Meaghan Denehy Fricke

The Selectboard meeting addressed several significant items. Warrant approvals totaled over $1.6 million for General funds and over $107,000 for Payroll. The Board accepted the resignation of a DPW employee and approved the lower-cost basic plan ($8,050) for exterior security lighting at Town Hall, postponing expanded lighting. The 2025 Town Report was dedicated to Bobbie Canada for his long service to the Ambulance Service. The Board opened sealed bids for two fire trucks, ultimately deciding to sell the 1984 truck to JAW Sales for $4,750 and the 1990 truck to JR Bristol for $5,100. Several zoning warrant articles were accepted for Town Meeting preparation. Discussions also covered the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund articles and new state laws regarding primary petitioner presentation time. Regarding the Pierce Pond Dam project, the Board approved contracting with SLR for bid specification creation and review up to $1,500. The Board also approved the corrective action plan for the Town Hall Auditorium fire escape issue and reviewed cybersecurity disclosures for the Plodzik Questionnaire.

The Selectboard convened an emergency meeting to address structural concerns at the Town Hall, where roof trusses were found to be in failure following recent employee reports of worsening cracks. Town offices have been temporarily relocated to the Safety Complex and Fire Station, with the food pantry closed. A $1 million bond is set for Town Meeting to address repairs, and the town will consult with DRA regarding potential bond amendment. Discussions included the need for temporary shoring, which required waiving the Purchasing Policy to immediately approve Morin Construction for the work. Motions were passed to bypass purchasing policy for both temporary shoring and roof snow removal. The board is coordinating rescheduling committee meetings, managing public communication via signage and designated media contacts, and ensuring staff IT needs are addressed during the relocation.

The meeting included public hearings and discussions regarding proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. Key topics involved redefining 'family' to replace it with 'single unit dwelling' in Section 200.00, and discussions on manufactured housing definitions in Section 700.00, including potential development formats and compliance with state regulations. Furthermore, public hearings addressed Section 610.00, focusing on establishing mixed-use possibilities in the historic downtown area, which involved discussions on lot sizes, sidewalks, parking limitations, and business viability, driven by updates to the Master Plan. Another public hearing addressed Section 2000.00 concerning Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) due to changes in state law regarding special exceptions for ADUs. The Board recommended forwarding these ordinance modifications to the Selectboard for inclusion in the March 2026 warrant. Subcommittee updates were provided for the Economic Development Committee and the Facilities and Property Committee.

The committee addressed several operational matters. Key discussions included establishing and conducting a first reading of formal meeting ground rules, which will be revisited for adoption later. The committee reviewed and amended the draft report for the Annual Town Report, specifically adding details about 2025 road work, including culvert extension and ditch clearing. Financial matters included reviewing the Melendy Pond Revolving Fund balance and discussing a warrant article supported by the Selectboard and Finance Committee to transfer $250,000 to the Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund. The committee decided not to pursue a Wild and Scenic Grant this year, but requested the Conservation Commission include Melendy Pond if they apply for milfoil treatment assistance. In other business, updates were given on building permit processes for a new deck and proof of insurance received from a tenant.

The meeting addressed warrant article reviews and public hearings, with significant discussion dedicated to petition warrant articles concerning the establishment of a charter commission and the adoption of SB2 (Official Ballot Voting). Other warrant articles reviewed included proposals for a population-based tax cap, a dollar-based tax cap, and a partisan ballot system for Town officers, all of which received negative recommendations from the board. The board also discussed proposed articles regarding state funding and voting districts. Public hearings were held regarding a $1 million bond for urgent Town Hall structural repairs and a $500,000 bond for the removal of Pierce Pond Dam, which includes adding a fire cistern. The board decided to remove a warrant article concerning the Melendy Pond Fund reallocation due to procedural risks and timing issues. Operational matters included approving warrants, reviewing the Ambulance Q4 Report, updating the Town Hall structural repair status, and deciding to send a letter to the Mason Planning Board regarding a proposed excavation project in Mason that would significantly impact Brookline roads and environment. The board also agreed to support a grant application for a Police Department drone program.