Board Splits Over Police Staffing Reclassification

Select Board · Meeting of April 22, 2026

West Boylston Select Board debated, but did not vote on, reclassifying a part-time police administrative assistant into an executive assistant role with a pay raise. A sergeant told the board the position now handles grant writing, confidential records and union contract compliance, calling the roughly 4-dollar-an-hour raise justified. One board member objected, saying "I don't think this is a good use of taxpayer dollars" given continuing police overtime and a prior push for a full-time hire.

The board voted 4-0 to advance warrant articles covering the operating budget and a disclosure showing benefits and insurance costs rising 9 percent against 3 percent budget growth elsewhere. Members also approved a $475,000 capital plan after cutting a $72,000 tractor purchase, and tabled a sewer rate article pending a still-incomplete rate study.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of April 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.