Pembroke Select Board adopts community fund grant policy with town-first priority language

PEMBROKE -- October 2, 2024, Pembroke Select Board unanimously adopts community fund grant policy giving town projects first priority. The board approved the revised policy at its October 2 meeting after negotiating amendments that cap outside applicants at up to 25 percent of available funds per year and establish that projects presented by Town Manager Bill Chenard and approved by the board take precedence, language added at the suggestion of a board member who wanted the public to understand that town needs could consume the entire allocation in a given year. The board also voted to launch Chenard's annual performance review, designating Lance Kennedy, Dan Sullivan, Lisa Cullody, and Gene Gigliotti as outside respondents, with compiled evaluations due back November 20; board members Rich and Tracy Marino will form the two-person subcommittee that meets with Chenard before the full board convenes. Chenard separately reported that a hot-in-place asphalt recycling program already operating on School Street delivers roughly 75 percent cost savings over traditional mill-and-overlay paving.