Select Board signs two conflict‑of‑interest disclosures: recreation instructor and fire department hire

The Select Board reviewed and approved two separate conflict‑of‑interest disclosures on July 28. One involved a town employee (Gretchen Gallimore) who teaches existing tap and jazz classes and had been asked to teach a new musical‑theatre prep class through the council on aging/human services. Staff said the work would be outside normal work hours, paid at a rate comparable to the existing rec‑program compensation, and not allowed to be marketed using town resources; the board approved an exemption under G. L. c. 268A, §20(d) to permit the activity with monitoring.

Separately, the board considered a disclosure related to Fire Chief Saros hiring his daughter, Elizabeth, as an EMT. Staff and counsel said the department operates under a strong‑chief model and the deputy chief (as direct supervisor) would handle operational supervision; counsel and staff explained the board’s role in determining whether the chief’s family member interest was sufficiently substantial to affect service integrity. After deliberation the board voted to determine the financial interest was not so substantial as to affect expected services and approved the hiring disclosure. Members asked staff to ensure procedures are in place to guard against any actual or perceived favoritism in scheduling, overtime or promotions going forward.