The Town of Charlton Board of Selectmen voted Dec. 10 to refer an Open Meeting Law complaint to the town administrator and the town’s legal counsel.

Town staff reported the complaint was filed Nov. 27, 2024, by Travis McDonald on behalf of the Permanent Fire Fighters Local 4023 and was received by the town clerk. The board must review an Open Meeting Law complaint within 14 business days; at the Dec. 10 meeting a selectman moved and the board voted unanimously to refer the matter for a formal response from the town administrator and legal counsel.

A board member asked whether referring the matter to counsel limited what board members could say publicly; staff replied members were likely free to discuss the matter until counsel directed otherwise. The board’s motion to refer the complaint passed by unanimous voice vote.

The transcript records the motion, second and unanimous vote; the board did not discuss the complaint’s substance during the open meeting beyond procedural referral.