Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Freetown selectmen approve July event permits, school fence contract and routine town actions
Summary
At its June 15 meeting the Freetown Board of Selectmen approved permits for a Paton Farm RC car show and multiple vendors for July 3–4, awarded a fence contract for Freetown Elementary School, accepted a hydrant contract reduction, declared surplus asphalt and furniture, and approved several personnel and budget housekeeping items.
The Freetown Board of Selectmen approved a slate of routine and event-related items at its June 15 meeting, clearing the way for multiple July events and approving small capital and personnel actions.
The board approved open-session minutes from May 18, May 27 and June 1, and granted an event permit to Jake Winger of Paton Farm for a radio-controlled car show on June 27–28, 2026. "I'm Jake Winger, Paton Farm," Winger told the board as he described a free, family-friendly show that typically draws 150–200 attendees and visiting competitors from other states and abroad.
Vendors and July festivities: The selectmen approved a hawkers and peddlers license and use of bandstand parking for an applicant identified as Joe for July 3–4, and separately approved a hawkers/peddlers license for Nico's Novelty for the July 3 fireworks. The board also granted exclusive access to Hathaway Park for the July 3–4 parade and fireworks and voted to close South Main Street and Water Street for the July 4 parade. The board and volunteers said they expect large crowds for the holiday, with the chair noting the fireworks draw "10,000 plus people." The board advised vendors to coordinate early with the parade and fireworks committee and with nearby property owners for parking and placement.
Contracts and procurement: Members awarded the Freetown Elementary School fence project to Southeast Fence Company Incorporated and authorized Town Administrator Debby Petty to sign the contract once it is complete. The board also approved a reduction in the J Bustin Construction hydrant project contract from the previously noted amount to $27,100, a change staff described as the result of a repair rather than a replacement.
Property, budget and personnel actions: Selectmen accepted a $50 donation from Susan Simo for the Council on Aging; declared obsolete office furniture and authorized disposal; and declared 5,000 cubic yards of asphalt grindings at the highway barn as surplus to be sold through procurement. The board approved an interdepartmental transfer moving $3,000 from highway salary to overtime to cover unexpected extra work, approved a one-time carryover of 28 vacation hours for Isabelle Ferreira, and confirmed two personnel appointments: Joshua Simmons as a highway truck driver (effective July 1, 2026) and David Thibodeau in infrastructure maintenance (effective July 12, 2026).
Road opening permit: The board approved a road opening permit to provide water access to Hadley Heights from Forge Investments, while pressing staff on timing and restoration because the road had recently been paved; staff indicated work was scheduled to be completed by June 30 if the permit was approved.
Ceremony and youth engagement: As part of the meeting the board hosted four students named "Selectmen of the Night," who read essays about their community and participated in ceremonial votes on July 4 closures and permissions.
The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
