One of the more contentious items was the request from Bay Breeze Inc, doing business as Westport Sea Farms, which sought approval for a change of manager and an alteration of premises. The debate touched on zoning regulations, with the property located on Main Road being zoned residential, which raised concerns about the appropriateness of the license and the need for zoning board approval. An audience member also brought up issues regarding parking and safety at the property. Despite this, the board approved the change of manager and the alteration of premises, with some dissent.

The board tackled the ongoing issue of hiring a new library director, as the current salary offering was deemed insufficient by potential candidates. Although there was a suggestion to consider a budget increase at the upcoming town meeting, the board had not reached a conclusive resolution by the end of the meeting.

Furthermore, the board approved a request from Granite City Crushing Inc. for a repair license and endorsed Yellow Fin Events LLC’s plan to organize a cycling event, following a positive recommendation from the police department. Additionally, the board and the Board of Assessors jointly appointed Pauline Sylvia Maderos to an unexpired term and approved the installation of temporary community liaisons to aid in climate resilience efforts.

The board also facilitated the approval of several committee appointments, including for the school building committee and the affordable housing trust fund. They consented to a select board member joining the American Disabilities Act transition plan committee and the long-term building committee. Other approvals included a wage increase for a part-time position, a letter concerning a water main extension to the city of Fall River, and the unanimous support for the July 4th parade at 10 a.m., which will include police funding and is seeking volunteers and donations.

In terms of infrastructure, the board agreed to allocate up to $45,000 of local American Rescue Plan Act funds for emergency repairs on East Beach Road. They reviewed warrant articles for the upcoming town meeting, with particular focus on water and sewer funding recommendations. The East Beach storm interim policy draft was also discussed, aiming to address storm damage and beach management, with feedback from the East Beach Improvement Association president who advocated for collaboration on beach resilience.

The meeting also delved into the Mass D water grant and the Route Six Water and Sewer project, examining competitive bids for the project, alongside discussions on the Drift Road Bridge project and the contractor CL Feld’s involvement in bid evaluation.

Other administrative matters included the resignation of a board member from Citizens for Citizens, air quality concerns at the highway department, approval of meeting minutes, a report on the bill warrant, liaison committee reports, and the announcement of upcoming vacancies on various boards, committees, and commissions. The board expressed concerns about contract awards for a sewer and water project, traffic issues, and the need for affordable housing.