The Select Board voted March 17 to adopt a policy allowing the building commissioner to make address changes on an emergency or sequence-correction basis, with the Select Board retaining appellate authority.

Nut graf: The policy is intended to fix situations that could impede emergency response — for example, when lot splits or non-sequential numbering create ambiguity for responders — and provides a clear path for staff to apply corrective numbering without requiring lengthy board action for every such request.

Staff described recent instances in which parcel splits produced problematic addressing. The policy gives the building commissioner (or designee) authority to correct numbering where necessary for emergency response or safety; applicants may appeal the decision to the Select Board. “This gives Duffy the tool to make those type to accept those type of requests. And then if for any reason he does not feel comfortable or the applicant does not like his answer, they can appeal to the Select Board who has final decision,” Nate said.

The Select Board approved the policy by motion. The action does not automatically renumber any street; it provides a procedural mechanism for timely corrections and emergency sequencing fixes going forward.