Selectboard enacts moratorium on non-town meetings at Town Office

The Windham Selectboard voted to place a moratorium on non-town meetings being held at the Town Office, citing concerns about building security.

Selectboard member George Dutton moved “for a moratorium on non-town meetings at the town office, i. e. meetings that are not called by somebody who works directly in the town office or by the Selectboard.” The motion passed without further amendment, instituting an immediate restriction on use of the Town Office for groups not officially affiliated with town operations.

Selectboard chair Michael Pelton had raised the security concern and asked the board to adopt a policy limiting Town Office use; the board’s action directs staff to implement the moratorium and clarifies that meetings called by town employees for town business (for example, a treasurer-hosted meeting about the harvest supper) remain allowed. The board did not set a specific sunset date or a formal appeal process during the meeting; members said further procedural language can be added when the policy is drafted and vetted.