Selectmen OK scheduled town hall access plan

Board of Selectmen · Meeting of November 2, 2026

DUDLEY — The Dudley Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to keep town hall closed to the public Tuesdays and Wednesdays while adding scheduled access for a seniors' pitch group and senior center events. Assistant Town Administrator Olivia designed the plan with Senior Center Director Deb Johnson after residents reported being shut out; a resident, Peg Kennedy of Lawrence Road, said she still didn't understand why doors couldn't simply stay unlocked. Separately, Costco Road resident Jerry Frank told the board a $280,000 state grant for Baker Pond dam engineering includes breaching the lower dam, land he said carries conservation deed restrictions the commission was never consulted on.

He proposed a cheaper $2,000 to $3,000 "beaver deceiver" alternative. The board agreed to place the dam question on its December agenda. The board also accepted Assistant Treasurer James Robertson's resignation "with regret" and heard Principal Assessor Lisa describe her office as critically understaffed amid eight town-wide vacancies.

In the full story:

• Moment of silence for Connie Vergier
• Appointments and resignation
• Parking waiver, First Congregational Church
• Town hall closure to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Citizens comments: Baker Pond dam concerns
• Other citizens comments: uncashed check and recycling center future
• Staffing vacancies: assistant treasurer and assessor's clerk
• Meeting schedule for 2027
• Town administrator and departmental reports
• Board member comments
• Executive session
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,247 words

Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of November 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.