Select Board Interviews Two Town Administrator Finalists
Brookfield Select Board interviews two finalists for town administrator, with a decision due Wednesday.
Select Board · Meeting of August 4, 2026
Brookfield Select Board interviews two finalists for town administrator, with a decision due Wednesday. Candidate Andrew Surprise, a former Westfield city councilor who managed a $130 million budget there, said he opposes using Chapter 90 road funds for anything beyond "roads and sidewalks, bridges and the like." A second candidate, identified only as Charlie, a 30-year municipal veteran and former mayor, described demoting a police sergeant to patrol, saying "we did it respectfully, we did it legally." One of four original applicants withdrew by email the same day, leaving three finalists; a third interview and a hiring vote are both scheduled for Wednesday, August 5. Board members also flagged a vacant highway superintendent position with only one remaining employee heading into winter, and Clerk Beth L.
Coughlin warned candidates that balancing communication with the state's open meeting law would likely be their "biggest challenge." The only formal vote of the night was a unanimous motion to adjourn.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,036 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of August 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Brookfield meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Brookfield who follows town government? Share Townbrief Brookfield: they can sign up free.