2026-10-13 - Select Board Meeting

Summary

Built from ASR auto-captions (no speaker labels; names may be misspelled). The Charlton Select Board opened by reading a statement on complaints raised by members of the Charlton Fire Department: the matter is an ongoing personnel investigation, the board has retained an independent investigator, and no further details will be given. Announcements covered yard-waste drop-off dates, the October 19 special town meeting at the Middle School, the November 3 state election and early voting, taxes due November 2, a Repair Cafe, and senior center events. In open forum, a resident asked to start trick-or-treat at 4:30 instead of 5:30; firefighter Steven Reese said only one board member had replied to his emails, cited the union's vote of no confidence and section 10 of the personnel policy on retaliation, and asked what interim anti-retaliation steps the board has taken (the chair pointed to the opening statement); and Christopher Merlo of Jennings Road asked the board to put the result of the non-binding October 19 town meeting Flock camera petition on the October 27 agenda for deliberation and a vote. Later, under future agenda items, a member asked for a Flock camera placeholder item, and the board agreed to add it so it can be skipped if unnecessary.

The board approved the September 22 minutes unanimously and made unanimous appointments: Jake Winskey (highway equipment operator), Justin Manzello (police officer, backfilling the patrol slot vacated by the additional SRO approved at town meeting), Matt Posey (alternate plumbing and gas inspector, a non-benefited town employee rather than a 1099 contractor, which prompted discussion of the town reviewing the 1099 status of its other inspectors with HR and counsel), Catherine Latour (Council on Aging part-time kitchen coordinator), Ashley Cuniff (Bay Path non-voting student representative, with a request that students attend their own appointments), Melissa Black (Cultural Council, to 6/30/2028), Kathleen Dermody and Robert Sims (Old Home Day Committee, to 6/30/2027), Christine Fagerquist (election worker, to 12/31/2026), and Mary Beth Krizinsky (Zoning Board of Appeals alternate, to 6/30/2029). The board accepted with regret the resignation of Chelsea Belk, administrative assistant to the Select Board and town administrator.

Action items: trick-or-treat hours for Saturday, October 31 were set at 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (up from last year's 5:00 to 7:30), and a special alcoholic beverage license was approved for the Barton Center for Diabetes Education auction fundraiser at Camp Joslin on November 14 (license dates November 13-15). In the town administrator's report, Andrew Golas noted the town meeting booklet is online, announced two police information sessions on Flock cameras and license plate readers (October 14 at 6 p.m. and October 15 at 3 p.m., Senior Center), a Senior Community Center info session on October 15 at 4:30, license renewals due before November 30, a $30,000 NHTSA Click It or Ticket grant and a $10,000 risk-management grant, and the death of former board administrative assistant Mary Stone. The next regular meeting is October 27.

Issues discussed: Charlton Fire Department Complaints and Investigation, Flock Automated License Plate Readers, Senior Community Center Feasibility

Transcript

0:02 | Okay, we'll call the meeting to order.
0:05 | Welcome to the Charlton Select Board
0:06 | meeting. Today is October 13th, 2026,
0:10 | 6:30 p.m. Town Hall meeting room 1, 37
0:13 | Main Street, Charlton, Mass.
0:15 | This meeting is being recorded and
0:17 | broadcast live on Charlton Cable Access
0:20 | TV on Spectrum TV channel 191 and
0:23 | recording available on the YouTube
0:25 | channel for Charlton TV. Any member of
0:27 | the public who wishes to record the
0:29 | meeting must first notify the chair.
0:32 | So, if we could stand for the Pledge of
0:33 | Allegiance.
0:37 | >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
0:40 | United States of America and to the
0:42 | republic for which it stands, one nation
0:45 | under God, indivisible, with liberty and
0:49 | justice for all.
0:54 | >> Okay, and before we go on to
0:55 | announcements, I have one statement to
0:57 | read regarding the the the Charlton Fire
0:59 | Department.
1:01 | The Select Board is aware of the recent
1:03 | complaints raised by members of the
1:05 | Charlton Fire Department and we want to
1:07 | provide assurance that these concerns
1:09 | have been heard and are being taken
1:11 | seriously.
1:12 | The matter is currently the subject the
1:14 | subject of an ongoing investigation.
1:17 | To ensure that the process is thorough,
1:19 | fair, and impartial, the board has
1:21 | retained an independent investigator and
1:24 | is handling the matter in accordance
1:25 | with town policy.
1:27 | We are committed to the process that
1:29 | respects the concerns raised and the
1:31 | rights of every person involved.
1:34 | We expect every town employee at every
1:36 | level to be treated fairly and and with
1:38 | respect
1:40 | and to meet the standards of conduct the
1:43 | community expects.
1:45 | Because this is an ongoing personnel
1:47 | matter and to and to protect the
1:49 | integrity of the investigation
1:51 | and the policy of those involved, the
1:53 | board will not be providing further
1:55 | details at this time.
1:57 | We will share additional information
2:00 | when it is appropriate and permitted by
2:02 | law.
2:03 | Residents can be assured that we take
2:05 | public safety
2:07 | is our as our highest priority.
2:11 | And that's
2:13 | should be that. If Mike If you can
2:14 | handle announcements.
2:16 | >> Sure.
2:17 | The announcements for the select board
2:18 | meeting October 13th, 2026.
2:21 | Yard waste drop-off is available October
2:24 | 17th, 24th, and 31st, as well as
2:27 | November 7th and 14th from 10:00 a.m. to
2:30 | 2:00 p.m. at the DPW located at 100
2:33 | Flint Road.
2:34 | Special town meeting is Monday, October
2:36 | 19th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Charlton
2:39 | Middle School.
2:41 | State election is November 3rd, 2026 at
2:44 | the Heritage School from 7:00 a.m. to
2:47 | 8:00 p.m.
2:49 | Early voting starts October 17th through
2:51 | October 29th.
2:53 | And the last day to register to vote for
2:55 | the state election is Saturday, October
2:57 | 24th at 5:00 p.m. deadline.
3:00 | See the town clerk's page for more
3:01 | details.
3:03 | Charlton Fire Department's Sand for
3:05 | Seniors program, uh for Charlton
3:07 | residents age 60 and over who live in a
3:10 | private residence, the sign-up is in the
3:11 | Senior Center. And the next community
3:13 | CPR program is scheduled for October
3:16 | 19th
3:17 | from 6:00 to 9:00. If interested, call
3:19 | 508-248-2276.
3:23 | You can also see the Fire Department
3:24 | Facebook page for more information.
3:27 | Real estate and personal property taxes
3:29 | are due on November 2nd.
3:31 | Charlton's inaugural Repair Cafe is
3:34 | October 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00
3:36 | p.m. at the Charlton Library.
3:38 | And at the Senior Center
3:40 | Thursday, October 15th at 10:30 in the
3:42 | morning,
3:43 | October birthday party with comic
3:45 | musician Dave Andrews at 1:00 p.m. and a
3:48 | presentation on Larchmont Remembered, a
3:52 | sinking of the steamship in 1907.
3:55 | On Monday, October 19th, 2026 at 10:30
3:58 | a.m., there is a presentation on the
4:00 | Cuban Missile Crisis.
4:02 | Those are the announcements.
4:04 | Okay.
4:05 | And moving on to open forum. Is there
4:07 | anyone here for open forum?
4:11 | Please come up.
4:13 | Say your name and address and we're
4:14 | going to limit open forum to 3 minutes
4:16 | if you can.
4:17 | >> 30 seconds, doctor.
4:19 | >> Okay.
4:20 | >> Denise Reno, 34 Main Street.
4:23 | Um I know y'all are doing
4:26 | Halloween times.
4:28 | Since Halloween falls on a Saturday,
4:31 | I believe for this year, I just want to
4:33 | throw out a small recommendation of can
4:36 | we start at 4:30 instead of 5:30? That's
4:38 | up to y'all for, but
4:42 | it gets dark and the kids do you don't
4:44 | have to worry about a whole lot of
4:45 | parents coming home from 5:00 work and
4:47 | stuff like that.
4:48 | That's it.
4:50 | Thank you.
4:50 | >> Thank you.
4:51 | Anyone else for open forum?
5:01 | >> Hi, Steven Reese, 85 Lakeview Drive. Uh
5:04 | for transparency, I am a firefighter in
5:05 | town. Uh I appreciate you finally
5:08 | acknowledging uh problems in the fire
5:10 | department. Um however, I have attempted
5:12 | to address my concerns
5:14 | uh twice now. Uh I've sent two emails
5:17 | and today only one board member, Mrs.
5:18 | Spiwak, uh was able to
5:20 | uh respond to me. So, thank you, Mrs.
5:22 | Spiwak.
5:23 | Um I'd also like to ask the remaining
5:26 | board members, the three of you that are
5:27 | here, uh why I have I have not heard a
5:29 | response uh to my emails.
5:33 | Any acknowledgement to my emails.
5:37 | Okay. Thank you.
5:38 | >> Well, I think we just kind of covered
5:40 | that in the in my opening statement,
5:42 | that that there was an ongoing
5:44 | >> Just an acknowledgement to to be like,
5:45 | "Hey, I read your email. Appreciate you
5:47 | reaching out to us." Nothing.
5:50 | >> And then to clarify through the chair,
5:51 | that's what I did. I just acknowledged
5:53 | receipt.
5:53 | >> That's That's all I need. I I appreciate
5:55 | it, like I said.
5:56 | Um
5:57 | You've obviously received our our our
5:59 | vote of no confidence with the union. Um
6:02 | We publicly stated a pattern of, quote,
6:04 | harassment, retaliation, and vindictive
6:05 | behavior.
6:07 | Both my emails referenced the process
6:08 | which is occurring and whether or not
6:10 | town policies or guidelines are being
6:11 | followed.
6:12 | Uh in my most recent email to the select
6:14 | board
6:15 | I sent the Charlton's regulations uh
6:17 | personnel regulations and policies uh
6:20 | specifically section 10.
6:22 | Uh in there it it states, quote, "Any
6:25 | retaliation against an individual who
6:27 | has complained about unlawful harassment
6:29 | or retaliation against individuals for
6:31 | cooperating with an investigation of an
6:33 | unlawful harassment complaint is
6:35 | similarly unlawful and will not be
6:37 | tolerated."
6:38 | I just want to know what steps the board
6:40 | has taken to ensure this policy is being
6:41 | followed and that employees who have
6:43 | raised these complaints are protected
6:45 | from retaliation.
6:50 | Thank you.
6:51 | Uh what interim measures have been
6:52 | considered to prevent further
6:54 | retaliation and protect everyone
6:55 | involved while complaints are being
6:56 | investigated?
7:01 | Thank you again.
7:02 | Um I understand that you're not able to
7:04 | discuss confidential personal matters.
7:06 | Uh I'm not really asking you to disclose
7:08 | any private information. Although I am
7:11 | asking uh about the town's policies,
7:13 | the process is being followed, and the
7:15 | safeguards intended to prevent further
7:17 | retaliation.
7:19 | Uh can you explain which part of that
7:20 | question the board is unable to answer?
7:25 | >> That's correct.
7:26 | >> Appreciate it.
7:27 | >> Okay. Thank you.
7:28 | Anyone else for open forum?
7:41 | >> Hello. My name's Christopher Merlo, 47
7:44 | Jennings Road.
7:46 | I have came to discuss
7:49 | um
7:50 | message
7:52 | about the meeting on October 19th. So,
7:57 | I'm willing to discuss it.
7:58 | >> If you could pull that microphone up a
8:00 | little closer to you, sir.
8:01 | >> Yes.
8:03 | So, I came to willing discuss it
8:05 | about uh further upcoming.
8:08 | Hold on, give me a second.
8:11 | So,
8:13 | sorry.
8:15 | Okay.
8:17 | On October 19th, the town meeting will
8:19 | consider Sispin's petition concerning
8:22 | Charlton's use of Flock cameras. We
8:23 | understand that the vote is non-binding,
8:25 | but it will give residents a formal
8:27 | opportunity to express their position.
8:30 | Tonight, I am asking the board to commit
8:33 | to a clear next step, placing the town
8:35 | meeting result at Charlton's continued
8:37 | use of Flock on October 27th agenda for
8:42 | the public deliberation and a vote on
8:44 | how the town will respond. If residents
8:47 | vote in favor of discontinuing Flock,
8:49 | will the board support that request and
8:51 | direct the appropriate town officials to
8:54 | identify and pursue the lawful steps to
8:58 | carry it out. If the board chooses a
9:00 | different course, residents deserve a
9:03 | public explanation of that decision. We
9:06 | recognize the contractual questions that
9:08 | may require review. We are asking for a
9:11 | scheduled decision and a clear response
9:13 | to the residents vote. Will the board
9:15 | agree to that next step? Thank you.
9:19 | That is it.
9:22 | >> And then just through the chair.
9:24 | I know we don't address comments made at
9:26 | public forum,
9:28 | but
9:29 | I'm sorry, I can
9:30 | use some water. The
9:32 | I think we had planned on we had a
9:34 | calling for for items. I think we had
9:36 | discussed that we would put that on the
9:38 | agenda following the town meeting.
9:40 | >> but I don't know. Yeah, it's let's
9:42 | But we can't put the horse in front of
9:44 | the cart.
9:44 | >> Well, anything we put on Anything we put
9:46 | on is like a placeholder and you can
9:48 | always skip over it. But anyway, that's
9:50 | that's the reason why I'm just pulling
9:51 | it up because I don't know how many
9:52 | people know we have the agenda item.
9:54 | The call for the agenda items is at the
9:56 | bottom. That's all.
9:58 | That's what I would recommend to do
9:59 | anyway.
10:00 | >> Okay, well, we we can get down to it
10:01 | then.
10:01 | >> Okay.
10:03 | >> Okay, moving on. Anyone else for open
10:06 | forum?
10:08 | Hearing none.
10:10 | Okay, and appointments and resignations.
10:12 | That's a big list.
10:14 | >> Uh minutes.
10:15 | Sorry.
10:15 | >> I got you.
10:16 | >> Oh,
10:17 | the minutes.
10:18 | >> Oh, take a vote on the minutes for the
10:20 | meeting on
10:22 | September 22nd, 2026.
10:25 | >> Will we accept the minutes as um
10:27 | presented?
10:28 | >> Second.
10:29 | >> All in favor?
10:30 | >> I.
10:31 | >> I. Unanimous.
10:33 | And moving on to appointments and
10:35 | resignations.
10:35 | >> All right. So, first appointment is for
10:38 | the highway equipment operator position.
10:40 | 12 applications were received for the
10:42 | position of highway equipment operator.
10:44 | Interviews were offered to five
10:45 | applicants. The board signed a signatory
10:48 | letter and tonight you were asked to
10:49 | formally appoint Jake Winskey to the
10:52 | position of highway equipment operator
10:54 | with a start date dependent on a upon
10:56 | completion of the pre-employment
10:58 | process.
11:03 | >> We move to approve.
11:06 | >> Yep, we have a motion.
11:08 | >> Yep.
11:08 | We move to approve.
11:10 | >> Second. All in favor?
11:12 | >> I.
11:12 | >> I. Unanimous. All right, the next
11:14 | appointment is for a police is for the
11:17 | position of police officer.
11:19 | Police department conducted interviews
11:20 | to backfill the patrol position vacated
11:22 | through the additional SRO assignment
11:24 | that was approved at town meeting.
11:26 | Seven applicants were received and five
11:28 | were interviewed. The recommendation is
11:30 | to appoint Justin Manzello to the
11:33 | position of police officer with an
11:35 | assignment of a start date pending psych
11:37 | eval and pre-employment physical and
11:40 | drug screen.
11:41 | The board signed a signatory letter and
11:43 | tonight you're asked to formally appoint
11:45 | Justin Manzello to the position of
11:46 | police officer.
11:48 | >> Do I have a motion to appoint Mr.
11:50 | Manzello?
11:51 | >> Motion to appoint Justin Manzello.
11:53 | >> Second.
11:54 | >> All in favor?
11:55 | >> Aye.
11:56 | >> Aye.
11:56 | >> Aye.
11:56 | >> Unanimous.
11:59 | >> All right, the next appointment is for
12:00 | the alternate plumbing and gas
12:01 | inspector. Interviews were conducted for
12:04 | the position of alternate plumbing and
12:05 | gas inspector. Nine applications were
12:07 | received and two qualified applicants
12:09 | were interviewed. This is an alternate
12:12 | position, so the individual is only
12:13 | called into service when the primary is
12:15 | unavailable and paid per inspection.
12:18 | The recommendation is to appoint Matt
12:20 | Posey to this position. The board signed
12:23 | a signatory letter and tonight you're
12:25 | asked to formally appoint uh
12:27 | Matthew Posey as the alternate plumbing
12:28 | and gas inspector.
12:30 | >> So moved through I to the chair for the
12:32 | for discussion and I have a question on
12:34 | this and I thank you for explanation
12:36 | earlier, but so this position now will
12:39 | be a town employee
12:40 | >> Yes.
12:41 | >> but not benefited one.
12:42 | >> Correct.
12:43 | >> And will be still paid by the
12:44 | inspection.
12:45 | >> Correct.
12:46 | >> Why is this one different than the
12:48 | others?
12:49 | >> Uh
12:50 | currently most of our um inspectors are
12:53 | 1099 employees, so they're um considered
12:56 | subcontractors.
12:57 | Uh we're in in reviewing the current
13:00 | labor status with um HR and council,
13:03 | like these people have been in these
13:04 | positions for a long time, so making a
13:06 | change could be detrimental to them. Um
13:10 | but we're working with each one of them
13:11 | to kind of find that correction.
13:13 | >> communicating with them
13:14 | >> Yes.
13:14 | >> to see if this is what they want to do.
13:16 | So and so
13:18 | So this position will not be 1099?
13:20 | >> not be 1099.
13:21 | >> Not 10. Okay. So that's that that's the
13:23 | difference. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
13:26 | >> Hm. You're good.
13:28 | With motion and second?
13:29 | >> We have I made the motion. We did not
13:31 | have a second yet that I heard.
13:32 | >> Second.
13:34 | >> Now we do.
13:35 | >> All in favor?
13:35 | >> I.
13:36 | >> I.
13:36 | >> I.
13:38 | Unanimous.
13:41 | >> Right.
13:42 | The next appointment is for the Council
13:44 | on Aging part-time kitchen coordinator
13:46 | position.
13:47 | Unfortunately, the individual that was
13:49 | selected for the part-time kitchen
13:50 | coordinator had declined the appointment
13:52 | for personal reasons. The Council on
13:54 | Aging would like to proceed with
13:56 | offering the position to Catherine
13:57 | Latour. She was interviewed in the
13:59 | previous round of interviews. The board
14:01 | signed a signatory appointment letter,
14:03 | and tonight you are asked to formally
14:04 | appoint Catherine Latour as the Council
14:06 | on Aging part-time kitchen coordinator.
14:09 | >> Okay, do I have a motion?
14:12 | >> I move to appoint um
14:15 | Catherine Latour
14:17 | as a part-time kitchen coordinator.
14:19 | >> Do you have a second?
14:21 | >> Second.
14:22 | >> All in favor?
14:23 | >> I.
14:24 | >> I.
14:24 | >> Unanimous, and welcome.
14:28 | >> All right. The next appointment is for
14:30 | the Bay Path student representative.
14:32 | Attached is an email from Bay Path
14:33 | Principal Dean Packard recommending the
14:35 | appointment of 10th grade student Ashley
14:37 | Cuniff to serve as the Bay Path
14:40 | non-voting student representative for
14:42 | the 2026-2027
14:44 | school year. I recommend the board make
14:46 | the appointment, and your first meeting
14:47 | to attend will be October 27th.
14:50 | >> Excellent.
14:50 | >> Uh Steve, so after the chair,
14:52 | my Andrew, when we when we
14:55 | talk to those students, can we make the
14:58 | point of them coming in for the
15:00 | appointment itself?
15:01 | >> Yeah.
15:02 | >> I think that's a good lesson for them to
15:03 | learn.
15:04 | >> No problem.
15:05 | >> Thank you.
15:07 | >> Okay, do we have a motion to approve?
15:10 | To appoint?
15:11 | >> So moved.
15:12 | >> Second.
15:12 | >> Second.
15:13 | >> All in favor?
15:14 | >> I.
15:15 | >> I.
15:15 | >> Unanimous.
15:17 | And Cultural Council.
15:18 | >> All right. The next appointment is for
15:19 | the Cultural Council. Attached is a
15:20 | talent bank form from Melissa Black
15:23 | seeking to be appointed to the Cultural
15:24 | Council. Cultural Council voted to
15:26 | recommend the board make the
15:27 | appointment. I recommend the board make
15:28 | the appointment with a term expiration
15:30 | date of June 30th, 2028.
15:34 | >> Do I have a motion?
15:36 | >> Motion to approve Melissa Black.
15:37 | >> Second.
15:39 | >> All in favor?
15:40 | >> Aye.
15:40 | >> Aye.
15:40 | >> Aye.
15:41 | >> Aye.
15:41 | >> Unanimous.
15:43 | The Old Home Day Committee.
15:44 | >> All right. Attached are two talent bank
15:47 | forms from Kathleen Dermody Dermody and
15:50 | Robert Sims seeking to be appointed to
15:53 | the Old Home Day Committee. The Old Home
15:55 | Day Committee recommends the board make
15:56 | the appointment and I concur. Their term
15:58 | of expiration date would be June 30th,
16:00 | 2027.
16:03 | >> Okay, do I have a motion?
16:06 | To appoint.
16:07 | >> I move to appoint Kathleen Dermody and
16:09 | Robert Sims
16:11 | um for the Old Home Committee with the
16:14 | expiration date of June 30th, 2027.
16:18 | >> Second.
16:18 | >> All in favor?
16:19 | >> Aye.
16:20 | >> Aye.
16:21 | >> Unanimous.
16:23 | >> Election worker.
16:24 | >> All right. Attached is a request from
16:25 | the town clerk asking the board to
16:27 | appoint Christine Fagerquist as an
16:29 | election worker. Her term expiration
16:32 | date would be December 31st, 2026. I
16:36 | recommend the board make the
16:37 | appointment.
16:39 | >> No motion.
16:39 | >> Motion to approve Christine Fagerquist
16:41 | as an election worker.
16:43 | >> Second.
16:43 | >> Second.
16:44 | >> Second.
16:45 | >> All in favor?
16:46 | >> Aye.
16:46 | >> Aye.
16:47 | >> It's unanimous. Welcome.
16:50 | >> Zoning Board of Appeals.
16:51 | >> All right. Attached is a talent bank
16:52 | form from Mary Beth Kriz
16:54 | Krizinsky seeking to be appointed to the
16:57 | Zoning Board of Appeals as an alternate.
16:59 | The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed the
17:01 | request and would recommend the board
17:02 | make the appointment. Her term
17:04 | expiration date would be June 30th,
17:05 | 2029.
17:07 | >> So moved.
17:08 | >> Second.
17:08 | >> Second.
17:11 | >> Motion and a second. All in favor?
17:12 | >> Aye.
17:12 | >> Aye.
17:13 | >> Aye.
17:13 | >> Unanimous. Welcome.
17:20 | >> And we have a resignation.
17:22 | >> All right. We have been notified that
17:24 | Chelsea Belk, administrative assistant
17:26 | to the select board and town
17:27 | administrator, has resigned her from her
17:29 | position effective October 12th, 2026
17:32 | due to personal reasons.
17:34 | The board should accept her resignation
17:35 | and a letter thanking her for her
17:36 | service to the town is in your sign
17:38 | folder. And really personally, I'd like
17:39 | to thank Chelsea for all her hard hard
17:41 | work, dedication, everything that she
17:43 | brought to the office over time.
17:45 | The newsletter was kind of her signature
17:47 | thing. So hopefully, you know, we'll
17:50 | Um if we can find somebody to to fill
17:51 | her shoes that
17:52 | >> have any applicants?
17:53 | >> Uh in the process of reviewing them
17:55 | right now. So.
17:59 | >> Motion to accept with regret.
18:01 | >> Yeah.
18:02 | >> Second.
18:02 | >> I'll second.
18:03 | Okay. All in All in favor to accept the
18:05 | resignation with regret. I wish wish
18:08 | Chelsea the best of luck.
18:12 | Okay. Moving on to action item.
18:15 | >> Trick or treat time and date.
18:18 | >> It is that time of year when the board
18:19 | is asked to set the date and time for
18:20 | trick or treating. Halloween is on
18:22 | Saturday, October 31st, 2026. Last year,
18:25 | the board had voted the hours to be 5:00
18:27 | p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Chief Dowd approves as
18:30 | well, but would leave the time and date
18:32 | up to the board. Um also just to throw
18:35 | in there, I'd like to invite invite you
18:37 | to join the employees on Thursday,
18:39 | October 29th at 11:00 a.m. when the
18:41 | children from the library come over to
18:43 | town hall in their costumes for the
18:44 | trick or treat. Um try to do our best to
18:46 | make it a fun event
18:47 | and dress up as well, pass out candy.
18:49 | So.
18:51 | See Mary for details.
18:52 | >> Okay.
18:55 | >> Just going to myself.
18:55 | >> I would move that we consider well, that
18:58 | we have trick or treat hours starting at
18:59 | 4:30 to We typically go to 7:30. Was
19:02 | that
19:03 | >> Yeah, that's what we we did
19:04 | >> Yeah, 7:30 to 5:00 to 7:00.
19:05 | >> is if we if we go this way, people won't
19:08 | have to rush, you know, they go really
19:10 | great and it's You don't have to rush
19:11 | home and get the kids changed and
19:13 | >> I don't I have no problem with a 4:30.
19:16 | Andy, you see any?
19:18 | Keith is saying no.
19:22 | Okay, so then I would accept a motion to
19:25 | >> Motion to approve Halloween hours from
19:27 | 4:30 to 7:30.
19:28 | >> On October 31st, Saturday.
19:30 | >> And second.
19:32 | >> All in favor?
19:33 | >> I.
19:34 | >> I.
19:35 | >> Okay.
19:37 | And next action item is
19:41 | special alcoholic beverage.
19:43 | >> All right. Attached is an application
19:45 | for a special alcoholic beverage license
19:46 | for all alcoholic beverages from Lisa
19:49 | Laconto on behalf of the Barton Center
19:51 | for Diabetes Education Inc. to hold an
19:54 | their annual fund auction fundraiser on
19:56 | November 14th, 2026 from 6:00 to 10:00
19:59 | p.m. at Camp Joslin, 150 Richardson's
20:02 | Corner Road. The application was
20:04 | forwarded to the police chief, building
20:06 | commissioner, and fire department for
20:08 | review, which all have approved. For the
20:11 | board's policy, the dates on the special
20:13 | alcoholic beverage license should
20:15 | include the day before the event to
20:17 | allow the alcohol to be delivered, the
20:19 | day of the event, and the day after the
20:20 | event to allow any alcohol left over to
20:23 | be picked up.
20:25 | >> I move to approve the special alcoholic
20:27 | beverage license all alcohol to be used
20:29 | on November 14th, 2026 as submitted by
20:31 | Lisa Laconto on behalf of the Barton
20:33 | Center for Diabetes Education Inc. to
20:35 | hold their annual auction fundraiser
20:37 | from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. with the dates
20:39 | on the license to be November 13th
20:40 | through 15th, 2026.
20:43 | >> Second.
20:44 | >> Okay.
20:45 | We have a motion and a second. All in
20:46 | favor?
20:47 | >> I.
20:47 | >> I.
20:48 | >> Unanimous.
20:52 | Moving on to committee reports, having
20:54 | none.
20:55 | Um town administrator's report.
20:57 | >> All right, a couple updates for this
20:58 | week. So, obviously town meeting coming
20:59 | up. Um we've been working fast and
21:01 | furious to get everything squared away.
21:03 | Um right now the town meeting booklet is
21:05 | currently available on the town website.
21:07 | Um but we have all the documents
21:09 | relative to the meeting up on the town
21:12 | meeting page. Just posted some stuff on
21:14 | social media today to kind of give a
21:16 | quick overview of all the articles. So,
21:18 | hopefully decent turnout.
21:20 | Um
21:21 | Charlton Police Department is going to
21:22 | be hosting a couple of public
21:24 | information sessions with residents with
21:27 | information about the Flock camera
21:28 | system and automatic license plate
21:30 | readers.
21:31 | They're having two sessions, one
21:32 | Wednesday, October 14th at 6:00 p.m. and
21:36 | another on Thursday, October 15th at
21:38 | 3:00 p.m. Those are being held in the
21:40 | Charlton Senior Center.
21:42 | We're hoping that the sessions provide
21:43 | an overview of the technology, how the
21:45 | systems are used, and an opportunity for
21:47 | residents to ask questions and learn
21:49 | more about it.
21:51 | Um license renewals. So, our office is
21:54 | in the process of sending out license
21:55 | renewals
21:57 | for applications for all the licenses
21:59 | that are processed through our offices
22:01 | through our office, sorry.
22:03 | Businesses should be on the lookout for
22:05 | the renewal package this time of the
22:06 | year. Just as a reminder, all license
22:08 | applications are due back prior to
22:10 | November 30th.
22:12 | Um
22:13 | So, I want to acknowledge the great work
22:14 | by our Police Department in securing a
22:16 | $30,000 grant from National Highway
22:18 | Safety Administration to support the
22:20 | Click It or Ticket program.
22:22 | And also
22:24 | another grant for $10,000
22:26 | through HR. She was able to get
22:29 | for risk management to through risk
22:31 | management to install pipe wrap and
22:34 | insulation as well as leak detection
22:35 | equipment in a few of our municipal
22:37 | buildings.
22:38 | >> That's cool.
22:39 | >> And just one last note, I am sad to
22:41 | report that former administrative
22:42 | assistant to the Board of Selectmen,
22:43 | Mary Stone, had passed away on October
22:46 | 3rd. Mary had served the Board of
22:48 | Selectmen's office for 25 years and was
22:50 | recognized as Citizen of the Year before
22:52 | her retirement. And
22:54 | services for Ms. Stone will be held
22:55 | Thursday, October 25th at 10:30 a.m. at
22:58 | St. Joseph's Church.
23:00 | >> I'm sorry to hear
23:02 | >> And I did through through the chair,
23:03 | there
23:05 | we covered or anyone submitted just the
23:08 | the Charlton Senior Community Center
23:10 | info session.
23:11 | And I know now it's not be sorry I'm
23:13 | trying to remember
23:15 | October 15th 4:30.
23:18 | At this Charlton Senior Center I think
23:21 | it's
23:21 | piggybacking kind of with the yeah right
23:24 | I've got it right thank you guys.
23:27 | All right thank you.
23:30 | >> Okay.
23:33 | Very good.
23:36 | Any future agenda items?
23:39 | >> Yeah as I mentioned earlier I'd like to
23:42 | circle back and put on the agenda.
23:45 | The but the flock camera
23:47 | to deliberate and vote on if necessary.
23:50 | To circle back to.
23:51 | >> Just just for as a placeholder cuz it
23:53 | may not be necessary.
23:54 | >> Yeah just a placeholder this way if it's
23:56 | not necessary we pass over it.
24:00 | I think
24:01 | as long as everyone's okay with that.
24:03 | >> Andrew Yocum we do that?
24:05 | >> What's it?
24:05 | >> Can we just put it as a placeholder in
24:08 | the agenda?
24:08 | >> Yeah.
24:10 | I'm okay with that.
24:11 | >> Thank you.
24:13 | That's all I have.
24:14 | >> All right and the next meeting
24:15 | announcement is special town meeting is
24:18 | October 19th 2026 7:00 p.m. at the
24:21 | Charlton Middle School.
24:23 | Next regular select board meeting is
24:25 | October 27th 2026 6:30 p.m. Town Hall
24:28 | meeting room one.
24:31 | With that I would accept a motion to
24:33 | adjourn.
24:35 | >> Motion to adjourn.
24:36 | >> Second.
24:36 | >> All in favor.
24:37 | >> I.
24:39 | >> Thank you and have a great day.