At a meeting of the Town of Hubbardston Select Board, members authorized $12,904.84 to install Category‑5 wiring at 48 Gardner Road to enable a temporary town office, adopted updates to local fee schedules and policies, and approved the town administrator's contract for fiscal years 2026 through 2028.

The wiring authorization was presented by Nate, the town administrator, who said the work is “100% necessary” to reach an operational status at 48 Gardner Road and that the proposed contractor is on a state bid. “We need a motion to authorize the expenditure of $12,904.84 from the 48 Gardner Road account for Cat 5 wiring installation as presented,” Nate told the board, and members voted in favor.

Why it matters: the wiring and related work are described in the meeting as the last significant funding step before the temporary town hall move. The fee schedule and policy changes affect building permits, local licenses and the town’s ability to waive certain fees; the administrator contract formalizes staffing and compensation for the coming fiscal years.

Board action and discussion: board members questioned whether some existing wiring could be reused and whether the price reflects prevailing‑wage requirements. Nate said the quoted cost includes prevailing wage and that some existing cable may be reused but not all. Members also discussed public notice for the temporary town hall move and agreed the wiring cost should be brought to the board because of its size.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records affirmative votes on multiple motions. Text of the motions, as recorded in the meeting, is summarized below. (Vote tallies and individual voter names were not specified in the transcript beyond vocal “Aye” responses.)

- Motion to approve the consent agenda (including reappointment of Cynthia Listovich to the Economic Development Committee through 6/30/2025 and Nancy Rogen to the Memorial Day Committee through 6/30/2028): approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to authorize expenditure of $12,904.84 from the 48 Gardner Road account for Cat 5 wiring installation: approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to approve the updated building permit fee schedule as presented: approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to remove three local license items from the draft fee schedule (Sunday sale alcohol local permit, transient vendor license, and lunch cart): approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to approve and sign the town administrator FY26–FY28 contract: approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to approve a formalized winter storm closure policy (authorizing the board chair, in consultation with the police chief and DPW director, to close buildings when appropriate): approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to approve the town council access to legal counsel policy (clarifying that the chair may contact legal counsel): approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

- Motion to approve an updated waiver of fees policy with added grant language (clarifying that, where grant funding is available, permitting fees should generally be included in grant requests): approved (vote tallies not specified in transcript).

Board members emphasized documenting fee waivers and ensuring that grant‑funded projects include permitting expenses in grant requests. The board also discussed how some inspection fees are paid to external inspectors and how waiving fees can affect those arrangements.

The board closed the meeting after routine announcements.