The Main Street Bridge project emerged as a contentious point during the meeting, with discussions centering on the urgency and necessity of investing $3 to 4 million in the bridge. With some board members questioning the expenditure, alternative repair options were suggested, highlighting the need for a cautious approach to the town’s infrastructure spending. The debate underscored the broader challenge of effectively managing town projects within fiscal constraints.

Improving public participation and meeting accessibility was another focal point. Concerns were raised about the poor audio quality experienced during the annual town meeting, with descriptions such as “horrible” and “awful” being used to emphasize the issue. The selectmen debated possible solutions, including the introduction of a professional sound system and enhancements to the current venue’s acoustics. The effectiveness of Zoom as a tool for public meetings was also scrutinized, as some members suggested it might be limiting public participation. Ideas to change the timing and format of town meetings were proposed to foster increased community involvement.

The town’s website upgrade was deliberated, with a presentation by Civic Plus introducing a new platform called Central. The platform promised enhanced functionality, improved mobile view, and better ADA compliance. The selectmen sought clarification on various aspects of the upgrade, particularly the project manager’s responsibilities and the necessity of the AudioEye feature for ADA compliance, which had implications for ongoing costs.

Community projects received ample attention, with the selectmen emphasizing the need to engage with the school department concerning the Thurgood Building’s future. There were discussions about consolidating several smaller projects into one larger endeavor and improving project presentations, such as the one for the senior center, to better inform the public about financing options and grant funding.

The expansion of a building brought up discussions on the financial aspects of fire suppression and restroom facilities, as well as emotional appeals made by senior advocates. The board weighed the merits of a joint community center and library venture, considering space and parking constraints. Furthermore, there was mention of bylaw issues, including certain rejections by the Attorney General concerning in-law apartments, which generated uncertainty about necessary further action and a plan to revisit the bylaw in the following meeting.

Additional items on the agenda included the scheduling of the Memorial Day Parade, with details about roles and attire. The potential hiring of a clerk for the master plan committee and concerns over the committee’s posting of agendas were also discussed. The meeting concluded with plans to set a summer meeting schedule that would accommodate holidays like Labor Day.

In terms of personnel appointments, the board motioned to appoint Heather Bey to the master plan committee. Moreover, the selectmen examined the staffing requirements for upcoming meetings, considering the rotation of individuals to manage Zoom operations.