Goshen Board of Selectmen

9/1/26 5 pm

Present: First Selectman Seth Breakell, Selectmen Dexter Kinsella and Scott Olson.

The Board of Selectmen (BOS) unanimously approved minutes from the Aug. 25 session as well as Payroll and Warrants after respective motions by Olson and seconds by Kinsella.

Big ticket items were about $1.4 million paid to Region 20 schools for Goshen’s bi-monthly assessment payment; almost $16,000 for a new air conditioner at the firehouse installed by SAVMORE; and just over $141,700 for pensions at Region 6.

Breakell reported on the upcoming Fall Festival set for Oct. 3.

“It's basically going to be all of our boards and commissions and local nonprofits and just sort of a ‘who's who’ in the Town of Goshen for our residents to come and see what services are available here at the Town Hall or nonprofit services and stuff like that,” Breakell said.

In new business, the BOS heard from Sarah Leonard and Recreation Director Erin Reilly regarding a new playground planned by Reilly and Commission members Leonard, Sue Breakell, and Kim Andrusia.

“We will be getting a new playground at Camp Coch,” Leonard said. “It's really exciting. It's something that the Recreation Commission has been working on for a little bit over a year.  Erin has organized us into a playground committee, a few of us, and we worked with different playground companies to try to find a piece that we thought would fit nicely over at Camp Coch,” Leonard continued. “And we're happy to say that the funds have been allocated for it and this project has been moving forward.”

Leonard said Burke, based in Wisconsin, is the company working with local representatives on the effort.

“Their playground equipment is made in the United States, which is wonderful.,” she said. “They have a great warranty, and they were able to guide us into a discounted rate playground.”

Designed for ages 5 to 12, the playground is expected to be ready later in the fall, according to Leonard. It will include two slides, a climbing wall, monkey bars, and a sign language wall, Leonard said.

“Because we were able to get it at the rate that we did, we were able to purchase items to fix up the swing set that is currently there,” Leonard said. “So, we will be doing a renovation on the swing set as well.

“The Public Works Department is doing all the preparatory work over there,” Leonard added.

Olson asked exactly where the playground will be installed.

“There's a field that is behind the Camp Coch Lodge,” Leonard replied. “Primarily where the swing set is, it's going to be to the left of the swing set in that field.

“As a board here, we've always been allocating some money to this new playground for quite some time now,” Olson said. “This is something that's been saved up (for).”

“It’s fantastic,” Olson said. “Great job.”

The total cost is just over $61,260, including installation and mulch, Leonard said. Breakell noted the original price of the playground was about $100,000, and he praised the committee for its work.

In public comment, Janet Hooper of Sharon Turnpike asked about the status of the Town’s Code of Ethics. Breakell said he expects that to be finalized in about 30 days.

“The new handbook will be issued shortly and then we can incorporate that Code of Ethics,” Breakell said.

The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

9/8/26 5 p. m.

Present: Breakell, Kinsella; and Olson (via Zoom).

The Selectmen accepted three Commission resignations: Peter Kujawski, Democrat, from the Goshen Housing Growth Plan Committee; Michael Bergin, Democrat, from the Goshen Fire Commission; and Erin Reilly from her Recreation Director post.

The Democratic Town Committee recommended George Kral to replace Kujawski. Olson lobbied for the Selectmen to choose an alternate on both the Housing Committee and Fire Commission to fill the open seats.

“Both of those committees currently have alternates that serve,” Olson said. “And I think that it would do us well and it would do the people of the Town well to reach out to those committees and discuss moving an alternate up to fill that vacancy. And then when we go to a point and get recommendations, we fill the vacancy of the alternates. I just don't see that the appointment overlooking the alternates is the prudent move here,” Olson said.

Ultimately, Kral’s appointment was approved via a motion by Kinsella and a second by Breakell, then a “yes” vote from both. Olson voted “no.”

The Selectmen thanked Reilly for her five years of service. A hiring panel will be formed by the Recreation Committee to fill the post. No action was taken on the Fire Commission vacancy.

Breakell also reported that 14 windows will be replaced in Town Hall and a Request For Proposals (RFP) is now out for the work.

The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.

9/15/26 5 p. m.

Present: Breakell, Kinsella, and Olson.

The First Selectman noted in his report there were about 25 tables reserved for the Fall Festival planned Oct. 3.

“(The event) is going to be inclusive of all of our boards and commissions, representatives of our boards and commissions, as well as our various charitable organizations throughout town,” Breakell said. “I hope to see everybody there. They're going to have some different stuff for kids and pumpkin carving and face painting and some other stuff. Some food will be available.”

Breakell reported the Town’s Employee Handbook should be ready to distribute Oct. 1. “Then hopefully we can get our code of ethics to follow that shortly thereafter,” he said.

He also noted the new ambulance is getting a wrap and should be ready sometime in October.

Breakell opened a brief discussion about the Town’s revaluations of property and said Assessor Lucy Hussman recommended Vision Government Solutions handle the work. Kinsella moved for approval, while Olson seconded the motion. The Selectmen unanimously agreed to accept the $71,600 bid.

“This will be their seventh time doing the revaluation for the Town of Goshen,” Breakell said.

The Board adjourned the meeting at 5:09 p.m. after a motion by Kinsella, second by Olson, and unanimous “yes” vote.