Selectmen approve ceremonial flag-raisings, expand Commission on Aging and confirm appointments

The Board of Selectmen on July 9 approved a slate of routine and ceremonial items: raising the Ecuadorian flag at Town Hall on Aug. 7, waiving the second read and approving a GEMS 40th-anniversary flag-raising for July 15, expanding the Commission on Aging from seven to nine members, granting a conflict waiver for outside counsel and confirming multiple committee nominations.

Juan Paredes of the Ecuadorian Civic Committee requested the Ecuadorian flag-raising; Selectwoman Lauren Raven moved to approve and the board voted unanimously. Tracy Schettinger, executive director of GEMS, asked the board to waive the second read for a timely celebration; the board unanimously agreed.

Selectwoman Rachel Connaugh described the Commission on Aging’s vote in favor of expansion and recommended increasing seats from seven to nine. "It's a community resource…since 1975," she said, and the board approved the expansion unanimously.

Town attorney Barbara Schillenberg presented a routine conflict-waiver request for Wolf, Rosen, Quieskin & Koranski LLP, saying there is no present conflict and that opposing counsel will execute a waiver; the board voted to approve the waiver. The board also confirmed several appointments to advisory boards and commissions as read by Selectwoman Raven.

Votes recorded at the meeting reflected three affirmative votes for each motion (Selectmen recorded as yes: Fred Camillo, Lauren Raven and Rachel Connaugh). A small number of items were first-read only and will return for future consideration.