Town manager: recreation director resigns; Wilder Drive, water tower work underway

Town Manager Greg Colby told the Board of Selectmen on Sept. 8 that the recreation director has resigned with two weeks' notice and that staff will post the position and cover events in the near term. Colby said department heads and volunteers will step in while the town recruits a replacement. Colby gave several infrastructure and administrative updates. He said the Wilder Drive project was expected to start within one to two weeks, that the town had received engineers' input on the water tower and was exploring repair, repainting and a potential cell‑tower option, and that the utility assessment work (Penetruck) was close to completion with outside assistance from an experienced assessor. Colby also announced upcoming community events and operational notes: a 9/11 ceremony hosted by the fire department at 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11; a townwide yard sale scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 (8 a.m.–2 p.m., rain or shine) with sign‑up via recreation; a pumpkin lighting on Oct. 25; and toddler trick‑or‑treating on Oct. 31. He also noted that a new police canine arrived and would start academy training the following week. On staffing, Colby thanked Recreation Director Jen for her service and said town staff and volunteer commissions have capacity to support events while the position is filled. "She did have an opportunity that made all the sense in the world to go," Colby said when describing the resignation. He said the town will post the role and seek candidates and that he welcomes assistance from board members and volunteers on event coordination while recruitment proceeds. No board vote was required; these were informational updates and direction for staff action on hiring and project coordination.