Weathersfield Select Board Meeting - July 23, 2026: Demolition Contract, Interim Management, and Town Manager Search
Weathersfield Select Board Meeting - July 23, 2026
The Weathersfield Select Board met on July 23, 2026 at 6:04 PM. The meeting covered authorizing a demolition contract for 130 Maple Street, entering executive session to discuss interim town manager and town manager search, hiring a search firm, and appointing an interim management team. The board also heard public comments and thanked emergency responders for their work during a recent storm.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zach Van Valkenburg (online): Questioned why the town manager search was not using a community committee similar to the recent police chief search, and expressed concern that an outside company might not understand Weathersfield's needs. Also asked about the amount ($20,000 ceiling vs. floor) and whether community input would be included. The board clarified that Pracademic Partners would hold community meetings and that $20,000 was a ceiling (later amended to $22,000).
- Amy Beth (in person): Asked about who will handle resident communications during the interim period, noting she had sent emails about accidents in front of her house that went unanswered. The board agreed that resident communications should be directed to Suzanne (interim co-lead) and copied to Josh Compo, with major decisions going to the select board. The town manager committed to following up on her email.
Discussion Items
- 130 Maple Street Demolition Contract: The board reviewed a recommendation to authorize the town manager to execute a contract with Summit Contracting LLC for $128,695 for demolition and site stabilization at 130 Maple Street (Perkinsville). The project is funded 100% by a Vermont Department of Public Safety Hazard Mitigation Flood Resilient Communities Fund grant of $343,263. Only one bid was received. The timeline is to complete by October 2026. The board discussed contingency provisions and confirmed that any overruns would be covered by grant funds, not local taxes. The motion passed unanimously.
- Executive Session: The board voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss two items under VSA 3131 (interim town manager) and VSA 3131A (town manager search), with no action to be taken in executive session. The session lasted approximately 15 minutes.
- Town Manager Search Contract: Following executive session, the board discussed and voted to contract with Pracademic Partners for town manager executive recruitment services, with a cost estimate of $21,625 (later amended to a ceiling of $22,000). The board noted that Pracademic Partners offers more services than the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) for a similar price ($21,000 for VLCT). The contract includes community engagement meetings. The motion passed unanimously.
- Interim Town Manager Arrangement: The board discussed and voted to appoint current staff members Suzanne Torrell and Josh Compo as transition team leaders (co-interim managers), with the select board acting as the interim management team. Former town manager Brandon Golnik and former Windsor town manager Tom Marsh will be on call for legal or difficult situations, with compensation to be determined in a later policy. The modified duties remove several responsibilities from the original proposal. Compensation for Suzanne and Josh is set at $600 per week each ($1,200 per week total). The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to authorize contract with Summit Contracting LLC for $128,695 for demolition of 130 Maple Street: Passed unanimously.
- Motion to enter executive session: Passed unanimously.
- Motion to amend the search contract ceiling to $22,000: Passed unanimously.
- Motion to contract with Pracademic Partners for town manager search (up to $22,000): Passed unanimously.
- Motion to appoint Suzanne Torrell and Josh Compo as transition team leaders, with select board as interim managers, and Brandon Golnik and Tom Marsh on call: Passed unanimously.
- The board thanked emergency services (fire, EMT, police, road crews) for their response to the July 2026 storm. No other business was discussed.
Other Business
- Steven (board member) expressed gratitude to emergency personnel for their work during the recent storm. The board adjourned the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Is anybody else coming? Did they get a little bit more? Rika's on her way. She just texted me and said she was running. She also needs you back. Yeah. Yeah. Why is there mine for the principal clerk? Well I didn't even look at that. Only read the first three pages. No, I read more than the first three pages. Down until we got to that. Then I didn't go any further. Is that uh uh Ryan Domart's wife? Which one? The GMO clerk. Why is there online for principal clerk in the project? Uh that's Julian Umblair. Is that what I thought? Is our audit done? Uh almost. Almost will be done before you leave. Potentially, I don't know. They're currently we have the draft audit. They're looking the loans that we extended to ourselves when we purchased equipment. Oh, okay. Into the operating budget, so the treasurer and the auditors are guess I guessing that. All right. I'm just curious. Joe said that he's about a minute away. Sorry. I thought it was 630. You had to remind me that it was a six o'clock ring for the 82 in Claremont and it's 72 here. Wow. No, I didn't. Okay, it is 6.03. Everybody's here now. Joe, you need a minute. Uh just gonna use the paper. That's okay. What's that? Yep. All right. I'll call the meeting in order. 604. Pledge allegiance to the flag. The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God individual. Liberty and justice for all. Um it doesn't have agenda review. Excuse me.
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