Charlton Water & Sewer Commission elects leadership, delegates warrant-signing and appoints executive assistant

The Town of Charlton Water & Sewer Commission reorganized its leadership and approved several administrative delegations at its May meeting. Commissioners elected Robert Coleman as chair and Tom Coleman as vice chair by unanimous roll-call votes. Emmanuel Ascenzo was nominated and confirmed as commission clerk.

The commission moved to delegate sole signing authority for warrants, payroll and abatements (items previously approved in open meeting) to the chair and vice chair, eliminating the need for three signatures on those items going forward. Commissioners said the change aims to streamline processing while preserving approvals made in public sessions.

Members also set the regular meeting schedule: the commission will meet the first Wednesday of each month via Zoom unless the chair changes the date. The commission approved the April 1, 2026 minutes, authorized $120,366.66 in warrants and accepted senior abatements reported at the meeting.

Separately, the commission voted, contingent on successful inquiry and reference checks, to appoint Stephanie Beckett as executive assistant. Beckett confirmed she will begin training the week after the meeting and said she looks forward to assisting the commission.

The votes on officer appointments, the signing-authority change, the minutes, warrants and staff appointment were all passed by unanimous roll call. The commission said it will circulate written confirmation of the vacancy-notice process to the Board of Selectmen to begin filling an open seat on the commission.