The meeting began with resident Dena Stander voicing her concerns about the deteriorating road conditions in town, particularly focusing on a hazardous ditch near her home. Stander, a long-time resident of 28 years, emphasized the severity of the issue by describing the ditch as “almost 3 ft deep” and a significant safety hazard. She criticized the oversight of the newly appointed highway department chief, attributing the poor road conditions to a lack of experience and ineffective management rather than adverse weather. Stander urged the board to implement training for highway department staff and demanded a clear plan to address the road issues. Board members acknowledged her concerns but faced strong rebuttal from Stander when attributing the problems to weather patterns. She insisted, “If it’s well maintained, it holds during weather,” calling for better management practices.

Following public comments, the board moved to handle the resignations of two town officials. The resignation of Gabe Vulkar, the assistant town treasurer, was accepted with a unanimous vote, and the board agreed to send a letter of thanks for her service. Similarly, they accepted the resignation of part-time police officer Linda Nukem, who attempted to express her views on issues within the police department and the select board. However, the board advised her to address such matters via email, as the meeting was not deemed the appropriate venue for personnel discussions.

The board then shifted focus to the approval of Community Preservation Act grant agreements, approving several projects, including the restoration of the historic guideboard, trail repairs at the South Brook Conservation Area, and invasive plant management efforts. Each project received unanimous support.

Amidst these discussions, the board addressed the annual appointment list for various town committees. Concerns were raised about attendance and participation on specific committees, such as the Lake Wyola Advisory Committee, where some members had not attended meetings. The board deliberated the need to fill roles, such as appointing a new emergency management director following a recent retirement. Suggestions included appointing a local individual named Lenny or considering someone from the EMT team. The board emphasized avoiding potential conflicts from having too many select board members involved in a single committee.

The meeting also highlighted issues related to the Planning Board’s involvement in the Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee. Acknowledging a lack of representation on the Owac for over 25 years, members discussed the need for clarity and proper adherence to committee charges. There was a noted urgency to investigate the requirements for appointments, as the timeline and understanding of previous charges seemed unclear. One member suggested conducting thorough research before making any new appointments to ensure proper representation and functionality.

Amid the appointments, the board unanimously approved John Arstock as an associate member and Kathleen Lugosh as a full-time member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Tom Seafford was reappointed as an associate member of the Planning Board, praised for his consistent attendance and valuable contributions.

Towards the end of the meeting, the board addressed administrative tasks such as signing documents from previous meetings and a contract amendment for the library building project. The board appointed Haley Bolton as the contract manager for the MBLC grant, with unanimous approval. Additionally, a member expressed interest in presenting research on opioid settlement fund programs at the next meeting.