Grafton Board Backs DPW Interim Role, New Hires

Select Board · Meeting of September 8, 2026

Grafton Select Board absorbs a DPW vacancy in-house as a charter panel floats an appointed planning board. Town Administrator Evan will serve as interim DPW director through about May 1, 2027, after Director Paul Knoyer's retirement, a move officials said could bring "considerable savings." The board also unanimously appointed Gloria Pilzak to the Council on Aging, Donna Olufsen as a Recreation Department assistant and Taylor Jonkis as fire prevention inspector, and approved three routine National Grid pole-relocation petitions tied to a MassDOT bridge project. The Charter Review Committee previewed proposals to make the Planning Board appointed rather than elected, rename the town administrator "town manager" and shift fire chief oversight to that office.

Member Victoria Duckworth said she is "very hesitant to take away any selection or decision from the voter." An earmark survey found 59.4 percent of respondents ranked water treatment infrastructure their top federal funding priority. Town Clerk Amy Berry is also departing, with that position to be posted this week.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,431 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.