May 8th, 2023
Select Board Meeting

Fresh off the town election, the first meeting of the new Select Board was held on May 8th. Much was discussed in the three-and-a-half hour session. Selectman Matthew Nordhaus was re-elected, and new member Karen Morrison now occupies the seat previously held by Cindy Napoli. Upcoming town news includes the Memorial Day parade, on the 29th.

As part of his biweekly member comment, Selectman Nordhaus suggested that all Board members consider holding open office hours for town residents. This could potentially address the concerns of the public regarding transparency and communication, which was a key issue during the election. Office hours may also be an excellent opportunity for high schoolers interested in local politics to ask questions and become familiar with prevalent issues.

Former Town Administrator Anthony Ansaldi left the position mid-March 2023, and Littleton is currently searching for a new Administrator. Selectman Nordhaus will lead the Town Administrator Selection Committee. This will also include members of the Finance and School Committees.

One of the major motions passed during this meeting was a new Select Board Code of Conduct, which had previously been criticised for being too vague and ineffective. This follows accusations made against former Selectwoman Napoli at Candidate’s Night of workplace bullying and intimidation. This new Code will be clearer and more enforceable, and apply only to the Select Board. It is intended to be a living document that the Board reviews each year, in order to ensure that members are aware of conduct expectations. Selectman Wilson stated that the Code is “very specific to this Board and addresses definite concerns due to our position”. The new Code was approved unanimously. This will hopefully address public concern related to the Board’s interactions with town employees.

Human Resources Director Michelle Vibert gave a presentation on job vacancies within the town government and future steps to resolve the high number of openings. Since January 2023, 19 total jobs have been posted, some multiple times. These vacancies are due to a variety of causes, including retirements, inflexible work hours, and workplace culture. Vibert pointed out that updating Select Board policies, such as the Code of Conduct, will help improve the workplace environment. 

Open positions include Finance Director, Assistant Town Planner, Health Director, and more. Vibert discussed recruiting new employees from college fairs, and Selectman Wilson suggested seeking opportunities to involve high schoolers as well.

During the open-microphone session of the evening, one member of the public claimed that the Board had been deliberately misleading at town meetings, particularly during the May 1st Annual Meeting. He argued that the Board utilises the Town Counsel as a way to avoid answering difficult questions, and that they weaponise knowledge that the town does not have access to. This, he believes, creates a bad outcome for both the town and the Board, forming an “Us vs. Them” mentality that should not exist in local government. The Board politely rebuffed this accusation, offering explanations and potential solutions for creating better town-government communication during meetings. Better communication has been highly desired by residents, and improving the accessibility of the government could be a way to achieve this.

The fate of the Nagog Orchard continues to be debated by the Board. After good-faith efforts to lease the property have failed, partially due to lack of profitability in running an orchard, the Board will now consider other options (such as a partial sale of land). A viable commercial operation would involve retail space or a cider-tasting room, but the Board has not found any takers willing to utilise the land at this point.

Last summer, high school students worked on a maintenance crew that tended the orchard. The Board suggested that this opportunity be repeated as a short term solution, with the added benefit of providing students with paid work. The public ought to pay attention to upcoming decisions made about the orchard, particularly if they are invested in preserving the area, Littleton’s heritage, and town feel. Considering so much development is ongoing elsewhere, this is important to preserve the character of Littleton. At the next Select Board meeting, May 22nd, an update will be given about the maintenance plans of the orchard.