Freetown — At its Sept. 29 meeting the Board of Selectmen recorded several formal votes: it endorsed the COA–Library Building Committee’s direction to pursue the MBLC-funded design track (see separate report), set a $15 million perimeter for the project, and approved a group of routine municipal actions including personnel appointments, contracting for engineering and road work, and several COA operational items.

Key votes (at-a-glance)
- COA/Library design direction and budget: Selectmen voted to proceed with the MBLC-based design option (Option 1) and set a project not-to-exceed budget of $15,000,000 (roll call: Selectman Lopes — Yes; Selectman Zager — Yes; Selectman Matthews — Yes). The COA–Library Building Committee had earlier voted 4–2 to pursue Option 1.
- COA formula grant use: Selectmen authorized the Council on Aging director, with COA board approval, to use FY2024 and FY2025 formula grant monies for COA support (motion approved by voice vote/roll call).
- 2026 Senior Work-Off program: Selectmen approved the 2026 senior work-off list (program increased from 10 to 19 participants this year).
- COA holiday closure: Approved closing the Council on Aging on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, for a holiday party hosted by state legislators; COA staff to work 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at an alternate site that day.
- Surplus equipment donation: Declared a CookRight 60-inch gas restaurant range surplus and approved donation to VFW Post 6643 in East Freetown (motion approved by roll call).
- Winter equipment rates: Increased 2025–26 snow-plow/labor rates by $5 per hour across listed equipment categories to help recruitment (motion approved by roll call).
- Road opening permit: Approved a road opening permit for water service at 118 South Main Street (Assonet), contingent on trench permit and on-site police details.
- Professional services agreements and construction awards:
- Authorized the town administrator to sign an agreement with McLaren Engineering for South Main Street Bridge preservation professional services.
- Awarded milling and paving overlay of Leslie Lane and other streets to the low bidder (Team Maiozzi) — low bid reported at $615,610 — and approved associated agreements with TBOZ LLC for additional roads.
- Approved MS4 general permit professional services agreement for FY26 with Apex Companies, LLC.
- Emergency repairs: Ratified service invoice for emergency repairs to Fire Engine 3 in the sum of $9,128.11 (motion approved by voice/roll call).
- Property retention: Voted to retain the tax-foreclosed parcel on Chase Road, Parcel 24016, for town purposes (later consideration of conservation transfer possible).
- Legislative support: Voted to send a letter of support for bill H.999 (establishing a deer population control commission) at the request of Rep. Christopher Markey.
- Personnel and appointments:
- Rescinded the appointment of Trevor Matthews as the town’s Regional School Negotiating Committee representative (effective 9/9/2025).
- Appointed Nicole Kelleher as Library Director and as the library representative to the COA/Library community building committee, public records clerk (effective 10/14/2025–6/30/2026).
- Appointed Toby Christian to the Conservation Commission (term through 6/30/2026).
- Approved an amendment to provide additional vacation time to the newly appointed library director based on prior work experience (motion approved).

What this means
Most votes were routine operational matters, contract authorizations, and personnel appointments. The committee and selectmen decisions to pursue the MBLC grant design track and to cap the project at $15 million are the meeting’s most consequential items and will shape upcoming budget and schedule choices.

Provenance: Representative transcript excerpts are cited for key votes and contract awards within the meeting record.