In a and pointed resignation announcement, the board member read a letter detailing their decision to leave the board. They described their tenure as being filled with commitment and effort, stating, “I have put 150% into this community to do what I felt was right.” However, the member expressed frustration over constant criticism and what they described as uneducated attacks from residents. They highlighted the lack of engagement from community members who neither attended meetings nor contributed constructively. The resignation letter concluded with a call to action for the community: “put up or shut up—run for office, volunteer for a committee to help this community improve.”

The board then addressed the purchase of a laptop for the Townsend Senior Center Transportation administrator. A motion was made to approve the purchase using Senior Center funds. This prompted a discussion regarding the necessity of the laptop versus a smartphone. One member questioned what functions could not be performed on a phone, but it was clarified that the Senior Center director requested the laptop to facilitate remote work for the transportation coordinator, who currently lacked a suitable computer setup. The motion was ultimately approved with all in favor.

The board also discussed the results of an energy aggregation bid, reporting that the bid results were promising and below expectations. This led the board to sign the contract for the energy aggregation program, which would include an informational campaign for residents. The timeline for the program’s rollout was set for December, with an opt-out period for residents who may not wish to participate.

Another topic was the ongoing vacancy for the conservation agent position. The board reviewed compensation for the land use coordinator, who had taken on extra duties due to this vacancy. A motion was made to provide the land use coordinator compensation retroactive to the beginning of July until the position was filled. The conservation chair expressed concern over the lack of action to fill the position and underscored the importance of the role, urging that it be posted immediately. The motion passed with no additional comments.

The sick bank policy for town employees was another point of contention. A representative arrived late to present and requested that a recent decision, which denied sick time to an employee, be reconsidered. They emphasized the need for a sick time donation policy that allows collective bargaining unit members to donate time to employees outside of their bargaining unit. The representative argued for the importance of supporting each other within the workforce and highlighted past practices that allowed for the donation of sick time without financial cost to the town. They urged the board to review the policy and its implications, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all employees feel valued and supported.

The board also discussed the Municipal ADA Improvement Grant, with a motion made to grant the Town Administrator the authority to sign the award letter when it becomes available. Recognizing the importance of the grant for the town’s accessibility improvements, the board unanimously supported this motion. Additionally, a motion was made to sign the election warrants for upcoming elections, which passed without dissent.

The board moved on to a loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, specifically concerning the details and necessary closing documents. A motion was made to approve the loan details and sign the related documentation, which was considered crucial for the water treatment plant project. Concerns were raised about whether the documents had been reviewed by the Town Administrator, but it was established that the bond counsel had already examined them. The board agreed to proceed with signing the documents to avoid delays that could affect payments to vendors associated with the water treatment plant.

Other agenda items included granting signature authority to Kathy Spofford for payroll and accounts payable warrants and designating the Town Administrator as the signatory for an updated agreement for engineering services with Weston and Sampson Engineering Inc. Both motions were approved without opposition.