Essex Board of Selectmen Approves Police Union Side Letter, Entertainment License at Centennial Grove

ESSEX -- July 7, 2025, Essex Board of Selectmen approves entertainment license, police union agreement, and fire software contract in nine unanimous votes. At its July 7 meeting, the board also heard that recycled asphalt product had been spread over a large section of the Centennial Grove parking lot, located partly within a Zone 2 public water supply protection area, without prior authorization, prompting a board member to press Town Administrator Brendan Egan on who is responsible for oversight of the site. "I'm concerned that it doesn't seem like anyone is in charge," she said. The DPW superintendent has contacted the state DEP for guidance on required removal. In a five-year vision presentation, the police chief reported the department is fully staffed and re-accredited, flagged a 2028 end-of-support deadline for the current body-worn camera server, purchased for roughly $53,000 on a grant and already 39 percent full, and described a restructured harbormaster operation with seven to 10 Essex firefighters recommended as assistant harbormasters. The board authorized a prorated approximately $5,000 contract with Locality Media Inc. for additional FirstDue fire management software modules, placed the Strategic Planning Committee on hiatus until 2026, and ordered 15 town donation signs at $30 each for installation at Conomo Point, Memorial Park, Centennial Grove, the causeway, and the boat ramp.