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2026-07-06 - Select Board

Summary

Built from official meeting minutes.

  • Extended intermunicipal animal control agreement with Shrewsbury and Grafton for one year
  • Appointed five members to Fire Chief Search Committee, including retired Fire Chief from Franklin and four local candidates
  • Reappointed one member to Cultural Council
  • Brief technical difficulty during opening; board entered executive session without returning to open session

Open Forum (8:06 AM)

Chair Sean Keogh offered open forum with no participants.

Fire Chief Search Committee Composition & Appointments (8:08-8:33 AM)

All motions approved unanimously 4-0.

Committee Composition (8:24 AM, amended):

  1. Select Board Member (1)
  2. Town Manager Kristi Williams
  3. Police Chief Todd Minardi
  4. Community Development Director Fred Lonardo
  5. Individual with Subject Matter Expertise (MA Fire Chief)
  6. Resident/Business with emphasis on Fire Department experience (LEPC member)

Appointments:

  • James McLaughlin (8:11 AM & 8:26 AM): Individual with Subject Matter Expertise. Retired October 2025 from Franklin Fire Department; extensive experience assisting other communities with similar searches
  • Sarah Murphy (8:26 AM): Fire Department business/resident representative, employed at Amazon Robotics
  • Dexter Blois (8:26 AM): Fire Department business/resident representative
  • Matt Mullen (8:29 AM): Fire Department business/resident representative. Disclosure: employed by vendor providing services to Fire Department (non-commission-based sales role). Town Manager confirmed no conflict of interest
  • Dana Haagensen (8:30 AM): Fire Department business/resident representative
  • Shelby Marshall (8:33 AM): Select Board Member representative

Context: Town Manager Kristi Williams explained purpose and role of committee. Board Member Shelby Marshall asked whether multiple candidates had been contacted for the Subject Matter Expertise role or if single candidate was typical; Manager responded historical practice has not had multiple applicants for such appointments. Chair Sean Keogh briefly experienced technical difficulties and left meeting 8:06-8:14 AM; Vice Chair Silverberg assumed responsibility. Manager noted committee expected to meet throughout July and early August.

Animal Control Intermunicipal Agreement (8:34-8:35 AM)

Approved unanimously 4-0.

Extended intermunicipal agreement for animal control/animal inspector services between towns of Shrewsbury, Grafton, and Westborough for one year, expiring June 30, 2027. Westborough provides full services to Grafton and backup to Shrewsbury. Police Chief Todd Minardi oversees and supports extension.

Reappointment (8:36 AM)

Approved unanimously 4-0.

  • Betheda Shuman (Cultural Council; term ends June 30, 2029)

Executive Session (8:36-end)

Approved unanimously 4-0.

Board entered executive session under:

  • MGL c.30A, Sec 21(a)(3): discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with Patrol, Police Supervisors, DPW, Dispatchers, Clerical, and Fire Fighter unions
  • MGL c.30A, Sec 21(a)(6): consider purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property at 20 Phillips Street
  • MGL c.30A, Sec 21(a)(7): approve executive session minutes of June 29, 2026

Chair Sean Keogh declared open session would have detrimental effect on town's negotiating and litigating position and board would not be returning to open session.

Sources