Townsend Historic District Commission Grapples with Alleged Open Meeting Law Violations

The Townsend Historic District Commission recently addressed a series of issues, with a focus on allegations of open meeting law violations and the commission’s operational procedures. Members of the commission were confronted with a letter from the board of selectmen accusing them of failing to comply with open meeting laws, sparking a debate about the allegations and the importance of an upcoming ethics and open meeting law review. The commission discussed whether the training was necessary, with opinions split between concerns over cost and the need for proper education to avoid future infractions.

In addition to the open meeting law concerns, the commission faced internal confusion regarding the reappointment of members and the composition of the commission itself. There was uncertainty about whether one member was replacing another and concerns about the lack of staggered appointments, which could affect the commission’s continuity and governance. Furthermore, the commission debated the involvement of different organizations in nominating members and the potential for discrimination and imbalance on the board. This led to broader discussions about the reappointment process and the need for improved procedures in line with the Town Charter and state regulations.

The commission also tackled the issue of homeowner and realtor notification about the historic district regulations. There was a discussion about whether it was the commission’s responsibility to inform realtors and homeowners of the historic district status of properties for sale. Opinions differed, and the commission considered reaching out to other communities to learn best practices for managing notifications. The role of the Massachusetts Historic Commission in determining the boundaries of historic districts was also a point of discussion, as well as the implications of properties that had previously opted out of the district.

Furthermore, the commission discussed the appointment of a new member, referred to as Julia, and the criteria for her selection, including her affiliation with the Daughters of the American Revolution. This discussion extended into the broader topic of following the Town Charter and state regulations for appointments and reappointments.

The commission then focused on specific property matters, including a proposal for renovations on Main Street. The replacement of a slider and deck was debated in detail, with the final vote approving the application for the renovations.

Additionally, the commission expressed frustration over the inadequacies of the town’s website, with particular reference to the lack of information about meetings and taxes. This concern was indicative of wider issues of communication and transparency within the commission and between the commission and the public.

The meeting concluded with a mention of a phone call from the Board of Selectmen and a statement expressing willingness to meet and discuss the issues at hand.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Eric Slagle
Historic Preservation Commission Officials:
Eino Kauppi, Susan R. Gerken, Clare Kauppi, MaryJane Churchville, Jerrilyn Bozicas

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording