Weathersfield Select Board Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Weathersfield Select Board met on June 23, 2026, according to the meeting metadata (2026-06-23 13:59:10+00:00), to review minutes, take up the Running Bear Campground fireworks permit, hold the first public hearing on the proposed Weathersfield Town Plan, and approve warrants. The transcript’s public hearing warning and warrant motion reference the meeting as June 22, 2026, a date discrepancy noted here rather than silently resolved.

Announcements & Presentations

• A historical society representative announced an outdoor play on Sunday, July 12, at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Number 4, presented as part of Weathersfield’s 250th anniversary celebration. The play is based on the town’s copy of the Association Oath, found in the town office vault in 2016. The speaker said 24 heads of household in Weathersfield were represented and 21 men signed the Association Oath; three did not.
• The play is free and open to everyone, with donations encouraged to the Proctor Library or the Weathersfield Historical Society. A speaker clarified that the event is not an officially town-supported event and uses no town money.

Routine Approvals

• Minutes of June 4, 2026, were approved unanimously by roll call.
• Minutes of June 8, 2026, were approved unanimously after discussion. The town manager clarified that FEMA money had not been transferred into reserve funds and remained in a separate FEMA fund; a page five reference was identified as Meredith Kelly, not board member Kelly O’Brien.
• The board authorized Select Board member Kelly O’Brien to sign the warrant on June 29 or June 30 so expenditures could be met before the end of the fiscal year. The motion was unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Early in the meeting, a citizen on Zoom, Sophia, said the audio had been poor but confirmed it improved. No other non-agenda citizen comments were offered.

Fireworks Permit Application – Running Bear Campground

• The board discussed what authority remains with the Select Board after the town gained a municipal fire chief. The chair reported that two attorneys and the town manager advised that statutory authority for fireworks permit approval rests with the fire chief and police chief, although the town’s 2017 policy remains on the books.
• A motion for the board to sign off on the Running Bear Campground permit and forward it to the fire chief failed for lack of a second.
• Members discussed 20 V.S.A. § 3132, the Green Mountain Fireworks v. Town of Colchester decision, the meaning of competent operator and public display, the absence of an insurance binder, and the risk of litigation. A former board member noted the policy grew out of an earlier fireworks display that allegedly damaged cars.
• Fire Chief Josh said he had concerns about receiving the application at the last minute and setting a precedent, but later confirmed safety concerns from prior questions had been resolved and the site plan met NFPA standards.
• A resident’s incident was also raised: a neighbor’s unannounced fireworks reportedly frightened a horse, which was injured and had to be put down. Board members said the town has little legal enforcement authority in such cases and suggested a courtesy notification to neighbors; one member characterized it as a civil issue.
• After further discussion, the board reached consensus that the application criteria were met. A motion to authorize the chair to sign the Running Bear Campground fireworks application passed unanimously. The application still required fire chief and police chief approval, an insurance binder, and additional conditions including a notarized competency letter and rescue standby.

Public Hearing – Proposed Weathersfield Town Plan

• The board opened the first of two required select board hearings on the proposed Weathersfield Town Plan.
• Land Use Administrator Ryan Gumbart explained that the town plan had expired about a year ago and that the planning commission had worked on the update. He described the plan’s approach as emphasizing conservation and rural character, with villages as concentrated development areas.
• Public comments included:
  • August expressed concern about low participation and late public notice, and cited recently signed state laws including S.325 and Act 179 that could affect the plan; he recommended sending the plan back to the planning commission for revision and better outreach.
  • Julie Levy called the plan an excellent compromise and recommended adoption.
  • Patty said she trusted the planning commission’s due diligence and recommended endorsement.
  • Sophia said the plan was good but urged a documented risk-based assessment of new state laws.
  • Stephen said he wished more residents were aware of the plan and its potential impacts.
• Gumbart responded that the town plan is a vision document, not a regulatory law, and does not need to be amended every time the state passes new legislation. He also described prior outreach efforts.
• The board closed the first hearing and set the second and final hearing for July 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall; the motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of June 4 and June 8, 2026, approved unanimously.
• Kelly O’Brien authorized to sign the June 29/30 warrant; motion unanimous.
• Running Bear Campground fireworks application: Select Board authorized the chair to sign after confirming the application criteria were met; final approval remains with the fire chief and police chief, with insurance binder and other conditions required. The earlier board-signoff motion failed for lack of a second.
• First Town Plan hearing closed; second/final Town Plan hearing scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.
• Warrants dated June 22, 2026, approved: general fund payroll $24,721.74; general fund operating expenses $51,762.08; highway payroll $10,054.62; highway operating expenses $15,191.90; solid waste payroll $2,372.79; solid waste operating expenses $596.68; library payroll $2,616.48; a separate item section totaling $73,243.50; total payroll $39,765.63; total operating expenses $140,794.16. A board member asked about a $2,500 Okima Valley RE membership dues item, but the warrants were approved with no change.