Brentwood Select Board honors longtime volunteer Jeff Bridal, hears attic-insulation and ice-dam advice

The Brentwood Select Board opened its meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and approved payroll and minutes before turning to building maintenance and recognition. The treasurer reported a bank balance of $3,498,037, committed expenditures of $307,738, and a total general cash fund balance (including $3,000,000 in invested funds) of $6,190,299.

Jeff Bridal, who identified himself to the board, spoke about recurring ice-dam problems and recommended adding blown-in insulation and improving venting in attic sections. "You should have blown in," Bridal said when asked what the town should do. He suggested adding about six inches of insulation in some areas and noted a rain diverter in a rear roof valley had popped and was causing a small leak.

Board members agreed to inspect the roof and confirmed that a roof‑installation item is on a future agenda. The chair asked Bridal and staff to follow up with a brief inspection when the snow melts.

The board paused the maintenance discussion to accept a reading of the 2025 Brentwood Town Report, which a presenter dedicated to Jeff Bridal and recounted his long service to the town, including time on the select board and budget committee and volunteer construction contributions.

Members closed the item by thanking Bridal for his service and noting that, with the select board changing after next week's vote, they welcomed a clear handoff and continued coordination on building maintenance.

The board moved on to other agenda items, including committee reports and warrant-article assignments for the upcoming town meeting; the roof/ice‑dam follow-up was left as a staff action item.