cost of living adjustment.

5:11

The next slide is what is the what is the general fund budget increase in taxes?

5:16

So this shows the estimated taxing fact per 100,000 at property value.

5:22

It also shows the average what the increase is on the average home value that's 213,000.

5:30

Um so this budget for the general fund it would increase taxes annually by 44.64 cents, and that's for the average household of 213,000.

5:42

That's approximately $3.73 per month.

5:48

And that's that's really it in the general fund.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous██████████████████████22%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Procedural██████████████14%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%
Pending Litigation█████████9%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Weathersfield Select Board Special Town Meeting Discussion and Executive Session - May 15, 2026

The select board met on May 15, 2026, to discuss the revised FY27 budget for the upcoming special town meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 16 (12:30 PM at the middle school gymnasium). The meeting also included executive sessions regarding a lawsuit and the town manager's resignation. Town manager Brandon presented the revised budget, which reduces the general fund by $39,528 and the highway fund increase to 1.47%. The overall tax increase, including previously approved articles, is 7.32%, equating to $57 per $100,000 of property value annually. If all four articles pass, the estimated increase on an average home value of $213,000 is $264 annually ($66 per quarter). The town manager rescinded his resignation during the executive session.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Member of the public Wayne addressed the board, expressing concern that his name had been used in connection with the town manager's resignation letter. He denied having any role in its release and called for an end to leaks from the board. The chair acknowledged the issue but did not identify the source.

Discussion Items

  • Revised Budget Presentation: Town manager Brandon presented slides detailing the revised FY27 budget. Key points included:
    • General fund reduction of $39,528, resulting in a 2.8% increase consistent with cost-of-living adjustment.
    • Highway fund original proposal was a 2.2% increase; revised to a 1.47% increase.
    • Tax impact: General fund adds $44.64 annually per $100,000 of property value; highway fund adds $48.48 annually per $100,000. For an average home value of $213,000, the combined general and highway fund increase is $57 annually.
    • Including previously approved social services articles ($18,000), the Weathersfield Master Plan ($20,000), and the Home Hill culvert ($10,000), total tax increase is 7.32%.
    • If all four articles pass (including equipment replacement), the total annual increase on an average home is $264 ($66 per quarter).
    • The town manager emphasized that delaying equipment replacement increases future costs, citing a $75,000 loss in trade-in value from a previous delay.
  • Zoom Access for Town Meeting: Multiple board members clarified that the special town meeting on Saturday is in-person only for participation, but Zoom will be available for viewing and listening. No questions or comments via Zoom will be accepted. Discussion followed about future hybrid meeting possibilities and technical challenges, including the defunding of SAPA (Vermont Access Network) and the need for technical upgrades.
  • Budget Committee Role at Town Meeting: Budget committee member Dr. Murray requested time to present the budget committee's opinion. It was determined that the budget committee will give a brief opinion after each article presentation, as part of the established procedure.
  • Executive Session: The board entered executive session under 1 VSA 313(a)(1)(E) to discuss a lawsuit filed against the town, and under (a)(1)(A) to discuss the town manager's contract and resignation. Prior to entering, the board noted that the mics would remain hot and briefly discussed the importance of civil discourse.

Key Outcomes

  • Town Manager Resignation Rescinded: After executive session, the board announced that Town Manager Brandon has withdrawn his resignation and will continue in his role.
  • No Action on Lawsuit: The executive session regarding the lawsuit was discussion only; no action was taken.
  • Budget Presentation Finalized: The board approved the presentation slides for the special town meeting. The meeting will proceed with the revised budget.
  • Zoom Recording: Prompt upload to YouTube after the meeting will be attempted to ensure residents can view the presentation before voting.
  • Next Steps: Special town meeting on Saturday, May 16 at 12:30 PM at Weathersfield Middle School gymnasium. Town meeting will be in-person only for participation; Zoom available for viewing. The budget committee will provide opinions on each article.

Meeting Transcript

If somebody raises their hand to let me know. Yes. Yeah. French. So we can make it in general time if we want. Okay. Yeah. Let's see. Yeah. Okay. And talk to you for it. I'm just fine. Joe? I want to allegiance to the flag of the United States mayor to the Republic, which is one beach. Under God. Individual with liberty and justice for all. Uh but leaders agenda review. There are only there's only the special town meeting discussion, executive sessions and German. Uh this evening. Assuming nobody has an image. Yeah, that's fun. Uh so uh that takes us to special town meeting discussion. Uh Brandon, you take this off right here, or you can leave us to this. Um what do we start with the lottery here? Okay. Do you have any for us? Oh, uh I'm only here tonight. Uh in case the board had any questions or things you want me to know in advance. But since you've asked, I want to draw uh the public's attention to the fact that the um this meeting, the town meeting is in person only, and there's no the warning to stop any provision for some participation. So uh I would just want to get it out there for the public and to reach out to anyone who might lack transportation or anyone to know who would be helped uh getting to the meeting. It is an accessible building, so there should be a problem. Thank you, Sean. Did everybody hear that? The meeting on Saturday is in person only. We could uh we could hear that. It's just that the voice was a little bit quiet. Uh but we can make it out. Oh okay, and and and I rescated it, that was good and loud, uh Dr. Bray. Sorry, I uh yes, sir. Thank you. So everybody has a printed copy. It's also up on the screen. Wait, I've already put it back. So our one read this out loud. And then we would go into a presentation. We're focusing strictly on the revised budget. Um and the reductions that we made in the general fund on slide one. Um total thirty-nine thousand five hundred and twenty-eight dollars. Slide two gives everyone just an overview of what the general fund is and what it does.

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