The most notable decision from the meeting was the board’s approval to shift to a bi-weekly meeting schedule outside of the budget season. This change aims to ease the transition for the new Town Administrator and reduce the frequency of meetings. The approved schedule includes meetings on September 30th, October 15th, October 28th, November 12th, and November 25th. The board emphasized that this schedule is flexible and can be adjusted based on future needs. One member stated, “We could easily have that be an hour and 15, an hour and a half every other week and save a bunch of people driving and time.”

The board also approved five one-day liquor licenses for Mike’s Maze, contingent on receiving public safety feedback and a liquor liability certificate. Mike’s Maze hosts an annual beer maze event, which has been popular and well-received in the community. A representative from the event noted, “It’s been a great event, and people seem to still have a very fun time when they come out.”

Another topic was the authorization to sign the Mass Trails Grant feasibility study contract upon receipt of DCR notice to proceed. The contract, valued at $195,900, aims to assess the feasibility and design of a shared-use pathway. This development marks a step in the town’s infrastructure planning, and the board expressed optimism about moving forward with the project.

The Town Administrator also provided updates on the recruitment process for a new Town Administrator, with preliminary interviews already underway. The aim is to present finalists for public interviews by September 30th.

Additionally, updates were provided on the town’s heating oil price and a recent issue involving PFAS detection in a residential well near the old landfill. The board was informed that the heating oil price was locked in at $2.57 per gallon, slightly above the hoped-for $2.50 but still favorable compared to last year. Concerning the PFAS issue, the town is awaiting a proposal from Stantec Engineering for the required work and may need to use remaining ARPA funds or request a reserve fund transfer to cover additional costs.