What Was Said, What Wasn’t, and Why Residents Are Paying Attention: The Latest From the November 17th Board of Selectmen Meeting

The November 17th Board of Selectmen meeting covered a wide range of important issues—from transparency and trail development to ARPA spending and communication concerns within the community. While the agenda moved quickly and touched on many topics of public interest, residents were left puzzled the next day when meeting minutes were posted almost immediately—especially considering the previous meeting’s minutes took more than two weeks to appear, and only did so after an audience member questioned the delay during this very meeting.

The abrupt turnaround raised eyebrows: Why the sudden efficiency after such a long lag? And why were the newly posted notes so sparse and lacking depth compared to the detailed discussions that took place? For a town that repeatedly stresses transparency and civility, consistency in basic public records would go a long way toward building trust.

Below is a recap of the substantive discussions and developments from the November 17 meeting.

Improving Meeting Minutes Accessibility

Early in the meeting, an audience participant questioned the town's ability to create a direct link on the town’s website for Board of Education meeting minutes, placing them alongside Selectmen and Planning & Zoning documents. This simple change would help residents find information without digging through multiple pages.

The goal:

• A quick access link

• Better clarity on where all meeting records live

• Improved transparency and public engagement

  
  

Staff will look into the technical requirements and report back.

ARPA Funds: Allocation, Oversight, and Unanswered Questions

The Board confirmed that all ARPA funds are fully allocated, with no new money available. Accrued interest has been added back into the ARPA budget, but several questions from residents remain unanswered:

• How exactly were the funds stored?

• Were they invested or kept in a low-yield account?

• What is the exact amount of interest earned?

• Where can the town access the meeting minutes from the ARPA committee's meetings?

  
  

A slideshow of ARPA projects is available on the town website, but concerns continue around past spending choices—particularly why ARPA funds were not pursued for the playground project, while allocations to Pomfret Forest projects continue despite ongoing legal scrutiny.

The First Selectman cautioned against what she described as “misinformation,” urging residents to rely on documented facts when discussing ARPA-related issues. What misinformation is she referring to? I would specifically like an answer to that question.

Trails, Roads, and Infrastructure Projects Moving Forward

Several projects are progressing:

• Airline Trail Grant Part Two, they've submitted the 90% design, with the permit application coming to Inlands & Wetlands expected in December and a full presentation planned for January.

• Additional trail and rural road grants will be pursued over the next 4–6 months.

• Taft Pond Road Bridge is moving ahead, and will require a committee to review the two Inspection Engineering Proposals.

• Looking at some grant applications: America 250 and the EDC continue exploring joint marketing grant opportunities.

Appointments and Board Governance Updates

The Board approved several appointments and reappointments, including:

• John Bergendahl and Alexander Howe elevated to regular Inland Wetlands members (terms expire Jan. 2027)

• John Folsom reappointed to Inland Wetlands (term through Jan. 2030)

• Carolyn McGinn appointed to the Library Board of Trustees (term through Nov. 2029)

  
  

The town is still seeking new alternate members for Inland Wetlands and new participants for the POCD Steering Committee, which meets on December 10th.

A Tense Climate Around Communication and Civility

One of the most emotionally charged portions of the meeting centered on communication breakdowns, accusations of bullying, and escalating tensions in town discourse.

Some key takeaways:

• Multiple speakers condemned intimidation and personal attacks happening in the community.

• The First Selectman defended her conduct, stating she raises questions transparently and rejects claims of personal targeting.

• Concerns were raised about the behavior of political allies and supporters contributing to a hostile environment.

• There were calls for restoring respectful, fact-based public dialogue.

  
  

The message was clear: Pomfret needs to lower the temperature and rebuild trust in how we speak to one another.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FROM CITIZENS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST BULLYING:

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FROM CITIZENS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST BULLYING

Safety, Training, and Compliance Updates

• OSHA-required Lockout/Tagout training underway

• A recreational trails grant application is underway.

• Over 203 community responses were received on the recent trails questionnaire.

• Risk management inspectors identified some issues on trail infrastructure and recommended legal review.

Unanswered Questions & Transparency Concerns

While the meeting was substantive, the following unresolved issues continue to concern residents:

• Why were the previous meeting’s minutes delayed more than two weeks?

• Why were the November 17th minutes released the very next day, but with noticeably less detail than what took place in the meeting?

• What process determines the thoroughness (or lack thereof) of official meeting records?

• How the town will ensure timely and consistent documentation going forward.

  
  

If the town hopes to improve transparency—as often stated—accurate, timely, and comprehensive minutes are one of the simplest and most essential steps.

Final Thoughts

The November 17th Board of Selectmen meeting reflected both progress and friction in Pomfret’s governance. Major projects are advancing, new appointments are in place, and efforts to improve safety and accessibility are underway. But tensions around communication and public trust remain high—and the inconsistent handling of meeting minutes isn’t helping.

Residents deserve clear, timely, and complete information. Addressing discrepancies in how meeting records are posted would be a small change with a big impact on public confidence.

Here is the link to the official meeting minutes on the town's website:

Here is the link to the official meeting minutes on the town's website

Also, check out my blog from right after the Board of Selectmen meeting, where we were met at the door with name-calling from another elected official (You really can't make this stuff up...): https://www.parentsforpomfret.com/post/respect-isn-t-optional-calling-out-toxic-behavior-in-pomfret-s-leadership