The central focus of the meeting was a discussion about a memo related to Article 31, Motion B, which addressed zoning access issues. The board members engaged in a examination of the memo. This effort was initiated by a proposal to remove personal references, specifically changing from Mr. Greer to the Charter and Bylaw Review Committee (CBRC). This shift aimed to maintain the focus on the committee’s work rather than individual contributions, a change met with consensus.

The board’s conversation highlighted the necessity of policy-based discourse over a chronological recounting of past meetings. One speaker stressed the importance of policy discussion, stating, “I did not want to make a transcript of all those items.” This perspective guided the conversation towards refining the memo’s language. The memo was further adjusted to reflect ongoing efforts to improve the timeliness of zoning reviews, broadening its scope beyond the immediate context of the town meeting.

As the discussion progressed, the board also addressed the significance of the Select Board’s authority in appointing the town council annually. This detail was deemed critical for the memo’s audience to understand the board’s involvement and avoid any confusion. The group agreed that this information needed to be prominently included to clarify the Select Board’s role.

The board also deliberated on the practice of engaging special counsel in addition to appointing the town council, with specific examples like alcohol licensing and marijuana counsel cited. The intention was to present a collaborative relationship with the town council, avoiding any perception of conflict or opposition. It was suggested that the memo should emphasize the Select Board’s openness to working together with individuals like Mr. Greer and others to address concerns.

Attention was given to the structure of the memo, particularly the placement of bullet points. One member suggested that a specific bullet point was less significant and should be placed at the end of the list. This was agreed upon.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adopt the memo with noted amendments and minor corrections, which was unanimously approved. The board acknowledged the contributions made in refining the memo and agreed to finalize it before presenting it to the town meeting members. The memo was set to be printed on Select Board letterhead.