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Select Board tables emergency‑authority resolution, asks attorney for clearer language
Summary
The board discussed a proposed resolution authorizing the chair (or vice chair in their absence) to act in emergencies between meetings; members worried about monetary thresholds and scope and asked the town attorney to draft clearer language before the board revisits the item.
The Select Board reopened discussion on a proposed resolution to authorize the select board chair — and in the chair’s absence the vice chair — to take action in time‑sensitive emergencies between meetings. The draft language, provided on attorney advice, drew questions about what constitutes an emergency and whether monetary limits should be set.
"The resolution is the select board chair and in their absence the select board vice chair are authorized to take action in emergency situations in between select board meetings," the chair read aloud during discussion. Several members said they supported narrowly tailored language that would permit immediate life‑safety or property‑protection actions (for example, emergency road repairs or contractor calls during storms) but would limit large spending decisions. The board voted to consult the town attorney for suggested clarifying language and tabled the resolution until the attorney’s recommended wording is available.
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