Selectmen hold executive session on town administrator and review bridge, trail and garage projects

At its March 9 meeting the Board of Selectmen entered a closed executive session to discuss the town-administrator personnel matter and reconvened 45 minutes later, stating publicly that no action had been taken.

Outside the executive session the board reviewed several infrastructure projects and capital funds. Chair said the state had narrowed low bids for the Long Hill Bridge (two bids under $4 million) and would select a contractor; the board asked staff to notify members of the state's choice when final. Members also discussed preliminary design and grant-application steps for the Percy Cook Trail and reviewed the status of the transportation garage, noting that some additional funding and design work remain before construction could be completed.

Why it matters: the town faces multiple overlapping capital demands — bridge and culvert work, parking/garage needs and planned recreational facilities — and the selectmen asked the treasurer to supply reconciled balances for capital accounts so the board can prioritize projects without double-counting reimbursements or grant proceeds.

Board concerns and direction
Board members repeatedly asked the treasurer to reconcile "L accounts" and capital-class transactions so the group could see true balances for funds such as bridge/culvert, multiuse building and building-maintenance reserves. One member flagged that some bridge project advances and reimbursements had been hard to trace in the accounting extract and asked the administration for a clear quarterly reconciliation that ties bank balances to class-coded entries.

Project highlights
- Long Hill Bridge: Chair said the state was selecting a bidder from two low proposals (both under $4 million); selectmen will be notified by email when the state finalizes contractor selection.
- Transportation garage / town garage: Board discussed additional needs and potential use of multiuse-building or capital funds to finish remaining design or structural work; members urged prioritizing this project to protect town vehicles.
- Percy Cook Trail: Members received a design and were advised they must finalize plans and then apply for an appropriate state grant to proceed.

Next steps
The board directed the treasurer to provide a reconciled schedule showing capital fund balances and 'due to/from' class transactions; the administration will then bring project-cost estimates and recommended funding strategies back to the board and to the project review committee.