Select Board approves local animal‑control plan to replace regional agreement

The Select Board voted on June 1 to end the town’s regional animal-control agreement and to implement a locally managed Option A model combining part‑time staff and on‑call coverage.

Under the approved plan the town will hire part‑time animal control officers to provide daytime coverage and maintain an on‑call roster for nights, holidays and overflow incidents. The board directed the town administrator to prepare a job description, establish training expectations (including ACL core competency and state requirements), and post the position immediately so the town can have coverage in place when the regional contract ends July 1.

Board members discussed alternatives, including a full-time officer and a fully on‑call model; the decision reflects the board’s desire for more reliable response than the regional model had provided while managing local costs. The administrator recommended a staggered posting and review by email to expedite hiring while allowing board input on job text.

What happens next: the administrator will circulate the draft job description and training schedule to board members for quick review; the town will post positions and begin recruitment and training immediately.