Residents praise early voting, urge crackdown on illegal fireworks and raise past-RFP concerns

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents reflected on the recent election, thanked election staff and urged action on two community concerns: illegal fireworks and procurement transparency.

A resident (Moriarty) said he appreciated the absence of animosity in the most recent campaigns and praised early voting operations, thanking staff by name for handling a busy opening day. Casey Larkin and Samantha Facilio also complimented the new registrar job description and supported the board’s approach to balancing continuity and competitive procurement.

Marjorie Needham, editor and publisher of the Middlebury Bee, urged the town to act to stop illegal consumer fireworks in town. She cited national examples of injuries and house fires and said that while Middlebury has not yet experienced a major tragedy, “we believe it is time for a change” and urged officials to take preventive measures.

Bill Callahan raised concerns about a past RFP process, alleging potential conflicts and that previous award decisions had the appearance of an inside job. He called for strict measures to ensure any new RFP is evaluated by independent, disinterested parties.

The board listened to the comments but did not take direct action on enforcement or oversight at that meeting; however, the speakers’ concerns were part of the broader discussion on procurement transparency and will be available for follow-up by staff and the board.