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Charlton Select Board approves appointments, license renewal and staffing change; enters executive session on bargaining
Summary
The Charlton Select Board on July 8 approved multiple personnel appointments, renewed an Army license for an antenna at Buckingville Lake Ranger Station through March 31, 2030, and authorized a police staffing addition to be funded from existing departmental savings, then voted to enter executive session on collective bargaining.
The Town of Charlton Select Board on July 8 approved a slate of personnel appointments, accepted a resignation, renewed a Department of the Army license for an antenna installation at Buckingville Lake Ranger Station and voted to enter executive session to discuss collective bargaining.
The board voted to appoint Shane Gatsky as a light equipment operator in the Highway Department, subject to standard pre‑employment checks, and approved a series of public‑safety appointments recommended by the police chief, including Keith Cooner as a special police officer and Jamie Fuentes and Paul Russell as traffic constables. The board also accepted the resignation of James Russell from the Council on Aging, effective July 2, 2025.
The board approved a supplemental agreement extending a license from the Department of the Army for the installation, maintenance, repair and removal of an antenna on the chimney at Buckingville Lake Ranger Station; the new agreement runs through March 31, 2030, and the board authorized the chair to sign the supplemental agreement.
Charlton Police Chief (identified in the meeting as Chief Doud) asked the board to approve adding an additional control‑room or operations position within the department’s existing fiscal‑year budget to reduce overtime and provide coverage. The Select Board voted to permit the chief to add the position using available savings in the department’s current operating and capital budgets; the Finance Committee had previously reviewed and endorsed the request.
Town Administrator Andrew provided routine project updates including foundation work at the new fire station site, exterior repairs and slate roof work at the schoolhouse project, an additional $50,000 in reimbursement on a local project from a state agency, and plans for a police summer send‑off event on Aug. 21. He also noted staff are restoring the town’s historical seal and measures cabinet dating to 1848.
Before adjourning the Select Board voted to enter executive session under the citation read into the record ("MGL c 38, section 21a") to discuss strategy regarding collective bargaining with the International Association of Firefighters local contract; the chair called the roll and members voted to enter executive session.
Votes at a glance from the July 8 meeting: the board approved minutes for the June 10, 2025 meeting; appointed a light equipment operator and several public‑safety personnel; accepted a Council on Aging resignation; authorized a supplemental Army license for Buckingville Lake Ranger Station through 03/31/2030; approved a police staffing addition to be funded from current departmental savings; and voted to enter executive session on collective bargaining.
