Essex Select Board Accepts Federal Harbormaster Grant, Signs Regional Shelter Pact

ESSEX — October 20, 2025 — Essex Select Board unanimously accepted a federal port security grant and signed a regional sheltering agreement at its October 20 meeting. Town Administrator Brendan Egan recommended both actions, with the FEMA port security grant funding roughly $278,000 toward a Metal Shark patrol vessel valued at approximately $370,000, leaving a roughly $90,000 town match that goes to the November 17 fall town meeting. The board also signed and closed a 28-article fall town meeting warrant, authorized purchase of a new police cruiser at a net cost of approximately $64,000 after trade-in, and approved a $1,004,606.98 weekly expenditure warrant. On the school front, Teresa Newhard, filling in for Superintendent Pam Beadwin, told the board that the Manchester Essex Regional School District Building Committee was poised to formally vote November 6 to remove the Apple Street parcel from site consideration, citing off-site infrastructure costs ineligible for MSBA reimbursement and timing risks. Newhard also reported that the district had accepted an Office of Campaign and Political Finance technical violation finding for targeted pre-election email communications during the spring ballot override, with a three-part compliance plan now in place. The board approved an outdoor entertainment license for a September 2026 wedding at Rivers Bend, adjusting permitted music hours to end at 9 p.m. from the original application.