During a recent government meeting, discussions centered around the declaration of a local emergency and the hiring process for a new town manager. Officials noted that declaring a local emergency would enhance coordination with state and federal agencies and potentially unlock funding opportunities. However, while local declarations do not require state approval, a full statewide declaration must come from the governor's office.

The meeting also featured public input from resident Lauren Steves, who expressed strong opposition to a proposed amendment that would eliminate the residency requirement for the new town manager. She highlighted that a town manager review committee is currently gathering information and making recommendations, which will inform future decisions.

The select board clarified that they have no intention of presenting a warrant article for a special town meeting in February regarding the residency requirement. Instead, they indicated that any potential article would be considered in May, contingent upon the committee's progress. The current town manager's residency requirement remains in effect until any changes are officially adopted.

The board emphasized the importance of allowing the review committee to complete its work before making any decisions, asserting that the timeline for hiring a new town manager would adhere to existing regulations until further notice.