Selectmen Move Budget Referendum to Saturday

Board of Selectmen · Meeting of April 6, 2026

Brookfield Selectmen voted to move the town's budget referendum to a Saturday for the first time. The Board of Selectmen approved, 3-0, setting the fiscal 2026-2027 operating budget referendum for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the senior center instead of a school, a change officials said could save $6,000 to $7,000 in poll worker costs and avoid closing schools on short notice for a possible second vote. The board also approved a $104,369 reduction tied to a middle school boiler project that came in well under budget and a net $35,125 in capital transfers.

During public comment, resident Eric Meyers said the governor's office is "completely impenetrable to the citizens and elected officials of Brookfield" amid the town's ongoing fight over a proposed Iroquois Gas Transmission compressor expansion, after a judge dismissed the town's court appeal as premature.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 931 words

Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of April 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

BROOKFIELD — April 6, 2026 — The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 Monday to move the town's fiscal 2026-2027 budget referendum to Saturday, May 16, 2026, shifting the vote from a weekday school location to the Brookfield Senior Center.

Selectman Carl Hinger, who presided over the meeting alongside Selectman Bob Belden and Selectman Steve Dunn, said the change was driven largely by logistics: if a first referendum fails, state law requires a second vote within two weeks at the same site, and schools that have already used their snow days would struggle to close again on short notice. The board also approved a mailing of roughly $4,500 to remind the town's roughly 7,500 households about the new date and location.

The Full Story

The board opened with public comment focused on Iroquois Gas Transmission's proposed compressor station expansion, a project the town has fought in state and federal proceedings. Residents Daniel Meyers and Eric Meyers, both identifying themselves to the board, said the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection must respond by April 13 to more than 500 public comments on the project before DEEP can issue final permits. A judge recently dismissed the town's court appeal of the matter, which Hinger and other board members said was procedural, not substantive, because DEEP had not yet issued a final decision.

"They're completely impenetrable to the citizens and elected officials of Brookfield, which is really disappointing," Eric Meyers said of the governor's office, describing an unanswered letter-writing campaign that included more than 50 certified letters. Hinger said the board would hold a special meeting, inviting the town's legal counsel, identified only as Tom, and a representative from the advocacy group Save the Sound, to weigh a renewed appeal once DEEP acts. Finance officials estimated the town's share of legal costs on the dismissed appeal at roughly 40,000 dollars, though the figure was discussed only in general terms and not finalized on the record.

"It's a lot of money, but I think before we move forward I'd like to get more information and come to you guys and have that discussion," Hinger said of a potential second appeal.

On finances, an official identified only as Marcia told the board the town's revenue is now projected to come in about $50,000 under budget, the first such shortfall projection this year, driven by a delayed $175,000 blight-fine collection and building permit revenue running about $71,000 below projections. The board approved roughly $160,000 in expenditure transfers tied to winter costs including highway overtime, seasonal labor and fuel oil, offset partly by $49,489 in savings found elsewhere and an $80,000 upward adjustment to projected EMS revenue. The board also pulled $31,000 from its contingency fund, which members said they try to avoid tapping.

The board separately approved closing out a middle school boiler replacement project, returning $104,369 to the bonded capital fund after a competitive bid came in far under the original 2023 estimate. It approved a net $35,125 in transfers within the capital non-recurring fund, including money for a police department presentation on a proposed new police station and savings from a library ceiling tile repair that used paint instead of replacement, saving $6,600.

Board members also flagged a possible discrepancy in the list of open board and commission vacancies, saying the Zoning Board of Appeals may have only one alternate seat open, not two as announced, pending confirmation of whether alternate Lawrence Rushmore accepted a February reappointment.

"We're asking for solutions that protect the health of our community, especially our kids," Daniel Meyers said during public comment on the compressor project.

Why It Matters

Moving the referendum to a Saturday and to the senior center, rather than a school, changes where and when roughly 1,400 to 1,800 voters who typically turn out will cast ballots on the town's operating budget. The board said the switch could save $6,000 to $7,000 in poll worker costs and avoid forcing schools to close on short notice if a second vote is needed.

The compressor station fight remains unresolved: DEEP's response to more than 500 public comments is due around April 13, after which the town must decide within roughly 30 days whether to mount a new legal challenge, a previous round of which cost the town an estimated 40,000 dollars.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approve intra-department budget transfers for fiscal year 2026 Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Approve inter-department budget transfers for fiscal year 2026, forward to Board of Finance Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Approve $35,125 in capital non-recurring fund transfers, forward to Board of Finance Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Approve $104,369 reduction in bonded capital projects fund (middle school boiler), forward to Board of Finance Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Set budget referendum date to Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the senior center Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Approve mailing of postcard reminder for budget referendum Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Approve consent agenda items A through E (minutes, bond releases, personnel changes) Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Appoint Noel, unaffiliated, to Arts Commission Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

- Vote: Appoint Tony Ivino, Republican, as resident commissioner of the Housing Authority Tally: For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 3

Source

BrookfieldCT: Board of Selectmen meeting, April 6, 2026