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# Brighton (Island Pond) Select Board: Authorizes $1 million NBRC grant application, reviews town projects
- URL: https://northcountryupdate.com/brighton-island-pond-select-board-authorizes-1-million-nbrc-grant-application-reviews-town-projects/
- Published: 2026-10-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-11T19:36:40.000Z
- Description: The board empowered the town manager to apply for a $1 million NBRC grant, heard project updates, and met in executive session on personnel and 2027 health insurance premiums.
- Author: North Country Update
- Tags: Brighton (Island Pond), Select Board, Meeting recap, Vermont

*Brighton (Island Pond) Select Board · Meeting recap · meeting of Wednesday, October 14, 2026*

The Select Board met on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and was called to order at 5:30 PM. Michael Testut, Heather McElroy, Bill Hawkins, Michael Strait and Teresa DeBonville were present, and Ed Barber attended virtually. The agenda was updated to add the NBRC Authorized Official Resolution and Health Insurance rates for 2027\. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

### Decisions

- **NBRC resolution:** Heather McElroy moved to empower Town Manager Michael Strait to act for the town to submit a $1 million grant application. The motion also authorized select board chair Michael Testut to sign the official resolution. Bill Hawkins seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor.
- **Minutes:** The board approved the minutes of the September 23, 2026, meeting as printed. All were in favor.
- **Pay orders:** The board reviewed and signed the pay orders for the road expense account and the general expense account.
- **Executive session:** The board entered executive session at 6:40 PM to discuss personnel matters and health insurance premiums for 2027\. It exited at 7:48 PM with no action taken.

### Also discussed

- **Brighton Community Forum/USDA:** Michael Strait said the forum has received the RBDG grant this year. It will again cover events and economic development, but changes mean the forum and the town will work together on expenditure reporting. He described this as an internal reporting change.
- **Economic Development position:** The board received a job description to review. The office will be at the welcome center. The opening will be posted around town, on social media and in the newspaper of record, with the deadline for interviews the week of November 2, 2026.
- **Project updates:** The new Waste Water Treatment Facility is fully operational, and the old plant will be de-commissioned within a couple of weeks. The Lakeside Park concrete pattern was approved, though weather may delay completion. Town hall painting is nearly finished, and awnings are in production. The Railroad Depot roof is leaking and needs repair, and the depot will probably not be painted this year. The MERP projects are in their final stage, and downtown project engineering is moving forward.

### Money

- The $1 million NBRC grant application is for the water treatment plant upgrade. Michael Strait planned to submit it the night of the meeting.

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This is an automated summary of the town's posted minutes. The official record is the [original document](https://brightonvt.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/sbminutes%5F2026-10-14.pdf?ref=northcountryupdate.com). Spotted a mistake? [Tell us](mailto:).