Central to the meeting was the handling of an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by citizen John Sullivan. The board voted to enter executive session to discuss the matter, a move that was buttressed by legal guidance from IA Freed, who provided context about the complaint’s nature. The board also deliberated on how to respond to another Open Meeting Law complaint by John Lipet, with members varying in their approach, ultimately deciding to authorize Town Council to inform the complainant of their deliberations and to review the executive session minutes for potential release.

Linda Snow Doxer showed support for Select Board member Karen Gately Herrick, praising her dedication and ability to secure funding for the town. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen O’Neal raised conflict of interest concerns regarding Guy Manganello’s appointment to the CPDC due to his involvement in a local development project. Angela Binda, aligned with Snow Doxer’s praises for Herrick, questioned the timing and nature of the agenda item pertaining to Herrick’s replacement.

The board’s discussion on the Killam School Building Committee proved particularly fractious, focusing on whether to replace the current select board representative. Members wrestled with the adequacy of the process, the timing of the discussion, and the potential implications for the $100 million project associated with the committee. The lack of preparedness and the sudden inclusion of the vote on the agenda were points of contention, with one member highlighting the need for a meeting between the school committee and the select board to clarify roles and responsibilities.

The tension escalated as the board debated whether to read aloud a list of concerns about the Killam School Building Committee member in question. Divergent views on the member’s past contributions and behavior came to the fore, with some members stressing the importance of addressing issues both public and private. The argument for a more structured and equitable process for dealing with committee member concerns was underscored when the board suggested a sit-down meeting with the chair of the select board and the committee member to resolve the issues at hand.

The operation of the board’s meetings themselves was also critiqued, with specific reference to the disabling of the chat function during the Zoom meeting, which caused some confusion and highlighted the need for clear communication protocols.

Additionally, the board moved to appoint David Wider as an associate member of the Trails Committee, with a term set to expire on June 30, 2025.