Douglas Panel Votes to Seek Voice in DPW Design

Other Committee 2026-09-16 Part 2 · Meeting of September 16, 2026

Douglas facilities panel presses for a seat at DPW building design talks after years of late-stage surprises. The Building, Facilities and Construction Committee voted unanimously, pending Board of Selectmen approval, to name Margaret Bacon its representative at design meetings for the town's planned highway/DPW facility, with Carol Gogolinski as backup. Member Fred Fontaine, who has been coordinating with engineering firm Weston & Sampson since a 2021 feasibility study, said conceptual drawings are expected before October's meeting but declined to estimate cost, saying only "baby steps." Separately, Town Planner John Chabenau told the board a Green Communities contractor, Inovus, is seeking roughly $18,000 to install library LED lighting originally meant for the post office; staff later confirmed the roughly $23,000 in matching grant funds was never appropriated at town meeting, pushing the library project to a spring 2027 warrant.

Chabenau also told the board his role is limited to Green Communities updates: "It's really not productive or necessary for me to be here for the rest of the meeting."

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,585 words

Source: the Other Committee 2026-09-16 Part 2 meeting of September 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.