Brighton (Island Pond) Select Board: Opens all roads to snowmobilers, OKs $2.3 million water loan application

Brighton (Island Pond) Select Board · Meeting recap · meeting of Wednesday, November 4, 2026

The Select Board met on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and was called to order at 5:30 PM by Heather McElroy. The board voted on snowmobile access and a state drinking water loan application, heard project updates from Town Manager Mike Strait, and adjourned at 6:40 PM.

Decisions

• Snowmobile roads: Fred Roese spoke for the Brighton Snowmobile club and asked that all roads be open to snowmobilers. Bill Hawkins moved to open all roads to snowmobilers for the 2026-2027 season. Heather McElroy seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor.
• Drinking water loan application: The board voted to submit an application to the State Revolving Loan Program for the Step II Drinking Water Construction Loan for the South Transmission Main Replacement. It also named Town Manager Mike Strait as the authorized representative for the application and project. The motion carried with all in favor.
• Minutes: The board approved the minutes of the October 14, 2026, meeting as printed.
• Pay orders: The board reviewed and signed the pay orders for the road department expense account and the general expense account.

Also discussed

• Sean Selby asked that snowmobilers be able to cross in front of the fire station, as they did last year. Mike Strait said there were no issues last year and he would be willing to allow it with a signed agreement with the clubs. Bill Hawkins said he was not in favor and asked that this be stated in the minutes. The minutes record no vote on this request.
• Project updates from Mike Strait: the Wastewater Treatment Facility is now operating and the town has applied for substantial completion; the drinking water loan agreement has been signed, with two easements still to be completed; the park project started this week and is near completion; soil tests at the old town garage found no underground contamination; reimbursements for the 10-Mile Square Road Bridge project have been submitted to FEMA; and three culverts, on Stevens Loop, the 5-Mile Square Road and the Head Of The Pond Road, are under design and will not be replaced until next year's budget. The town hall painters should return next week, and the contractor was asked to do more patching on the Railroad Depot roof.
• The board held an executive session from 6:10 PM to 6:35 PM to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken.

Money

• The loan application is for $2.3 million dollars.

This is an automated summary of the town's posted minutes. The official record is the original document. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.