East Brookfield Select Board Hires Water Clerk, Approves Four Year-End Transfers

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

East Brookfield Select Board approves new water clerk, year-end transfers, and raises audit alarms at July meeting. The board voted unanimously Monday to hire Dylan Stanley as a 16-hour-per-week part-time water clerk and approved four year-end budget transfers totaling $4,902, including $2,500 and $1,062 to cover legal bills from KP Law and $340 for a new police officer's hiring medical exam. The board also voted to authorize sending local meals tax notification letters to 13 food and beverage vendors following the town's adoption of the tax at the June 10 annual town meeting, effective October 1, and awarded a town-wide tree-work contract to Rusty's Tree Service.

In a joint discussion with Finance Committee members, board member Amber raised significant concerns about the town's most recent audit, citing a failure to reconcile cash accounts, a check warrant of nearly $74,000 that was unaccounted for, and a four-and-a-half-month delay in response from the town treasurer. "If we're going into an override because our budget is so tight, we sure as hell better be showing our residents and the public that our money is budgeted correctly," Amber said. Town Administrator Leo warned that a credible Proposition 2 and one-half override campaign typically requires two full years of public preparation, suggesting the town is already behind for a spring 2027 town meeting vote.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,745 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.