The most significant decision made during the meeting was the approval of a revised schedule for early voting hours for the September primary. Amy, summarizing her letter, requested a reduction in early voting hours as permitted by state regulations for towns with populations below 4,999. The proposed schedule included Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m., Monday from 10 to 12 p.m., and several other weekday hours, exceeding the state-mandated 25% of standard business hours. The board clarified the correct hours after addressing concerns about typos in the letter. Following a thorough discussion, the adjusted early voting hours were unanimously approved.

Another topic was the formation of an energy storage system study committee, recommended by Pete. The committee aims to address community concerns regarding safety and environmental impacts associated with large-scale battery storage systems, particularly in the context of increasing solar development. The proposed committee would include members from various town boards and a public member not affiliated with any board. The board expressed support for the concept and proposed reaching out to relevant boards for their input before finalizing membership. The establishment of the study committee was unanimously approved.

The board also discussed potential funding requests from the unobligated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The fire chief had submitted a request for funding for the meeting and radio room at the fire station but had not provided a formal estimate. The Select Board members expressed uncertainty about the frequency of use for the fire station’s meeting space and the associated heating or cooling costs. There was hesitation about moving forward with any funding requests without more detailed information. The town clerk requested electronic voting machines and window replacements at the fire station, with the total remaining ARPA funds estimated at approximately $27,000. The board ultimately decided to hold off on allocating ARPA funds until more comprehensive information was available and further discussions could take place.

A debate ensued regarding the electronic voting machines, with concerns about the community’s readiness to transition away from paper ballots. One member suggested that while reimbursement for the electronic machines could be obtained from the state, the community might not support such a change. The idea of putting the electronic voting machine request on a future town meeting warrant was raised, emphasizing the need for community input. Concerns about the reliability of electronic systems were also voiced, referencing past issues with software programming. The board considered conducting community surveys to gauge public sentiment but expressed caution about the potential for residents to misunderstand the implications without adequate information.

In response to a citizen’s concern raised at a previous meeting, the board discussed implementing a fireworks awareness messaging and procedures. The citizen highlighted the legality of certain public fireworks displays and their impact on livestock in the agricultural community. The suggestion was made to implement a robo call system to remind residents of fireworks laws and the potential distress caused to animals. The board contemplated whether any other municipalities had similar initiatives and considered drafting a considerate message with input from public safety officials. The board concluded with a consensus on crafting a thoughtful awareness message and tasked a member to investigate further into other towns’ fireworks regulations.

The meeting also covered old business, specifically the agreement for the shared conservation agent. The board recognized the main changes involved the percentage of contributions from participating towns, which had decreased from six to five. The revised agreement, already approved by the other municipalities involved, was confirmed to be funded through a grant. The board approved the revised agreement unanimously.

Additionally, the board addressed Quant Farms’ request for wayfinding signs. The board reviewed the specifications for the Trailblazer signs and agreed to move forward with the approval, contingent upon the outlined requirements.

An update was provided on the ongoing appeal regarding the Don Hu dog case, with the magistrate reviewing the information presented and a decision expected within a day to three months. The board anticipated needing to hold an executive session to discuss the outcome and potential next steps due to the ongoing litigation.