Select Board resigns warrant after ballot error

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Select Board fixed an omission in the November 3 ballot warrant that had excluded Question 10, a non-binding stipend question, from Precincts 1 and 4. The board transferred $100,000 in unused pandemic relief funds from a delayed dam project to water infrastructure engineering. The board also approved a curling club's outdoor fire-pit dining area and appointed a high school student to the diversity committee.

Key decisions

• 💰 ARPA fund transfer from Snake Brook Dam to MWRA. Reallocated $100,000 in unused ARPA funds from the Snake Brook Dam project to the MWRA Connection Project for engineering services, required to be expended by December 31, 2026. Board requested follow-up memo from finance director on status of freed Snake Brook funds. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• ● Establish RFP selection committee for 212 Cochituate Road. Formally established a selection committee, as required by RFP terms, to review proposals submitted in November. The selection committee will weigh proposals against RFP criteria and make recommendations to the full board, with contract still to be negotiated; full board will make final decision. (Vote unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Support Dudley Pond watershed grant application. Authorized Select Board Chair to finalize and send a letter of support for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant application to address invasive weed growth and water quality. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• ● Execute corrected state election warrant with Question 10. Re-executed the November 3 state election warrant to include Question 10 (a non-binding legislative stipend question) for Precincts 1 and 4. The question had been omitted from the initial warrant. (Vote 5-0; Next: Nov. 3). Read case details
• 📋 Approve outdoor dining liquor license for Broomstones. Approved outdoor alteration of premises liquor license amendment for Broomstones, Inc., allowing alcohol and food service in an outdoor area around a wood-burning fire pit, seating eight with maximum occupancy of 20, used mainly during member-guest events. Area subject to same closing-hour and consumption restrictions as indoor license. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 👤 Appoint Justin Chiu to HRDEI Committee. Appointed Justin Chiu as an associate member of the Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for a term ending June 30, 2029. Chiu will receive formal appointment letter and must be sworn in and complete conflict-of-interest training. (Vote 5-0). Read case details
• 📜 Authorize letter to Massachusetts Municipal Association. Authorized Town Manager to send a letter to the Massachusetts Municipal Association supporting efforts to secure remote-participation options for town meetings statewide. (Vote unanimously). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 3: November 3 state election with corrected ballot

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 4,034 words, for members.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.