The meeting’s highlight was the Electric Vehicle Committee’s presentation on introducing public charging stations at the library and a parking lot, which would make Whately a part of a growing network of accessible electric vehicle infrastructure. The proposal, which involves installing chargers at no upfront cost to the town, aims to benefit residents without home charging options and assist travelers passing through. The board discussed ensuring that the charging stations would be available only to electric vehicles, considering potential signage to communicate these parking limitations effectively.

The board examined the financial aspects of the proposal, noting that all users, including town vehicles, would incur a charging fee. A 50% revenue split was discussed if the Electric Charging Revenue model were to be implemented. The committee stressed the importance of adding the stations to an existing EV charging map platform to help users find and utilize these resources. The board agreed to proceed with the next steps, which include an application to Eversource for evaluation, a process that may take up to six months. The motion to approve the committee’s recommendations passed unanimously.

Attention then shifted to preparations for the special town meeting. The board debated the status of Articles Four and Five, which were slated for indefinite postponement due to legal concerns over creating revolving funds outside the annual town meeting. The board decided to remove these articles, as it seemed apparent that proceeding could be legally problematic. The board also allocated the presentation of articles to different members.

The board further reviewed Article Nine, related to Community Preservation Act appropriations, after a grant was not received for a roof replacement project. The board expressed discomfort with appropriating funds without guidance from the Community Preservation Committee.

In other business, the board appointed Erica Roer as the new Community Development Administrator. Roer, who has a background in community planning and grant writing, was selected from a pool of twelve candidates. She will begin her new role on December 2, following the completion of her current consulting engagements.

The board also amended the Whately Town Hall building policy to address sanitation issues caused by leftover food waste from events. The new policy mandates that users remove all food waste from the premises, which can be composted at the transfer station. This amendment passed unanimously.

As the meeting concluded, the board laid out plans for upcoming events and meetings, including a kickoff event for the climate resilience pollinator project and discussions on early voting procedures. The board also addressed scheduling conflicts in December due to holidays, proposing adjusted meeting dates to ensure continued governance without interruption.