Charlton Select Board approves appointments, DPW bid awards, stormwater intermunicipal agreement, adopts procedures and creates attendance dashboard

The Town of Charlton Select Board on May 27 approved a slate of routine governance actions including committee appointments, bid awards for Department of Public Works materials and services, renewal of an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) for regional stormwater cooperation, adoption of select board rules and procedures, and the creation of an attendance dashboard for select board members pending legal review. The board also accepted one resignation, set committee liaison assignments and voted to enter executive session on a collective bargaining and grievance matter.

Why it matters: The IMA and DPW bid awards affect town operations and future project delivery; adoption of board procedures and liaison assignments shape governance and oversight; the attendance dashboard is a transparency measure that the board approved conditionally after discussion about legal and privacy implications.

Votes at a glance (each item approved unless otherwise noted):

- Approval of minutes: Regular meeting minutes of May 13, 2025 — motion moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval.

- Zoning Board of Appeals appointments: Garrett LaFrance and Marco Tibory recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals to be elevated from alternate to full members; outcome: unanimous approval.

- Boston Post Cane Committee appointment: Shawnee Boyce appointed to the Boston Post Cane Committee with a term expiring 06/30/2026; outcome: unanimous approval.

- Resignation accepted: Matthew Carlson resigned from the Historical Commission and Historic District Commission effective 05/06/2025; board accepted with regret; outcome: unanimous.

- Adoption of Select Board rules and procedures: Board adopted the rules as presented by the town administrator; outcome: unanimous.

- Committee liaisons: Board confirmed and amended liaison assignments (including Bandshell Development Committee, CMRPC alternate, Community Center Feasibility Committee, Fire Substation committee alternate) as recorded in the minutes; outcome: unanimous.

- Dangerous-dog hearing (Gia): Motion that owner implement self-closing gate mechanisms and continue the hearing for a three-month monitoring period; outcome: approved (see separate detailed article on the hearing).

- Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition IMA (FY2026–FY2030): Board approved renewal effective 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2030. The town’s matching share was authorized at not to exceed $4,000 per year; outcome: unanimous approval.

- DPW materials and services bid awards (low bidders as recommended by DPW Director Nick Peel): - Timeless Concrete — type 1 in place at $87.12 per ton (mass bridal stone) — approved. - Murray Paving & Reclamation, Inc. — full depth pavement reclamation at $3.21 per square yard — approved. - Allstate's Construction (transcript spelling) — asphalt rubber surface treatment: 10% at $4.45/sq yd and 20% at $5.75/sq yd — approved.

- Goals and objectives working session scheduling: Board asked the town administrator to solicit available dates from members and report options; no final date set at this meeting.

- Attendance dashboard for Select Board members: Board voted to create an attendance dashboard consolidating information already public in minutes, conditional on legal counsel review to address any protected leave or privacy/legal concerns; motion approved.

- Executive session: Board voted to enter executive session under M.G.L. c.30A, §21(a)(2) to discuss strategy related to collective bargaining and litigation concerning a Charlton firefighters union grievance; the board voted to enter executive session and adjourned from open session.

What the board authorized that affects town operations:

- IMA renewal: The Central Mass Regional Stormwater Coalition participation agreement runs 07/01/2025–06/30/2030; matching share not to exceed $4,000 per year; the town’s conservation commission is the contact for the program.

- DPW contracts: Low bids for aggregate/concrete, full-depth reclamation, and asphalt rubber surface treatments were accepted as recommended by the DPW director; vendors and unit prices are recorded in the minutes and the town will proceed with contract awards.

- Administrative governance: Select Board rules and the committee liaison roster were adopted and recorded in the minutes; appointments to boards and committees were processed and openings announced where applicable.

Next steps and follow-up: The board set a three-month review for the dangerous-dog matter and tasked the owner to notify Animal Control Officer Emily Sears when required containment devices are installed. The town administrator will gather possible dates for a goals-and-objectives working session and return options to the board. Legal counsel will be asked to review any issues related to the attendance dashboard before it goes live publicly.

The Select Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Meeting Room 1.