Dalton Select Board approves state police contract, minutes and conservation-commission appointments

The Dalton Select Board approved several routine items during a working session, including the state police contract for 2026, the December 22 meeting minutes, and two conservation-commission appointments.

"I make a motion that we approve the state police, contract for 2026," the Chair said before calling for a voice vote; members responded in the affirmative and the motion passed. The Chair and other members also moved and approved acceptance of the December 22 minutes after discussing one line in an earlier memo about an 11‑month absence and agreeing to preserve the memo wording.

The board reappointed Gina Damiano to the conservation commission and appointed Mandy Devineau as an alternate; both motions were seconded and approved by voice vote. Members discussed the conservation commission’s bylaws and whether letters of interest should be required from applicants; staff said bylaws govern commission recommendations and any bylaw changes would need to be made by the commission itself.

The board reviewed and accepted the draft Select Board annual report for 2025 pending minor grammatical edits. During the review members debated whether to include a sentence referencing a prior workplace complaint and agreed not to add further mention beyond what already appears in the public record.

Separately, the Chair announced that a transfer-station employee, Kyle, resigned effective immediately; the board asked staff to request that Kyle come in next week to discuss the resignation and provide a written resignation if possible, and to schedule a personnel (nonpublic) meeting if necessary.

All procedural approvals were taken by voice vote; the board adjourned at the end of the session.