Brookfield Town Meeting Approves $11.5M Budget
Brookfield town meeting adopted an $11.5 million fiscal 2027 budget but rejected a $100,000 wheelchair lift for town hall's second floor. Voters first turned down a substitute elevator plan, 19-68, then killed the original chairlift motion, 11-76, leaving the building without funded ADA access.
Town Meeting · Meeting of June 4, 2026
Brookfield town meeting adopted an $11.5 million fiscal 2027 budget but rejected a $100,000 wheelchair lift for town hall's second floor. Voters first turned down a substitute elevator plan, 19-68, then killed the original chairlift motion, 11-76, leaving the building without funded ADA access. Town Accountant Laurie Barkas corrected a doubled raise in Police Chief Mike Blanchard's submitted budget line, and the final budget passed 78-9.
A $25,000 appropriation for the town's 250th-anniversary celebration passed 55-34 after resident Steve Carman objected to funding what he called a "federal government" celebration. Resident J.D. Holcraft called the town's spending "mismanagement" during a free-cash debate before the moderator cut him off.
A citizen's petition for $9,850 in annual longevity pay failed 22-40, and a petition to allow firearms in town buildings failed narrowly, 31-34. A new Commission on Disability was approved, 26-16.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,550 words
Source: the Town Meeting meeting of June 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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