New faces, new roles
The selectmen convened for the first time since last week’s election, with a new cast of characters: Ron Ricci, Peter Warren, and Leo Blair joined Selectmen Lucy Wallace and Tim Clark. The board reorganized, electing Blair as chairman, Clark as vice-chairman, and Warren as clerk.
Selectmen’s retreat set for April 15
The selectmen agreed to conduct a retreat at the Hildreth House April 15 at 5 p.m. The purpose of the retreat, explained Wallace, is for the selectmen to “reach consensus on what the major themes will be in the next few months.” Wallace added that while it is a posted meeting open to the public, the selectmen prefer to have some degree of privacy so that they can feel free to be “open and candid” with each other. The selectmen concurred that while the meeting would not be open to public comment, the meeting is, in the words of Warren, “open and public, and accessible to all.”
Warren gets permission to drive
Selectman Peter Warren requested permission of the Board of Selectmen to continue in his role as a driver for the Council on Aging. In his capacity as an on-call driver of the MART van, Warren makes $11.98 per hour. Now that he is a selectman and a “special municipal employee,” he said, he is required to get special permission to continue as a driver. The board voted unanimously to approve Warren’s request.
Lawton appointed to public works
DPW Director Rich Nota introduced Doug Lawton as his candidate for truck driver and laborer in the Department of Public Works. Lawton was selected from a pool of 21 applicants and, says Nota, comes with excellent references and driving record. Nota pointed out that Lawton is not a new hire, but is filling one of two currently empty positions at the DPW. Nota will suspend the second hire pending the outcome of the upcoming budget process.
Strathdee to receive hidden driveway sign
The board reviewed the request of Still River Road resident Lesley Strathdee to erect a “hidden driveway” or “blind drive” road sign, along with a convex mirror. Blair agreed that Strathdee’s driveway entrance onto Still River Road is a treacherous one and added that he had driven by the site to check it out himself.
“If there’s ever a site that needs that sign, that’s it,” he said. The selectmen voted unanimously to approve placement of a sign and a mirror subject to the recommendation of DPW Director Rich Nota.
Appointments to Council on Aging, Community Cable Access Committee
The selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Connie Larrabee to the Council on Aging to replace Trudy Lambie, and to appoint Jonathan Williams to the Community Cable Access Committee.
