The Main Street reconstruction project took center stage as the board grappled with the financial implications of the necessary stormwater upgrades. Acknowledging the lessons from past infrastructure issues, members stressed the importance of aligning funding with construction schedules. They discussed bonding as a potential financing method and emphasized the need for coordination with the highway department and other city partners. The cost drivers, such as labor, asphalt, and sidewalks, were also scrutinized, and the board proposed a dedicated meeting to keep the public informed about the project’s progress. A motion was passed to allocate funds for the stormwater component, with an updated spreadsheet of approved projects reviewed.

The board navigated a complex issue regarding errors made during the annual town meeting, which led to the scheduling of a special town meeting for June 27, 2024. The purpose of this meeting is to address and amend the language of a budget article to utilize available funds or free cash for balancing the budget. The date and location were set after some debate and considering availability of necessary personnel and facilities.

In personnel matters, Paul Reynolds was reappointed as the Town Treasurer Collector and granted permission to edit the senior and disabled voluntary tax contribution form to include the application period for assistance. The board also unanimously approved Reynolds’s appointment to the elementary school building committee. Another appointment was Abel Mariano as a Conservation Commission associate member, despite potential conflicts of interest due to his business involvement in wetland restoration.

The Conservation Ethics Disclosures were a point of contention, as Reynolds and other members of the Conservation Commission disclosed their status as abutters to a parcel under review. The board ultimately voted to accept the disclosures, with specific language recommended by the Town Administrator to ensure their financial interest was not substantial enough to skew the integrity of their services.

The town administrator announced an upcoming meeting with the Dighton Water District Commissioners to discuss coordination and address the town’s water capacity issues. Public input included concerns about conservation practices, cluster housing impacts, and a flyer distributed without clear attribution to the board members. The board also covered vacancies on various boards and committees, upcoming town events, and the implementation of initiatives like the town food bank and transportation sticker fee rate increases.

A discussion of recent town events like the Cow Chip Raffle and the Strawberry Festival was followed by the board addressing the search for a new Town Administrator and appointing an interim Town Administrator, Jim Pel. The cost estimates for Main Street roadway and sidewalk improvements were reviewed, with considerations for in-house work versus bidding and funding sources to address increased costs.

Other significant approvals included the updated amounts for various projects, such as the power plant pump station upgrades, and the appointment of an interim town administrator to handle OPA matters. Additionally, the board addressed administrative tasks like the ratification of employment contract amendments, vacation rollover requests, and year-end transfers.

The meeting saw the board acknowledge the highway department’s donated sick time and a donation to the Council on Aging’s patio project. The fire chief appointed two new members to the fire department, and the board accepted the resignation of Paul Pico from the Board of Health. Public input featured an apology for distress caused by a flyer and a presentation involving the gifting of red pens to a member.