The Town of Charlton Board of Selectmen voted on several administrative items at its April 22 regular meeting, approving two appointments, authorizing a charitable solicitation on a state road, formally approving the town meeting warrant for posting, and acknowledging a $16,000 grant to develop a housing production plan.

Those votes came during a meeting that also set an executive session under state open-meetings law to discuss strategy on collective bargaining related to a police union contract.

The board reaffirmed the appointment of Shani Boyce as Outreach Coordinator for the Council on Aging; the COA had received 32 applications, interviewed four candidates and recommended Boyce, who has an anticipated start date of April 28, 2025. The selectmen signed a confirmation of that appointment.

In a joint vote with the Planning Board, the selectmen appointed Laurie Dedmon as an alternate member of the Planning Board; the joint appointment was decided by roll call. The Planning Board had recommended Dedmon as an alternate and described her as prepared and able to contribute on topics including alternative energy concepts.

The board approved the warrant for the annual town meeting as presented, allowing the warrant to be posted the next day. The annual town election was announced for May 3, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Heritage School, and the annual town meeting was scheduled for May 19, 2025, at Charlton Middle School.

Selectmen approved a request from the Bridal Fire Fighters Association Local 4023 to host a fundraising "boot drive" near the intersection of Main Street and Masonic Home Road on April 26, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., contingent on safety measures required by Police Chief Dowd. The conditions included high-visibility vests for volunteers, orange traffic cones placed not less than 50 feet on each roadway prior to the collection area, multiple cone placement points at roughly 10-foot intervals, and warning signs erected at least 75 feet from the collection area.

Town Administrator remarks to the board included notice that the town was awarded a $16,000 grant to support creation of a housing production plan to assist the Planning Board’s work on housing direction and development policy.

Before adjourning to executive session, the board voted to enter a closed session under Chapter 30A, Section 21A(3) of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation related to the police union; the chair declared that an open meeting could have a detrimental effect on the public body's bargaining or litigating position.

Votes at a glance

- Reaffirmation of appointment: Shani Boyce, Council on Aging Outreach Coordinator — motion and second; approved by voice vote (all in favor). Details: COA recommended Boyce after interviews of four candidates; anticipated start date 04/28/2025.

- Joint appointment: Laurie Dedmon, Planning Board alternate — joint motion and roll call vote; approved. Planning Board had recommended Dedmon.

- Approval of town meeting warrant for posting — motion and second; approved by voice vote.

- Permit: Bridal Fire Fighters Association Local 4023 boot drive, 04/26/2025, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. — motion and second; approved contingent on police-specified safety conditions.

- Motion to enter executive session under Chapter 30A, Section 21A(3) for collective bargaining/litigation (police union contract) — motion, second, roll call vote; approved.

The board indicated it will continue regular business in open session as needed and return to executive session for the police contract discussion. Formal minutes and posted warrant materials will be available on the town website after posting.