Votes at a glance: Select Board approves police appointment, IT job-title change, minutes and FY26 water rates

The Select Board recorded several formal actions at its Feb. 4 meeting, summarized below.

Appointment: Christopher Byrne, probationary police officer The Select Board unanimously approved the police chief’s request to appoint Christopher Byrne as a full‑time probationary police officer with the Southborough Police Department. The chief told the board Byrne had passed background, physical and psychological exams and that Byrne has seven years of law-enforcement experience and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Town Clerk Jim Hegarty administered the oath and Byrne was sworn in during the meeting.

Job description and title change for IT director The board approved a revised job description and a title change for the town’s information-technology position (update requested to reflect supervisory duties, cybersecurity responsibilities and the growth of hybrid meeting support). Personnel Board review and town-warrant language (for the title change in the Personnel Administration Plan) will follow per standard practice.

Consent agenda and minutes The board approved amended minutes from the January meeting (edits were identified during the meeting) and approved consent agenda item b as read. Consent agenda item c (the IT job description) was pulled for discussion and later approved.

Water-rate adoption Also at the meeting the Select Board approved a staff-recommended multiyear water-rate path (Option 2) for FY26. The vote on rates and the motion language are listed below.

Votes (motions recorded on the audio/transcript) - "I move that we appoint, Chris Byrne as a probationary police officer in the Town of Southborough." — Mover: Select Board member Al; second: recorded on the audio; outcome: approved by voice vote; sworn in on record by Town Clerk Jim Hegarty. - "I move to approve the proposed revised job description, for the director of information and technology and also improve the title for that department." — Mover: board member (audio record: Rita/board member motion recorded); second: recorded on the audio; outcome: approved by voice vote. - "I move that the board approve Option 2, rates for f y 26." — Mover: Select Board member Andrew; second: recorded on the audio; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Ending: The board’s recorded motions were approved on voice votes during the meeting. Where a mover or seconder was not named in the transcript, the recording indicates a second and the board chair called the question and a voice vote was taken. The actions above are documented in the meeting minutes and in this summary.