On the agenda: Littleton meeting — Surveillance Camera (Aug 10)

Received: AS
Date/Time: 8/6/26 – 3:30 PM
Revised: AS
Date/Time: 8/7/26 – 9:05 AM

Town of Littleton
Select Board
Joint Meeting with Conservation Commission

AGENDA
August 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Littleton Town Offices – 37 Shattuck Street, Room 103
Notice of public meeting as required by M.G.L. Chpt.30A §18-25

Public meetings may be broadcast live, streamed live, or recorded for later playback on LCTV and/or the Internet.
PARTICIPANTS/ATTENDEES ARE REMINDED THAT BY JOINING THIS MEETING THAT YOU CONSENT TO YOUR
LIKENESS AND AUDIO BEING USED AND REBROADCAST BY LCTV. If attending virtually, please identify your screen
name with your full name. This is to protect the integrity of the meeting. Attendees of all public meetings should be aware of
Massachusetts Recording Law M.G.L. Ch. 20A §20 (f)* if they are personally considering recording any part of a meeting or a
meeting in its entirety. The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours before said meeting, which
may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may be discussed. Items may be taken out of order and differ from those
listed below. Other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

6:30 PM

1. Organization / Pledge of Allegiance / Read Mail

6:35 PM

2. Joint Meeting with Conservation Commission
A. Long Lake dock discussion

7:00 PM

3. Department/Board Updates and Requests
A. Town Clerk – Vote to approve the September 1, 2026 Primary Election Warrant

7:05 PM

4. Public Input/Members’ Updates
Public Input will last for 10 minutes, and speakers are allowed to speak for no longer than 2
minutes. Speakers addressing the Select Board are required to do so from the podium and provide
name and address for the record, and all comments must be made through the Chair.
The Select Board will also provide updates, as warranted, on the following projects:
• Flock Security Cameras
• Nagog Orchard
• Charter Committee

7:25 PM

5. Appointments & Reappointments
A. Reappoint Edward Collins to the Clean Lakes Committee

7:30 PM

6. Select Board Discussions
A. Discussion about the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of July 16, 2026
B. Vote to open the October 27, 2026 Special Town Meeting (STM) Warrant
C. Discussion and possible vote regarding the Charter Review Committee’s
recommendations, including the potential submission of one or more related warrant
articles to Town Meeting

8:00 PM

7. Minutes
A. Approve the regular session minutes of July 27, 2026 and August 3, 2026
B. Approve the executive session minutes of June 22, 2026 and July 13, 2026

8:05 PM

ANTICIPATED ADJOURNMENT

*After notifying the chair of the public body, any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting of a
public body, or may transmit the meeting through any medium, subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number,
placement and operation of equipment used so as not to interfere with the conduct of the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, the
chair shall inform other attendees of any recordings.

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

1

MAIL
Requested by: James A. Duggan, Town Administrator

Proposed Motion(s)
None are anticipated at this time.
Additional Information
Included in the Board’s packet is:
1. Current Openings on Town Boards
2. Select Board Office Hours
3. Notification to Abutters – Town of Ayer
4. Notification to Abutters – Shaker Lane School

Action Sought: None anticipated

TOWN OF LITTLETON

Received: AS
Date/Time: 7/30/26 – 9:45 AM
Revised:
Date/Time:

PUBLIC NOTICE

CURRENT VACANCIES ON TOWN BOARDS
Applications are invited from residents of the Town of Littleton for the following Town board
positions appointed by the Select Board. Application forms are available online at
https://littletonmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php or at the Office of the Select Board/Town
Administrator - Town of Littleton, 37 Shattuck Street, Littleton, MA 01460. Application
submissions will be accepted and interviews/appointments will be made by the Select Board on a
rolling basis until the positions are filled.

APPOINTED BY THE SELECT BOARD:
• AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
One (1) citizen-at-large - term expiring June 30, 2027
One (1) citizen-at-large - term expiring June 30, 2028
• CLEAN LAKES COMMITTEE
One (1) citizen-at-large – term expiring June 30, 2028
One (1) Mill Pond Alternate – term expiring June 30, 2027
One (1) Spectacle Pond Alternate – term expiring June 30, 2029
• COMMITTEE FOR THE EXPLORATION OF REAL ESTATE TAX RELIEF
FOR SENIORS
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2027
• CULTURAL COUNCIL
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2029
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2028
• DISABILITY COMMISSION
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2027
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(Three) 3 members – No expiration date
• HISTORICAL COMMISSION
One (1) member – Term expiring June 30, 2029
• PERMANENT MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMITTEE
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2029
• PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2028
• SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
One (1) member – term expiring June 30, 2029
• ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
One (1) alternate - term expiring June 30, 2027
One (1) alternate – term expiring June 30, 2029

BOARD OF ASSESSORS – JOINT APPOINTMENT

One (1) member due to member resignation (moved out of Town) and receipt of
letter from Board of Assessors in June. Term will expire after the May 2027
Annual Town Election.

PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION – JOINT
APPOINTMENT

One (1) member due to member resignation. Term will expire in one year (after the May
2027 Annual Town Election).
LITTLETON SELECT BOARD
GARY WILSON, CHAIR

TOWN OF LITTLETON
OFFICE OF THE

SELECT BOARD
37 SHATTUCK STREET, P.O. BOX 1305
LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS 01460
(978) 540-2460

Select Board Office Hours
Select Board Office Hours are scheduled for the following dates. All office hours will take place at the
Reuben Hoar Library in the Historical Room unless indicated otherwise.
Wednesday, August 19th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, August 28th from 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Friday, September 4th from 10:30-12:00 with Karen Morrison
Wednesday, September 16th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, September 25th from 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Friday, October 2nd from 10:30-12:00 with Karen Morrison
Wednesday, October 21st from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, October 30th from 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Friday, November 6th from 10:30-12:00 with Karen Morrison
Wednesday, November 18th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, December 4th from 1:00-2:30 with Karen Morrison
Wednesday, December 16th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, December 18th from 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Wednesday, January 20th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday January 29th 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Wednesday, February 17th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher

Friday, February 26th 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Wednesday, March 17th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, March 26th 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Wednesday, April 21st from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, 30th April 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp
Wednesday, May 19th from 4:00-6:00 with Mark Rambacher
Friday, May 28th 3:00-4:00 with Kyle Bubp

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

2A

Joint Meeting with Conservation Commission
Long Lake Dock Discussion
Requested by: Conservation Agent, Tim Pearson

Action Sought: Discussion

Proposed Motion(s)
Discussion dependent.

Additional Information
Included in the packet is a Memo from Conservation Agent, Tim Pearson, and the Littleton
Conservation Commission Dock Permitting Policy.

Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

Littleton Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 1305
37 Shattuck Street
Littleton, MA 01460
Phone: 978 540-2428
FAX: 978 952 2321
E-Mail: [email protected]
Request for Joint Meeting with the Conservation Commission & Select Board
(August 10th Meeting)
Docks on Town-owned, LCC controlled Parcel U12-14-0 along Lake Shore Drive
From: Tim Pearson (Conservation Agent)
To: Select Board
Date: August 5, 2026
________________________________________________________________________
The Conservation Commission and Select Board will discuss existing unpermitted docks
on Parcel U12-14-0, as well as future maintenance of the parcel.
History:
- As it exists today, there are 8 unpermitted docks installed on the parcel that did
not receive formal authorization by the Littleton Conservation Commission. Many
docks have been on the parcel for many years.
- In addition to the docks, there have been multiple unauthorized and unpermitted
encroachments onto the parcel, within the jurisdictional wetland resource area
buffer zone.
- Many areas of the parcel have been mowed and maintained by abutting property
owners for many years.
- The Conservation Commission held multiple Public Hearings discussing the
parcel and potential paths to address the issues facing the parcel.
Parcel Options to Consider:
- Maintenance
- Town Assumes Maintenance of the Parcel
o Mowing, Vista Pruning, Continued Invasive Species Management
o Does DPW have the staffing and resources for this, or would the
work need to be contracted out?
- Continued Allowance of Maintenance by Abutting Property Owners
o LCC determines footprints of the areas that will be allowed to be
maintained by abutters
o Maintenance of the parcel will be permitted under a Determination
of Applicability
o Abutters conducting maintenance would need to be licensed by
LCC and sign waivers for liabilities.
Notes:
• Unpermitted/authorized structures (e.g. stone walkway, retaining wall,
parking space, etc.) will be addressed on a case-by-case basis

-

Docks
- Town Licenses Docks to be Installed on the Parcel
o Private parties own the docks and are responsible for installation,
maintenance, and removal
o Docks are licensed to be accessible to the public
o Dock locations would be determined by LCC
o The Town would need to evaluate the suitability of docks to
manage liability.
o Dock owners would need to maintain a COI naming the Town as
additional insured, sign a waiver, sign a waiver of liability, and
comply with the Order of Conditions and Chapter 91 permit.
- Town Acquires New Docks and is Responsible for Installation and
Maintenance
o Installation would require staffing and resources from DPW
o Dock location and policies are determined by LCC
o Funding mechanism needs to be determined
- No New Permits for Docks on the Parcel
o Existing docks removed from the parcel.
o Would need DPW assistance for docks not removed by those who
have installed them.
o The only dock on the parcel will be a Parks and Rec fishing dock
that is already permitted to be installed on the property, for the
purpose of fishing and launching non-motorized watercrafts.

Photos: Docks, Encroachments, Structures, Map

3A

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

Department/Board Updates and Requests
Approval of the September 1, 2026 Primary Election Warrant
Requested by: Town Clerk, Diane Crory

Action Sought: Approval

Proposed Motion(s)
MOVE that the Select Board vote to approve and sign the Primary Election Warrant for
the September 1, 2026 Primary Election.
Additional Information
Included in this packet is the Primary Election Warrant from the Town Clerk.
Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

5A

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

Appointments
Reappoint Edward Collins to the Clean Lakes Committee
Requested by: Select Board

Action Sought: Interview/Appoint

Proposed Motion(s)
MOVE that the Select Board vote to reappoint Edward Collins to the Clean Lakes
Committee ror a term expiring June 30, 2028.
Additional Information
The Select Board has one (1) vacancy to consider for the Clean Lakes Committee for a
term expiring June 30, 2028
Attached is an application from:
• Edward Collins
The applicant has been invited to attend the Select Board meeting. Attendance is
optional.
Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

Littleton, MA
37 Shattuck Street
Phone: (978) 540-2460

Member Application Form
Good Government Starts with You

Date Submitted: July 22, 2026
Name: Edward Thomas Collins
Home Address: 20 Cedar Road
LITTLETON, MA 01460
Mailing Address: 20 Cedar Road
littleton ,ma 01460
Phone Number(s):
Email Address:
Have you previously been a member of a Board, Committee or Commission (either in the Littleton, MA or elsewhere)?Yes
If yes, please list the Board name and your approximate dates of service:
Clean Lakes- Littleton (2020-2026
Open Space -Littleton (2023)
Current Occupation/Employer: Accountant, Porsche/Audi of Nashua
Narrative: I am available during the evenings and on weekends. I recently just obtained my MBA with a
concentration in Accounting from Bentley University. I'm currently studying for the CPA exam
and plan to take it spring 2027. I have been a resident of Littleton for most of my life (45 years).
Board(s) / Committee(s): ___CLEAN LAKES COMMITTEE (CLC)
___FINANCE COMMITEE

Page 1/1

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

6A

Select Board Discussions
Discussion about the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of July 16, 2026
Requested by: Town Administrator

Action Sought: Discussion

Proposed Motion(s)
Discussion dependent.
Additional Information

Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

6B

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

October 27, 2026 Special Town Meeting
Open the Special Town Meeting Warrant
Requested by: Town Administrator

Action Sought: Vote

Proposed Motion(s)
MOVE that the Select Board vote, pursuant to MGL C.39, §10 and Town Code §41-1,
to open the warrant for the Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Special Town Meeting
forthwith, and to close said warrant on Friday, September 11, 2026, at noon; said town
meeting to be held in the Charles Forbes Kaye Gymnasium, Littleton Middle School, 55
Russell Street, Littleton. [Roll call vote]
Additional Information
The proposed timeline opens the warrant at this meeting and closes it on September
11, 2026. The Board can begin to insert articles at their September 14th meeting.
Attached is the October 27, 2026, Special Town Meeting Timeline.
Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TIMELINE – FINAL
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Special Town Meeting
Note: Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Activity
Deadline for submission of voter-petitioned zoning articles
[90 days prior to STM, per Select Board’s policy]
Select Board vote to refer any voter-petitioned zoning
articles to the Planning Board [M.G.L. c 40A §5]
Select Board vote to open the town meeting warrant
Deadline for Boards, Committees, Commissions,
Departments to submit articles in draft form (i.e.
placeholders) to the Board of Select Board’s Office
Town Meeting warrant closes, also the Citizen Petition
Deadline
Select Board vote to insert articles on STM warrant
Select Board determine the order of articles in the warrant
Select Board vote on any ballot questions to be transmitted
to the Town Clerk [must be at least 35 days prior to
election, per M.G.L. c. 54, §42C]
Select Board recommendations on articles
Hearings on zoning amendments, road acceptances [if any]
Town Meeting warrant(s) posted
Town Meeting Report to printer
Town Meeting Report delivered to Post Office for mailing
Town Meeting Report mailed to all occupied dwellings per
Town Code §41-3 [14 days prior to STM]
Special Town Meeting convenes per Town Code §41-1
State Election

Date
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at noon (90th day is
7/29)
Monday, August 10, 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 at noon (45th day
is 9/12)
Friday, September 11, 2026 at noon (45th day
is 9/13)
Monday, September 14, 2026
Monday, September 14, 2026
Monday, September 14, 2026
(35th day is September 29th)
Monday, September 14, 2026
Month of September 2026
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (Town Meeting
Warrant must be posted at least 14 days
prior to the Special Town Meeting)
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Thursday, October 8, 2026
By Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (14th day is
10/13)
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 7 PM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Town Code §41-3. Town Meeting Report. For every annual and special town meeting, the Select Board shall mail to each
occupied dwelling at least fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting a Town Meeting Report containing the full text of the
articles as posted in the warrant; proposed motions and town board recommendations, if any; and concise explanations
of each article, including the fiscal impact of any financial articles. The Town Meeting Report for the annual town meeting
shall include the Finance Committee's report to the voters.

Final Special Town Meeting Timeline

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

6C

Select Board Discussions
Discussion and possible vote regarding the Charter Committee’s
recommendations, including the potential submission of one or more
related warrant articles to Town Meeting
Requested by: Town Administrator

Action Sought: Discussion

Proposed Motion(s)
Discussion dependent.
Additional Information
Included in the packet is the Charter Committee report to the Select Bord and the Draft
Charter document.
Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

Littleton Charter Committee
Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board
Submitted by the Littleton Charter Committee, June 2026

Committee Members: Betsy Bohling (Chair); Joe Knox (Vice Chair); Charlotte Dolenz (Clerk); Kevin
Brogan; Kyle Bubp; Tim Goddard; Karen McCloskey; Allen McRae; Rob Rounce
Consultants: Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, University of Massachusetts Boston,
Anthony Wilson, Esq., and Melvin Kleckner

Executive Summary
This report presents the Charter Committee's recommendations to the Select Board. It follows more
than fifteen months of structured review of Littleton's town government, carried out at the direction of
the Select Board in response to a July 2024 Government Structure Review by the Massachusetts
Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services. That review recommended the Town initiate the
process of developing a town charter 1.
The Committee's central recommendation is that Littleton adopt a town charter establishing a Town
Manager form of government, with clear reporting lines for department heads. The Committee further
recommends transitioning the Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Cemetery Commission, Parks and
Recreation Commission, Town Clerk, and Trust Fund Commission from elected to appointed status. The
committee also recommends a set of additional provisions that codify current practice, clarify
procedural roles, and strengthen transparency.
Recommendations are presented in three tiers, ordered by the Committee's view of their priority and
necessity:
• Tier 1 — Foundational Recommendations. Adoption of a town charter and establishment of the
Town Manager model. These items require a special act of the Legislature and cannot be
accomplished through bylaw alone. They are the Committee's highest-priority recommendations.

Table 1 in Annex C describes how the Committee addressed each of the six main recommendations included in
the July 2024 Government Structure Review by the Division of Local Services.

1

1
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

• Tier 2 — Significant Structural Changes. Transitions of specific boards and positions from elected
to appointed. The Committee recommends these changes on the merits but recognizes they are
matters on which reasonable people disagree, and on which the Select Board may choose to act
selectively or in phases.
• Tier 3 — Operational and Governance Provisions. A range of provisions throughout the draft
charter that codify current practice, clarify procedural roles, and improve transparency. These
items are broadly uncontroversial but together represent meaningful improvements to the
structure and predictability of town governance.
Items the Committee considered but determined were outside the scope of the charter, and that are
more properly addressed through bylaw, policy, or administrative action by the Select Board, are
presented in Annex A.
The full list of individuals and groups consulted over the course of the Committee's work is presented in
Annex B.

1. Background and Context
1.1 Why the Committee was convened
The Charter Committee was established by the Select Board in early 2025 in direct response to a
recommendation from the Commonwealth. In July 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue's
Division of Local Services completed a Government Structure Review of the Town of Littleton and
recommended that the Select Board initiate the process of considering a town charter. The Select Board
accepted that recommendation and convened the Charter Committee to carry out the review.
The Committee's Charge, adopted by the Select Board, frames the work as follows: Littleton's
government structure is currently established through a combination of state laws, several town bylaws,
and Town Meeting votes that may not be reflected in the bylaws. There has been no comprehensive
review of the structure of town government in many years. The Select Board, accordingly, directed the
Committee to review the structure of town government, analyze the effectiveness of that structure,
and, where areas for improvement are identified, to make recommendations for changes. The Charge
specifically directs that the review should not prejudge that any changes are necessary, but should be
open to analyses and suggestions that changes are warranted.
The Charge identifies a non-exhaustive list of areas for the Committee's review, including: consideration
of shifting from a Town Administrator to a Town Manager form of leadership; the type of Town Meeting
(open or representative); the selection of town board and committee members; the selection of town
hall personnel; the size and terms of boards and committees; the division of authority between the
Town Manager and Select Board; budgeting and finance processes; provisions for referendums, recall,
2
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

and periodic structural review; and the distinction between matters appropriate for charter inclusion
versus bylaws.
The Charge also establishes that the Committee should refer matters outside the structure of town
government to the committees or boards charged with those responsibilities. The Committee has done
so where appropriate, and Annex A documents items that fall into this category.

1.2 What a town charter is, and why it matters
A town charter is the foundational governance document for a Massachusetts municipality, and
functions as the local government's constitution. It establishes the framework for how decisions are
made, how responsibilities are divided, and how residents engage with their town government. Once
adopted, the charter takes precedence over conflicting bylaws and provides a single, accessible
reference for residents, officials, and staff.
Littleton currently operates without a charter. Its governance structure is established through a
combination of state statute, town bylaws, historical practice, and Memoranda of Understanding
(MOUs) between the Select Board and elected boards that delegate selected powers to the Town
Administrator. This patchwork has worked, but it has produced inconsistencies in reporting lines,
personnel practices, and accountability that have become more visible as the Town's population and
operational complexity have grown.
Two further considerations informed the Committee's view of the value of a charter.
First, a charter consolidates information about town government into a single document. As the Town
continues to grow, the practical benefit of having a clear, current reference will increase. Even where
the Committee recommends preserving current practice, codifying that practice in the charter improves
predictability and transparency.
Second, certain structural changes, most notably changes to the reporting lines between department
heads and elected boards, cannot be accomplished by Town Meeting vote or bylaw alone. They require
a special act of the Massachusetts Legislature. A charter is the established vehicle for such changes. The
Committee was advised by the Collins Center, and confirmed in subsequent consultation, that a charter
is the only practical pathway for the reporting-line reforms that underpin a Town Manager model.

1.3 The Collins Center engagement
To carry out its Charge, the Committee worked with the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public
Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Collins Center is the established resource
in the Commonwealth for charter review and municipal governance support. Anthony Wilson, Esq. and
Melvin Kleckner served as the Committee's principal consultants, providing analytical frameworks,
comparative research, draft charter language, and procedural guidance throughout the process.
3
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

The Collins Center's introductory framing shaped the Committee's approach throughout. The Committee
was advised to draft a charter not for current conditions but for the conditions Littleton will face in 10 or
20 years. Where the Committee considered structural change, it did so with reference to how the
structure would serve the town in the long term, not how it functions under current personnel or
current circumstances.

1.4 What the Committee was asked to produce
The Charge sets out a timeline anticipating that the Committee would meet for 18 to 24 months. The
goal, established at the outset, was to produce a draft report with any recommended changes by the
end of May 2026, followed by further public outreach with the objective of having a final report and
recommended changes ready for inclusion in the warrant report for the Fall 2026 Special Town Meeting.
If Town Meeting approves the proposed charter, the charter would then be submitted to the
Massachusetts Legislature for approval as a special act.
This report fulfills the Committee's obligation to deliver its recommendations to the Select Board. The
Committee has prepared the report with the understanding that the Select Board will review the
recommendations, propose any amendments it deems appropriate, and determine the form in which
the charter will be brought forward to Town Meeting.

2. Process Overview
2.1 Committee composition and meeting cadence
The nine-member Charter Committee was appointed by the Select Board following an open application
process. Applications closed January 29, 2025; the Select Board appointed the Committee at its February
3, 2025 meeting. The Committee elected its officers and held its first substantive meeting on March 3,
2025.
The Committee met twice monthly from March 2025 through May 2026, with adjusted schedules over
the summer of 2025 and around holidays. All meetings were held in person at the Littleton Town Offices
and were open to the public in accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Meetings were
broadcast live, recorded and archived through LCTV and the town website. Approved minutes for every
meeting are publicly available.
Across this period, the Committee held approximately 30 regular meetings, in addition to one public
forum (October 14, 2025), one public information session in an open house format (February 28, 2026),
and a joint working session with the Select Board on March 30, 2026.

2.2 Phases of work
4
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

The Committee's work proceeded in identifiable phases, organized around the structure of the draft
charter:
Spring 2025: Orientation, work planning, and the legislative branch. The Committee's earliest meetings
were dedicated to establishing leadership, adopting a work plan with the Collins Center, and conducting
a foundational review of Town Meeting structure, warrant preparation and notice, procedural rules, and
the role of the Town Moderator.
Summer through early fall 2025: The executive branch. The Committee turned to the roles and
responsibilities of the Select Board, the Town Administrator, and the question of whether Littleton
should transition to a Town Manager model. This phase included detailed analysis of appointment
authority, reporting relationships, budgeting responsibilities, personnel systems, and town facility
management. The Committee also conducted listening sessions with key department heads and town
leadership.
Fall 2025 through winter 2026: Elected and appointed boards. The Committee evaluated each of
Littleton's elected boards and commissions individually, applying an analytical framework provided by
the Collins Center and informed by direct engagement with the affected boards. This phase included a
public forum on October 14, 2025, designed to test the Committee's emerging direction with residents.
Winter and spring 2026: Draft charter integration and refinement. The Committee worked through
successive drafts of the charter, addressing the Finance Committee structure, financial procedures,
administrative organization, recall provisions, and general provisions. A lightly attended public
information session in February 2026 was followed by a joint working session with the Select Board in
late March, both of which produced feedback that was incorporated into subsequent drafts.

2.3 Public engagement and consultation
The Committee placed sustained emphasis on public engagement throughout its work. In addition to the
open meetings noted above, the Committee:
• Submitted updates to the town newsletter in May and July 2025, with additional updates planned
for distribution at Town Meeting.
• Established a public email address ([email protected]) for resident
questions and feedback.
• Hosted a public forum on October 14, 2025, framed around the question, "What kind of town
government do you want for Littleton?"
• Held a public information session on February 28, 2026 in an open house format, with visual
displays summarizing the Committee's major recommendations.
• Met directly with the chairs and members of every elected board whose status was under review,
as well as with the Town Administrator, Human Resources Director, Police and Fire Chiefs, Finance
5
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

Committee leadership, School Committee representatives, the Town Clerk, and the Light and
Water Department General Manager.
• Held a joint working session with the Select Board on March 30, 2026, providing the Select Board
with the draft charter and deliberation summaries roughly one month in advance and proceeding
through the document section by section.
A complete list of individuals and groups who attended, presented, or engaged with the Committee is
provided in Annex B.
The Committee also drew on external comparators. Most notably, in August 2025, Groton Town
Manager Mark Haddad presented his experience with charter processes in Groton and Grafton,
including the practical effects of moving to a Town Manager model on financial management and
operational coordination.

3. Recommendations
The Committee's recommendations are organized into three tiers reflecting its view of their priority.
Within each tier, items are presented with the rationale, key design decisions, and references to the
relevant sections of the draft charter.
The two most extensively deliberated questions, the adoption of a Town Manager model and the
elected/appointed status of specific boards, are addressed in greater detail in the Committee's two
deliberation summaries dated March 16, 2026, which accompany this report.

Tier 1 — Foundational Recommendations
These recommendations represent the core of the Committee's work. They concern the basic
architecture of town government and the matters that can only be accomplished through a charter and
special act of the Legislature.

3.1 Adopt a town charter
The Committee recommends that the Town of Littleton adopt a town charter substantially in the form
of the accompanying draft. Adoption of a charter consolidates the structure of town government into a
single document, takes precedence over conflicting bylaws and historical practice, and provides a stable
reference as the Town continues to grow.
The draft charter as currently structured contains thirteen articles, addressing in order: incorporation
and general powers; the legislative branch (Town Meeting); the Select Board; the School Committee;
other elected officers; the Town Manager; the Finance Committee; financial procedures; administrative

6
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

organization; town elections; recall; general provisions; and transition provisions [See Charter Articles I–
XIII].

3.2 Establish a Town Manager form of government
The Committee recommends that the charter establish a Town Manager form of government, with the
Town Manager serving as the chief administrative officer of the Town, appointed by and accountable to
the Select Board [See Charter §6-1, §6-2].
The substance and rationale for this recommendation are set out in detail in the Town Manager
Deliberation Summary (March 16, 2026), and are summarized here.
Under the current structure, the Town Administrator holds limited appointment and supervisory
authority. Many department heads have a direct reporting line to elected boards but report to the Town
Administrator under informal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), which has produced uneven
accountability, inconsistent personnel and procurement practices across departments, and friction
when informal agreements break down. A Town Manager, by contrast, would serve as the chief
administrative officer with broad authority to appoint and manage department heads, oversee
procurement, and prepare a balanced budget for review by the Finance Committee and Select Board, all
subject to Select Board policy and oversight.
The Committee's deliberations were informed by a presentation from Groton Town Manager Mark
Haddad, by direct input from Littleton's Police and Fire Chiefs and the current Town Administrator, and
by extended discussion with the Select Board over the course of multiple meetings. Both the Police Chief
and Fire Chief expressed general support for a Town Manager model. The Committee reached strong
consensus across meetings from April 2025 through February 2026 in favor of the transition.
The Committee's deliberations produced several structural guardrails to accompany the Town Manager
model. These are addressed more fully in the deliberation summary but include:
• Police and Fire Chiefs. Appointed by the Select Board, not the Town Manager, while reporting to
the Town Manager for day-to-day operations. Both chiefs supported this arrangement, though
both also expressed a preference to report directly to the Select Board [See Charter §3-4(e), §62(b)].
• Town Accountant. Following the joint session with the Select Board, the Committee revised its
position to recommend that the Town Accountant be appointed by the Select Board, while
reporting operationally to the Town Manager. This change preserves the Town Accountant's role
as an independent check on the Town Manager and reflects the model used by a number of
comparable Massachusetts municipalities [See Charter §3-4 and §6-2].
• Exemptions. The School Department, the Light and Water Departments, and the Library remain
outside the Town Manager's authority, preserving their independent governance structures as
required or supported by state law [See Charter §4-2, §5-4, §5-5, §5-6].
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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

• Consultation with boards. When appointing, evaluating, or removing department heads, the
Town Manager must consult with the relevant elected or appointed board, ensuring that boards'
input is meaningfully incorporated. Appointments must be made on merit and fitness alone and
must follow the town's personnel and hiring policies [See Charter §6-2(d)].
• Application transparency. All applications for appointed positions must be forwarded to the
Select Board along with the Town Manager's recommendations. This provision was added in
response to public input and provides additional transparency without disturbing the Town
Manager's recommending authority or the Select Board's appointing authority [See Charter §62(e)].
• Checks and balances. The Select Board retains authority over the Town Manager's appointment
and removal, over Town Counsel and audit functions, and over appointments to volunteer boards
and committees. The Finance Committee retains independent budget oversight [See Charter §34(e), §3-4(h), §6-1, §6-4, Article VII].
The most important point for the Select Board's consideration concerns the reporting-line reform at the
heart of the Town Manager model. The consolidation of department heads reporting under a single
chief administrative officer is the principal substantive change that requires a special act of the
Legislature. It cannot be accomplished by bylaw amendment or Town Meeting vote alone. A charter is
the established and necessary vehicle for this change.

3.3 Affirm Town Meeting as the legislative body and codify current practice
The Committee recommends that the charter affirm the open Town Meeting as the legislative body of
the Town [See Charter §2-1]. Approximately 74 percent of Massachusetts municipalities operate under
an open Town Meeting form, and the Committee found no basis to recommend a transition to a
representative model.
The charter formalizes two annual Town Meetings, Spring and Fall, reflecting Littleton's existing practice
[See Charter §2-4]. The charter also preserves a Town Meeting Report mailed to each occupied dwelling
at least fourteen days in advance, with the full text of warrant articles, proposed motions, town agency
recommendations, and concise explanations including fiscal impact [See Charter §2-10].

3.4 Preserve the elected status of specific boards
The Committee considered each elected board and commission individually and affirmed the elected
status of several positions, in some cases as required by state law and in others as a deliberate judgment
that the current structure should be preserved. The Committee recommends that the charter codify
these positions as elected:
• Select Board (5 members; 3-year terms) [See Charter §3-1, §3-2]
• School Committee (5 members; 3-year terms) — required by state law [See Charter §4-1]
• Town Moderator — required by state law [See Charter §5-2]
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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

• Board of Light Commissioners (5 members) [See Charter §5-4]
• Board of Water Commissioners (5 members), with sewer authority language added per Chapter
290 of the Acts of 2020 [See Charter §5-5]
• Board of Library Trustees (6 members), retaining sole authority to appoint, supervise, evaluate,
and remove the Library Director [See Charter §5-6]
• Planning Board (5 members), with terms reduced from five years to three years [See Charter §5-9]
• Housing Authority (3 elected commissioners, plus state and tenant appointees) — required by
state law [See Charter §5-10]
In the case of the Light and Water Commissions, the Committee considered consolidation of the two
boards but ultimately rejected the change. Input from Light and Water Department General Manager
Nick Lawler and legal guidance indicated that consolidation would not change operational mechanics,
that the budgets would remain separate, and that no clear efficiency gain would result.
In the case of the Library Trustees, the Committee gave particular weight to research presented by
Library Trustee Katrina Hagberg showing that the substantial majority of Massachusetts libraries have
elected boards with sole director-hiring authority, and to the Trustees' argument that the library's role
as a "limited public forum" with First Amendment responsibilities calls for direct democratic
accountability.

Tier 2 — Significant Structural Changes
The recommendations in this tier concern transitions of specific elected boards and the Town Clerk
position to appointed status. The Committee's substantive analysis is set out in detail in the Elected vs.
Appointed Deliberation Summary (March 16, 2026); the summary below is intended to provide a highlevel view for the Select Board's consideration.
The Committee evaluated each board individually using a framework provided by the Collins Center,
applying as advisory criteria the competitiveness of elections, the degree of policy-making versus
implementation in the role, the technical or professional expertise required, the level of operational
integration with town departments, public familiarity with the role, and whether the role provides a
counterbalance to other centers of power.
The question of elected versus appointed status sits at the intersection of two legitimate values:
democratic accountability and operational effectiveness. The Committee's recommendations in this tier
reflect its considered judgment on each position individually, and are forward-looking in nature. The
Select Board may reasonably elect to advance some, all, or none of these transitions in the original
charter brought before Town Meeting, with the understanding that further changes can be made
through subsequent charter amendments once the charter is in place.

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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

For any board or commission that transitions from elected to appointed status, appointments would be
made by the Select Board, not by the Town Manager or any single individual [See Charter §5-1(d)]. This
decision reflects the Committee's view that appointment authority for policy-setting boards should rest
with a multi-member elected body.
A summary of recommendations is presented in the table below. "Fully Committed" indicates the
Committee reached clear consensus or unanimous or near-unanimous agreement, with no significant
unresolved concerns. "Committed with Reservations" indicates the Committee voted to recommend the
change but with a narrow margin, dissenting votes, or unresolved implementation details.
Position / Board

Current

Recommended

Commitment Level

Charter Ref.

Town Clerk

Elected

Appointed

Committed with
Reservations

§5-3

Board of Assessors

Elected
(3)

Appointed

Fully Committed

Transition provisions
pending

Park and Recreation
Commission

Elected
(5)

Appointed

Committed with
Reservations

§5-7

Board of Health

Elected
(5)

Appointed

Committed with
Reservations

§5-8

Cemetery Commission

Elected
(3)

Appointed

Committed with
Reservations

Transition provisions
pending

Trust Fund Commission

Elected

Appointed

Fully Committed

Transition provisions
pending

Brief notes on each recommendation follow. Fuller rationale and dissenting views are presented in the
Elected vs. Appointed Deliberation Summary. Several elected officials objected to the Committee's
recommendations to convert their positions to appointed. The Town Clerk, Board of Health, Cemetery
Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission each presented substantive arguments against the
proposed changes.
Town Clerk. Recommended for appointment to align with the broader principle that town employees
should be subject to professional management, and to enable formal succession planning and
performance oversight. The Committee gave substantial weight to testimony from Town Clerk Diane
Crory in favor of preserving the elected position. The Committee's initial position was to keep the Town
Clerk elected; that position shifted on a 6–3 vote in favor of appointment.
Board of Assessors. Recommended for appointment based on the low competitiveness of elections, the
technical expertise required for the role, and the fact that the Chief Assessor is already an appointed
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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

professional specialist. The Board members receive mandatory Department of Revenue training upon
election, suggesting the role's value lies in technical competence rather than democratic representation.
The Committee also agreed that, if changed from an elected to appointed board, the Board of Assessors'
current appointing authority for the Finance Committee should be reassigned (in the draft charter, to
the Water Commissioners) [See Charter §7-1].
Park and Recreation Commission. Recommended for appointment based on the expertise required to
set policy for programming and facilities, the rarely contested nature of elections, and the Committee's
judgment that the structure should serve the town long-term rather than reflect current personalities.
The Committee initially voted to keep the commission elected but reversed course in February 2026 in
favor of alignment with other policy-focused boards.
Board of Health. Recommended for appointment based on the technical and regulatory nature of the
role (Title V septic, food protection, disease control, environmental health), oversight of public health
enforcement, and the low competitiveness of elections. The Committee's position evolved over time,
from an initial preference to keep the board elected, to a hybrid model (three elected, two appointed),
to fully appointed. The committee voted unanimously on February 10, 2026 to recommend full
appointment, and reaffirmed that position following a joint meeting with the Board of Health on March
2, 2026, at which Board of Health members presented arguments for retaining the elected structure.
Cemetery Commission. Recommended for appointment based on the low competitiveness of elections,
the specialized skills required to manage perpetual care trust funds exceeding $900,000, and historic
gravestone conservation responsibilities. The Committee gave substantial weight to the Cemetery
Commission's concerns about consolidation under DPW and confirmed that the cemetery Trust Fund is
protected by Massachusetts General Law. The Committee further agreed that ringfencing the cemetery
operational budget should be a priority if the department is rolled into DPW.
Trust Fund Commission. Recommended for appointment based on low public visibility, low election
competitiveness, and the financial expertise the role requires. The Committee considered the possibility
of dissolving the Commission entirely (not all towns have one) but opted for appointment as the
preferable structural change.

Tier 3 — Operational and Governance Provisions
The recommendations in this tier are the substantive but generally less contested provisions of the draft
charter. Many codify current practice; others clarify procedural roles, address gaps in the current bylaw
structure, or strengthen transparency. The Committee considers these provisions important on their
own terms: a charter's value lies not only in headline structural change, but also in providing a current
and consolidated reference for the conduct of town government.
The Committee groups these recommendations under five themes.
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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

Town Meeting structure and warrant procedures. The charter adds a Fall Town Meeting as a formal
counterpart to the existing Spring Annual Town Meeting, codifying current practice; preserves 14-day
notice for all Town Meetings; preserves the Town Meeting Report mailing requirement; specifies who
may submit warrant articles (elected town officers, multiple-member bodies acting by majority,
registered voters meeting statutory thresholds, and other persons authorized by law); provides that
articles submitted by multiple-member bodies have the benefit of Town Counsel review; and requires
the attendance of relevant town officials and department heads at Town Meeting when articles
affecting their agencies are on the warrant [See Charter §§2-4 through 2-10]. The Committee also
formalized the position of a Deputy Town Moderator, appointed by the Town Moderator, to ensure
continuity and address recusal situations [See Charter §5-2].
Select Board powers and constraints. The charter establishes the Select Board as the chief policymaking body of the Town, with executive powers vested in the Board [See Charter §3-4]. The Select
Board is responsible for formulating and promulgating policy directives for the town agencies under it,
and for working with other elected officers and multiple-member bodies to develop policy guidelines
that bring the operation of all town agencies into harmony. The charter explicitly prohibits Select Board
members from simultaneously holding any other elected town office, while permitting service as
appointed members of other multiple-member bodies [See Charter §3-3]. The charter requires the
Select Board to evaluate the Town Manager annually against mutually established goals, with the
evaluation a public record [See Charter §3-4]. The charter also clarifies the Select Board's role in policy
harmonization across boards and departments, reflecting the principle that the Select Board acts
through broad policy guidelines rather than day-to-day administration [See Charter §3-4(c)].
Finance Committee composition and financial procedures. The charter preserves Littleton's distinctive
multi-appointing-authority structure for the Finance Committee, with appointments distributed across
the Select Board, School Committee, Board of Water Commissioners, Board of Library Trustees, and
Town Moderator [See Charter §7-1]. The current appointing authority of the Light Commissioners is
replaced by the Water Commissioners in the draft charter, reflecting the Water Department's direct
stake in the appropriated town budget. The Board of Assessors' current appointing authority for the
Finance Committee is reassigned in connection with the recommended transition of the Board of
Assessors to appointed status. The Town Moderator's appointment to the Finance Committee must be
made at a public meeting, ensuring transparency [See Charter §7-1]. The financial procedures article
codifies the budget cycle, requires the Town Manager to submit a balanced budget and a ten-year
capital plan, and preserves the Finance Committee's responsibility for presenting the budget at Town
Meeting [See Charter §8-1, §8-2].
Administrative organization, reorganization, and town facilities. The charter establishes a defined
process for the creation, restructuring, or abolition of town departments, requiring a Town Manager
proposal, Select Board authorization, a public hearing, and Town Meeting approval where
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Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

appropriations are required [See Charter Article IX]. The Town Manager is given jurisdiction over the
day-to-day leasing, rental, and use of town facilities, except for those facilities under the control of the
School Committee, the Light and Water Department, the Library Trustees, and the Parks and Recreation
Commission [See Charter §6-2]. Longer-term leases continue to require Select Board approval.
General provisions, transparency, and periodic review. The charter strengthens transparency in board
operations, including requiring that minutes be promptly filed and posted, that rules and regulations of
town agencies be filed with the Town Clerk and posted online, and that meetings comply with the Open
Meeting Law [See Charter §§12-8, 12-9]. The charter provides for removal of appointees who fail to
attend a defined threshold of meetings [See Charter §12-10]. The charter includes a recall provision
drawn from Littleton's 2016 special act, with thresholds reduced to align with comparable communities
[See Charter Article XI]. Finally, the charter mandates a periodic charter review at least once every ten
years (in each year ending in 6) to ensure the document remains current [See Charter §12-6].

Implementation note: boards as policy bodies
The Committee flags a related point that the Select Board may wish to address as part of the broader
change-management process. As the Select Board itself now operates, all boards should function as
policy-making bodies: setting direction, working with the Town Manager and other boards, and
overseeing implementation through their department heads. Department directors should run day-today operations; boards (whether elected or appointed) should not. Reinforcing this distinction through
orientation materials, training, and policy guidance will support whatever structural changes the Select
Board ultimately adopts.

4. Closing
The Committee has presented this report as the product of more than fifteen months of deliberation,
conducted in public, with extensive input from town officials, board members, department heads, and
residents. The Committee is grateful to the Select Board for entrusting it with this work, to the Collins
Center for its expert support, and to the many individuals listed in Annex B who gave their time and
perspective to the process.
The recommendations in this report are preliminary and subject to further refinement based on Select
Board input, public engagement, and legal review prior to submission to Town Meeting and the
Legislature. The Committee remains available to support the Select Board as the draft charter is
reviewed, amended, and prepared for Town Meeting.

13
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

Annex A — Non-Charter Recommendations
The following items were identified by the Committee as recommendations or actions the Select Board may wish
to address, but which the Committee determined were outside the scope of the charter itself. These items are
properly addressed through bylaw, policy, administrative direction, or referral to the relevant town body.
Item

Description

Recommended Action

Review and
update bylaws

The Committee identified bylaws that are out of
date, contain errors, or conflict with state law, e.g.
the Housing Authority bylaw (incorrect statutory
references and composition). Adoption of the charter
will also supersede portions of existing bylaws on
matters governed by the charter.

Conduct a comprehensive bylaw
review

Develop a townwide org chart

Littleton lacks a current, public-facing organizational
chart showing reporting lines and functional
relationships across town agencies.

Direct the Town
Administrator/Manager to develop,
maintain and publicly share an org
chart.

Reorganize
Cemetery
Department
reporting

If the Cemetery Commission becomes appointed and
cemetery staff reporting moves to the Town
Manager structure, the cemetery operational budget
should be ringfenced. The Trust Fund is already
protected by MGL.

Address through Select Board policy
and budget structure if the Cemetery
Commission transitions to appointed
status.

Boards as policy
bodies, not
operational bodies

All boards should function as policy-making bodies,
with department directors running day-to-day
operations.

Reinforce through Select Board
orientation materials, training, and
policy guidance for boards and
committees.

Senior work-off
program

Whether senior work-off is exempt from prohibitions
on town employment for board members requires
clarification.

Refer to the Select Board for policy
clarification.

Review provision
of town emails

The Committee discussed provision of town email
addresses for elected and appointed officials. Town
email accounts support compliance with public
records and Open Meeting Law and separate official
correspondence from personal accounts.

Refer to the Select Board to review
policy related to town email
addresses for elected and appointed
officials.

Compliance with
minutes
documentation
and posting
requirements

The Committee was informed that many town
boards and committees do not consistently
document or post meeting minutes as required by
Open Meeting Law. The charter reinforces these
requirements, but practical compliance and
enforcement fall outside the Committee's scope.

Refer to the Select Board to
determine how compliance with
minutes documentation and posting
requirements can be monitored and
addressed across town boards and
committees.

Annex B — Individuals and Groups Consulted
14
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

The Committee engaged with the following individuals, boards, and entities over the course of its work.
This list includes presenters, guest speakers, joint-meeting participants, and individuals who provided
sustained input. Several Committee members hold other elected or appointed positions in town and
contributed perspectives from those roles; their affiliations are also noted. Members of the public who
attended meetings and provided public comment are not individually listed; their input is reflected in
the approved minutes for each meeting.
Charter Committee Members
• Tim Goddard, Town Moderator
• Joe Knox, Light & Water Commissioner
• Betsy Bohling, Trust Fund Commissioner
• Kevin Brogan, Personnel Advisory Committee member
Town consultants
• Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, University of Massachusetts Boston:
• Anthony Wilson, Esq., Public Service Manager
• Melvin Kleckner, Associate
Select Board
• Karen Morrison (Chair)
• Gary Wilson
• Mark Rambacher
• Matthew Nordhaus
• Charles DeCoste
Town administration and staff
• James (Jim) Duggan, Town Administrator
• Ryan Ferrara, Assistant Town Administrator
• Michelle Vibert, Human Resources Director
• Diane Crory, Town Clerk
Police and Fire Departments
• Matthew Pinard, Police Chief
• Steele McCurdy, Fire Chief
Light and Water Department
• Nick Lawler, General Manager, Littleton Electric Light and Water Department
Finance Committee
15
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

• Steve Venuti (Chair)
• Fred Faulkner
School Committee
• Justin McCarthy
Board of Library Trustees and Library staff
• Katrina Hagberg, Trustee (Board Treasurer)
• Stephanie Kraft, Trustee
• David Spanagel, Trustee
• Mark Rambacher, former Trustee
• Sam Alvarez, Library Director
Board of Health
• Kevin Davis, Chair
• Matt Wayson, Member
• Kevin Baker, Member
• Francis Daigle, Health Director (referenced)
Parks and Recreation Commission and staff
• Sol Marini, Chair
• Kate Jacobson, Commissioner
• Norm Young, Commissioner
• Peter Church, Commissioner
• Alicia Day, Parks and Recreation Director
Board of Assessors
• Fred Freund, Chair
• Kathy Miller, Chief Assessor
Planning Board and Planning Department
• Jeff Yates, Chair
• Mark Montanari, Member
• Daryl Baker, Member
• Anna Hueston, Member
• Maren Toohill, Planning Director
Cemetery Commission and Cemetery Department
• Andrew Sammarco, Chair
16
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

• Carolyn Mueller, Commissioner
• Ivan Pagacik, Commissioner
• David Badger, former Commissioner
• Thomas (T.C.) Bailey, Superintendent
• Ian Hefferman, Assistant Superintendent
External presenters and reference points
• Mark Haddad, Town Manager, Town of Groton — presented experience with charter processes in
Groton and Grafton (August 18, 2025)
• Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services — author of the July 2024
Government Structure Review of the Town of Littleton, which prompted the convening of this
Committee
Public engagement
• Public Forum, October 14, 2025 — "What kind of town government do you want for Littleton?"
• Public Information Session, February 28, 2026 — open house format
• Joint Working Session with the Select Board, March 30, 2026
All Charter Committee meetings, including those listed above, are documented in approved minutes
available on the Town's website and through the Office of the Town Clerk.

17
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

Annex C — Response to Government Structure Review
The July 2024 Government Structure Review by the Division of Local Services contained six
recommendations. The table below records how the Committee addressed each.
DLS Recommendation
(July 2024)

What the Review Recommended

Charter Committee Activity

Consider a town
charter

Initiate the process to develop a town
charter, through either an appointed
government study committee or an
elected charter commission.

Extensive deliberation: Committee
recommends adoption of a town charter
(Tier 1 — Foundational).

Elevate the Town
Administrator to Town
Manager

Adopt a Town Manager
administrative structure, with
authority to direct day-to-day
operations enhanced beyond that of
the current Town Administrator.

Extensive deliberation: Committee
recommends a Town Manager form of
government (Tier 1 — Foundational).

Review elected boards
and committees

Review the town’s elected positions
and boards for possible conversion to
appointed status.

Extensive deliberation: Each board was
reviewed individually and recommendations
included in the charter (Tier 1 and Tier 2).

Redefine the Director
of Finance and Budget
to CFO

Revise the bylaw to redefine the
Director of Finance and Budget as a
standalone Chief Financial Officer.

Discussed & deferred: The Committee
agreed the matter was significant but
determined it is properly addressed through
administrative action rather than specified
in the charter (Annex A).

Consolidate all public
works functions

Review the town’s public works
functions to consider a single
department encompassing water,
sewer, and cemetery operations,
exclusive of the Municipal Light Plant.

Extensive deliberation: The Committee
recommended to keep the Light and Water
Commissions as separate elected boards
and preserved water and sewer operations
under the independent Water Commission,
and recommended the Cemetery
Commission become appointed with staff
reporting through the Town Manager
structure (Tier 2).

Comprehensive review
of the bylaws

Conduct a comprehensive review of
the general bylaws, through a
separate bylaw review committee.

Discussed & deferred: The Committee
identified bylaws that are out of date,
contain errors, conflict with state law or
would be superseded by a charter and
recommends a comprehensive bylaw review
(Annex A).

18
Littleton Charter Committee: Final Report and Recommendations to the Select Board, June 2026

Littleton Town Charter

****ber **, 2026

1

Version: June 3, 2026

Table of Contents
ARTICLE I. INCORPORATION, SHORT TITLE, POWERS................................................... 5
Section 1-1. Incorporation ........................................................................................... 5
Section 1-2. Short Title ................................................................................................ 5
Section 1-3. Powers of the Town ................................................................................... 5
Section 1-4. Division of Powers .................................................................................... 5
Section 1-5. Construction ............................................................................................ 5
Section 1-6. Intergovernmental Relations .................................................................... 5
Section 1-7. Precedence of Charter Provisions ............................................................ 6
Section 1-8. Definitions ............................................................................................... 6
ARTICLE II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ............................................................................... 7
Section 2-1. Town Meeting ........................................................................................... 7
Section 2-2. Presiding Officer ...................................................................................... 7
Section 2-3. Town Meeting Location ............................................................................. 7
Section 2-4. Time of Meeting ........................................................................................ 7
Section 2-5. Notice ...................................................................................................... 7
Section 2-6. Rules of Procedure ................................................................................... 8
Section 2-7. Availability of Town Officials at Town Meetings ......................................... 8
Section 2-8. Special Meetings ...................................................................................... 8
Section 2-9. Town Meeting Warrants ............................................................................ 8
Section 2-10. Town Meeting Report .............................................................................. 9
ARTICLE III. SELECT BOARD ......................................................................................... 9
Section 3-1. Executive Powers Vested in Select Board .................................................. 9
Section 3-2. Term of Office and Vacancy ...................................................................... 9
Section 3-3. Prohibitions ........................................................................................... 10
Section 3-4. Powers and Duties ................................................................................. 10
ARTICLE IV. SCHOOL COMMITTEE .............................................................................. 11
Section 4-1. School Committee ................................................................................. 11
2

Version: June 3, 2026

Section 4-2. School Department ................................................................................ 12
ARTICLE V. OTHER ELECTED OFFICERS ...................................................................... 12
Section 5-1. Elected Offices in General ...................................................................... 12
Section 5-2. Town Moderator...................................................................................... 13
Section 5-3. Town Clerk ............................................................................................. 13
Section 5-4. Board of Light Commissioners................................................................ 13
Section 5-5. Board of Water Commissioners .............................................................. 13
Section 5-6. Board of Library Trustees ........................................................................ 14
Section 5-7. Park and Recreation Commission........................................................... 14
Section 5-8. Board of Health ...................................................................................... 14
Section 5-9 Planning Board ........................................................................................ 15
Section 5-10. Housing Authority ................................................................................. 15
Section 5-11. Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds................................................ 16
Section 5-12. Board of Assessors ............................................................................... 16
ARTICLE VI. TOWN MANAGER.................................................................................... 16
Section 6-2. Powers and Duties ................................................................................. 17
ARTICLE VII. FINANCE COMMITTEE ............................................................................ 19
Section 7-1. Composition .......................................................................................... 19
Section 7-2. Term of Office ......................................................................................... 19
Section 7-3. Eligibility for Appointment ..................................................................... 19
Section 7-4. Filling of vacancies ................................................................................. 19
Section 7-5. Powers and Duties ................................................................................. 20
ARTICLE VIII. FINANCIAL PROCEDURES ..................................................................... 20
Section 8-1. Fiscal Year ................................................................................................ 20
Section 8-2. Budget and Budget Process ........................................................................ 20
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION. .......................................................... 21
Section 9-1 Purpose..................................................................................................... 21
Section 9-2 Authority ................................................................................................... 21
3

Version: June 3, 2026

Section 9-3 Public Hearing and Notice........................................................................... 21
Section 9-4 Allocation of Funds .................................................................................... 21
Section 9-5 Collective Bargaining ................................................................................. 21
ARTICLE X. TOWN ELECTIONS.................................................................................... 22
ARTICLE XI. RECALL ................................................................................................... 22
ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISION ............................................................................ 24
ARTICLE XIII. TRANSITION PROVISIONS ..................................................................... 26
Section 13-4 TRANSITION TO APPOINTED POSITIONS ................................................ 27

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Draft Littleton Town Charter

ARTICLE I. INCORPORATION, SHORT TITLE, POWERS
Section 1-1. Incorporation
The inhabitants of the town of Littleton within the corporate limits as established by law
shall continue to be a body corporate and politic under the name "Town of Littleton".
Section 1-2. Short Title
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Littleton Town Charter.
Section 1-3. Powers of the Town
Subject only to express limitation on the exercise of any power or function by a municipality
in the constitution or laws of the Commonwealth, it is the intent and purpose of the voters
of the Town of Littleton to secure through adoption of this charter all powers it is possible to
secure for a municipal government under the constitution and the laws of the
Commonwealth.
Section 1-4. Division of Powers
The administration of all of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the town shall be
vested in an executive branch headed by the Select Board. The legislative powers of the
town shall be vested in a Town Meeting open to all voters.
Section 1-5. Construction
The powers of the Town of Littleton under this charter are to be construed liberally in its
favor and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit in any way
the general powers of the Town of Littleton as stated in Section 1-3.
Section 1-6. Intergovernmental Relations
Subject to the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, the Town of Littleton may
exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions and may participate in the
financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation by contract or otherwise, with any state, or civil
division or agency thereof, or the federal government, or any agency thereof.

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Section 1-7. Precedence of Charter Provisions
To the extent any existing by-law, vote, rule or regulation of or pertaining to the Town of
Littleton contravene or otherwise conflict with this charter, this charter shall take
precedence.
Section 1-8. Definitions
As used in this charter, the following words shall have the following meanings:
− "Charter", Littleton Town Charter as it may from time to time be amended.
− "Days", working days or business days, not including Saturday, Sunday and legal
holidays, if the time set is less than 7 days; provided, however, that if the time set is
not less than 7 days, every calendar day shall be counted, unless otherwise
specified as "working days" or "business days", in which case Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays shall not be counted.
− "Emergency", a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence, event or
condition that necessitates immediate action.
− "General Laws", the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
− "Majority vote", unless otherwise required by law or this Charter, a majority of those
members of a multiple-member body present and voting; provided, however, that a
quorum is present; and provided further that those abstaining or voting "present"
shall not be counted as voting, although they shall be counted for purposes of
determining a quorum.
− "Minutes", the written report of a meeting created by a public body required by
Sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of Chapter 30A of the General Laws.
− "Multiple-Member Body", any town body consisting of two (2) or more persons
whether styled as a board, commission, committee, subcommittee or otherwise and
whether appointed, elected or otherwise constituted.
− "Quorum", unless otherwise addressed by general or special law or regulation, a
majority of the full complement of members of a multiple-member body.
− “Town”, the town of Littleton.
− "Town Agency", any board, commission, committee, department, division or office
of town government.
− "Town Meeting", open town meeting established in Article II, whether Spring, Fall,
or Special.
− "Town bulletin boards", the posting location for notices under Sections 18 to 25,
inclusive, of Chapter 30A of the General Laws and any other location that may be
authorized by by-law or vote of the Select Board.
− "Town officer" or "Town official", when used without further qualification or
description, a person having charge of an office or department of the town who in the
exercise of the powers or duties of that position exercises some portion of the
sovereign power of the town.
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− "Voters", registered voters of the Town of Littleton.
− “Warrant", the notice provided to voters in association with a Town Meeting or town
election as required by Section 10 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Section 2-1. Town Meeting
The legislative powers of the town shall be vested in a Town Meeting open to all voters of
the town.
Section 2-2. Presiding Officer
The Town Moderator, elected as provided in Article V, shall preside at all sessions of the
Town Meeting.
Section 2-3. Town Meeting Location
(a) Each Town Meeting shall ordinarily be held within the geographic limits of the town.
(b) A Town Meeting, at the sole discretion and by affirmative vote of the Select Board,
may be located within the geographic limits of a contiguous municipality only under
extraordinary circumstances. For purposes of this section, extraordinary
circumstances can include an expectation that the number of attendees will exceed
the capacity of otherwise acceptable town locations.
Section 2-4. Time of Meeting
There shall be a Spring Town Meeting held during the week of the first Monday in May and a
Fall Town Meeting held between the first day of September and the fifteenth day of
November, at a date and time to be determined by the Select Board.
Section 2-5. Notice
(a) Notice shall be given by posting attested copies of the warrant in at least three (3)
public places in the town, including the town’s website, not less than fourteen (14)
days before the day fixed for such meeting. The foregoing shall be deemed to be
legal notification of such meeting, and the legal service of such Warrant.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a meeting shall not be in violation of
this Charter if, due to technical difficulties, the meeting is not posted electronically
for the fourteen (14) consecutive days prior to the meeting.
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(b) Notice for Town Meetings shall state the date, street address, and start time of such
meeting along with the warrant articles to be acted upon at such meeting.

Section 2-6. Rules of Procedure
The Town Meeting may, by by-law, adopt rules to govern the conduct of all Town Meetings.
Town Meeting procedures not otherwise prescribed by by-law shall be guided by the latest
published edition of "Town Meeting Time: A Handbook of Parliamentary Law, Johnson,
Trustman and Wadsworth, Massachusetts Moderators Association", as applicable, and the
discretion of the Town Moderator.
Section 2-7. Availability of Town Officials at Town Meetings
Every town officer, the chairperson of each multiple-member body, and the head of each
department shall attend all sessions of the Town Meeting, if an article appears on the
warrant affecting their multiple-member body or department.
In the event any town officer, chairperson of a multiple-member body, department head is
to be absent due to illness or other reasonable cause, such person shall designate a
deputy to attend to represent the Town Agency. If any person designated to attend the Town
Meeting under this section is not a voter, such person shall, notwithstanding, have a right
to address the meeting for the purpose of compliance with this section.
Section 2-8. Special Meetings
Special Town Meetings may be held at the call of the Select Board at its discretion. Special
Town Meetings shall also be held on the petition of two hundred (200) voters, in the manner
provided by General Laws.

Section 2-9. Town Meeting Warrants
(a) Warrants - Every Town Meeting shall be called by a warrant issued by the Select
Board, which shall state the time, date and place at which the meeting is to convene
and, by separate articles, the subject matter to be acted upon.
(b) Initiation of warrant articles - The Select Board shall receive all requests for
submission to Town Meeting of an article. The board shall include all which request
the submission of particular subject matter to Town Meeting and which are filed by:
(1) any elected town officer, (2) any multiple member body, acting by a majority of its
members, (3) any ten or more registered voters of the town for the Spring and Fall
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Town Meeting and any one hundred or more registered voters of the Town for any
special town meeting as detailed in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 39,
Section 10, (4) such other persons or agencies as may be authorized by law, or by
by-law.
1. All articles shall be submitted to the Select Board’s office on or before the
date fixed by the Select Board for the closing of the warrant. Each submission
shall include the proposed text of the article and a summary of its intent.
2. Articles submitted by multiple member bodies shall have the benefit of being
reviewed by Town Counsel for legal form prior to Town Meeting.
(c) Referral of warrant - Upon execution of any town meeting warrant, the Select Board
shall immediately cause a copy of the warrant to be forwarded to the Finance
Committee, Town Moderator and Town Clerk. A copy shall also be posted at the
locations utilized for notices posted under Sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of Chapter
30A of the General Laws.
Section 2-10. Town Meeting Report
For every Spring, Fall or Special Town Meeting, the Select Board shall mail to each
occupied dwelling at least fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting a Town Meeting Report
containing the full text of the articles as posted in the warrant; proposed motions and town
agency recommendations, if any; and concise explanations of each article, including the
fiscal impact if applicable. The Town Meeting Report for the Spring Town Meeting shall
include the Finance Committee's report to the voters.

ARTICLE III. SELECT BOARD
Section 3-1. Executive Powers Vested in Select Board
There shall be in the Town of Littleton a Select Board consisting of five (5) members.
Section 3-2. Term of Office and Vacancy
The members of the Select Board shall be elected for terms of three (3) years each,
arranged so that the terms of office of as nearly an equal number of members as possible
shall expire each year. Vacancies in the office of Select Board shall be filled by a special or
regular election in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws and this Charter.

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Section 3-3. Prohibitions
(a) No member of the Select Board shall simultaneously hold any other elected town
office.
(b) Members of the Select Board may serve as appointed members of other multiplemember town bodies.
Section 3-4. Powers and Duties
The executive powers of the town shall be vested in the Select Board. Except as specifically
provided by this Charter and the by-laws, the Select Board shall have all of the executive
powers given to the Select Board in the General Laws. The Select Board’s executive powers
include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Serves as the chief policy making body of the Town.
(b) Has authority to enter into intergovernmental or public or private agreements
consistent with law on such terms as it deems beneficial to the residents of the
Town.
(c) Be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy directives and
guidelines to be followed by all town agencies serving under it, and in conjunction
with other elected town officers and multiple-member bodies to develop and
promulgate policy guidelines designed to bring the operation of all town agencies
into harmony; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize any member of the Select Board or a majority of such members, to
become involved in the day-to-day administration of any town agency. It is the
intention of this provision that the Select Board shall act only through the adoption
of broad policy guidelines, which are to be implemented by town officers and
employees serving under it.
(d) Cause the by-laws, rules, and regulations for the government of the town to be
enforced and shall cause an up-to-date record of all its official acts to be kept.
(e) Appoint the town manager, town counsel, police chief, fire chief, town accountant,
and town clerk.
(f) Make appointments to, and removals from, volunteer boards and committees as
required by law, by-law, Town Meeting vote, or Select Board vote.
(g) Be a licensing board for the town with power to issue licenses, to make all necessary
rules and regulations regarding the issuance of such licenses, and to attach such
conditions and restrictions thereto as it deems to be in the public interest. The
Select Board shall enforce the laws relating to all businesses for which it issues
such licenses. The Select Board under this provision may delegate or reorganize any
local licensing authority or process notwithstanding any related General Laws.
(h) Ensure an annual financial audit is conducted. The audits shall be performed by a
certified public accountant, or firm of such accountants, who have no personal
interests, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the town. The accountant or firm
shall be approved by the Select Board upon recommendation by the Town Manager.
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(i) Upon recommendation of the Town Manager, approve a personnel system to
include, but not be limited to, position classifications and compensation schedules,
benefit programs, personnel and hiring policies and practices, and regulations for
town employment except for the municipal light and water departments and the
school department.
(j) The Select Board shall annually evaluate the job performance of the Town Manager
based on mutually established predetermined goals, standards and criteria for
performance that shall, at least in summary form, be a public record in accordance
with the General Laws.

ARTICLE IV. SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Section 4-1. School Committee
(a)
(b)

(c)

Composition. There shall be a School Committee consisting of five (5) elected
members.
Term of Office. The terms of School Committee members shall be three years.
The members shall serve until the successor has been sworn. Terms of office
shall be arranged so that at least one member is elected at each regular election
consistent with General Laws.
Powers and Duties. The school committee shall have general charge and policy
direction of the public schools of the town. The school committee shall have all
the powers and duties given to school committees by the General Laws, this
Charter, and by by-law. The powers of the School Committee shall include, but
are not limited to:
1. Appoint and remove the Superintendent of Schools.
2. Evaluate the performance of the Superintendent of Schools.
3. Review and approve the Littleton School District’s fiscal year budget and
capital requests in accordance with Article VIII.
4. Establish educational goals and policies for the Littleton School District
consistent with the General Laws and statewide goals and standards.
5. The School Committee shall conduct a public hearing on the Littleton School
District’s fiscal year budget and capital plan. The fiscal year budget and
capital plan shall be publicly available.

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Section 4-2. School Department
The school department shall be exempt from the authority of the Town Manager as
specified in Section 6-2 of this Charter.

ARTICLE V. OTHER ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 5-1. Elected Offices in General
(a) Offices to be filled by election: In addition to the Select Board as provided in Article
III, and the School Committee as provided in Article IV, offices to be filled by election
of the town’s voters shall be a Town Moderator, Light Commission, Water
Commission, Board of Library Trustees, Planning Board, and three (3) members of
the Housing Authority.
(b) Eligibility: A voter shall be eligible for election to a town office unless prohibited by
law. If an officer elected to a town office moves from the town during the term for
which the officer is elected, the office shall immediately be declared vacant and
filled in the manner provided in Section 5.1(d).
(c) Term of Office: the elected officer shall be elected for a term of three (3) years,
except a Housing Authority officer shall be elected for a term of five (5) years. The
elected officer shall serve until the successor has been sworn. Terms of office shall
be arranged so that at least one member is elected at each annual election
consistent with General Laws.
(d) Vacancy: Whenever a vacancy occurs in any office elected pursuant to this article,
or if there is a failure to elect a member of a multiple-member body, the remaining
members of the body shall give notice of the vacancy to the Select Board and to the
public. Notice of the vacancy and the date on which the vote is to be taken shall be
published not less than one week prior to said vote. The vacancy shall be filled from
eligible applicants by separate roll call votes of the remaining members of the body
with the vacancy and the Select Board, each voting independently. Both bodies
must agree on the same candidate for the appointment to take effect. In the event
the two bodies do not initially agree, they shall deliberate, jointly or separately, until
agreement on a candidate is reached. The person so elected shall serve until the
next annual town election. Vacancies shall be filled by a registered voter of the
town. No person appointed under this section shall be entitled to be listed on the
ballot as a "candidate for re-election" at the next regular town election. The process
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for filling vacancies in a regional authority or district membership shall be in
accordance with the applicable General Laws or intergovernmental agreements, or,
if none are applicable, in accordance with this section.
(e) Compensation for elected offices, if any, shall be set by by-law at a regular Town
Meeting.
(f) Elected town officers and heads of elected multiple-member bodies, or their
representatives, as well as the Superintendent of Schools, Library Director, head of
the Light & Water Departments, or other leaders of town agencies who do not report
directly to the Town Manager, shall be required to meet with the Town Manager at
reasonable times to effect coordination and cooperation among all town agencies.
Section 5-2. Town Moderator
Powers and Duties. The Town Moderator shall be the presiding officer of the Town Meeting,
as provided in Article II, regulate its proceedings and perform such other duties as may be
provided by the General Laws, Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting vote. Appoint a Deputy
Town Moderator to assist with or fill-in for the Town Moderator during Town Meeting.
Section 5-3. Town Clerk
Powers and Duties. The Town Clerk shall have the powers and duties provided that office by
the General Laws, Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting vote.
Section 5-4. Board of Light Commissioners
(a) Composition. There shall be a board of light commissioners consisting of five (5)
members.
(b) Powers and duties. In conjunction with the Board of Water Commissioners, the
Board of Light Commissioners shall appoint or remove the head of the Littleton
Electric Light and Water Department. The Board of Light Commissioners shall have
all of the powers of a municipal light board as defined by Chapter 164 of the General
Laws. The Littleton Electric Light and Water Department shall be exempt from the
authority of the Town Manager as specified in Section 6-2 of this Charter.
Section 5-5. Board of Water Commissioners
(a) Composition. There shall be a board of water commissioners consisting of five (5)
members.
(b) Powers and duties. In conjunction with the Board of Light Commissioners, the Board
of Water Commissioners shall appoint or remove the head of the Littleton Electric
Light and Water Department. The board shall have all of the powers of a municipal
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water commission as defined in Chapter 617 of the Acts of 1911, Chapter 186 of the
Acts of 1995 and Chapter 279 of the Acts of 2020. The Board of Water
Commissioners shall have all the powers of a sewer commission as described in
Chapter 40N of the General Laws. The Littleton Electric Light and Water shall be
exempt from the authority of the Town Manager as specified in section 6-2 of this
Charter.
Section 5-6. Board of Library Trustees
(a) Composition. There shall be a board of library trustees consisting of six (6)
members.
(b) Powers and Duties. The Board of Library Trustees shall appoint, supervise, evaluate,
and remove the Library Director. The Board of Library Trustees shall have custody of
and manage the public library and all property of the town related to the library. All
funds and property that the town may receive by gift or bequest for the purpose of
library support or maintenance shall be administered by the Board of Library
Trustees in accordance with the gift or bequest. The Board of Library Trustees shall
have all the other powers and duties given to boards of library trustees under the
Constitution and General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may be
authorized by this Charter, by-law or Town Meeting vote.
Section 5-7. Park and Recreation Commission
(a) Composition. There shall be a park and recreation commission consisting of five (5)
members.
(b) Powers and Duties. The Park and Recreation Commission shall conduct and
promote recreation, play, sport, physical education and other programs to meet the
leisure time needs of the community. The Park and Recreation Commission shall
have general charge and management of the town playing fields, beaches, parks,
associated public lawns and landscaped areas and of all property of the town
relating thereto, in coordination with the Town Manager. The Park and Recreation
Commission shall have all of the powers and duties given to park and recreation
commissions under the General Laws and shall have such additional powers and
duties as may be authorized by this Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting vote.

Section 5-8. Board of Health
(a)
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Composition. There shall be a board of health consisting of three (3) elected
members and two (2) members to be appointed by the Select Board. The Select
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Board shall appoint persons with expertise or experience in health-related fields
including, but not limited to, nurses, doctors, public health specialists,
veterinarians or infectious disease specialists.

(b)

Powers and duties. The Board of Health shall adopt rules and regulations relative
to the environment and the public health and shall have all the powers and
duties provided to boards of health under the General Laws and such additional
powers and duties as may be authorized by this Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting
vote.

Section 5-9 Planning Board
(a) Composition. There shall be a planning board consisting of five (5) members.
(b) Powers and duties. The Planning Board shall have all powers that are conferred on
planning boards by the General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may
be authorized by this Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting vote.
Section 5-10. Housing Authority
(a) Composition. There shall be a housing authority consisting of five (5)
commissioners.
1. One member of the housing authority shall be a tenant member appointed by
the Select Board and three (3) members shall be elected.
2. One member shall be appointed by the Executive Office of Housing and
Livable Communities for an initial term of three years. If the Executive Office
of Housing and Livable Communities does not fill a vacancy in the position of
that member within 120 days from the date that the vacancy is created then
the Select Board shall appoint a person by a majority vote to fill such position
for the unexpired term.
(b) Term of Office. Each of the elected members shall serve for a term of five (5) years
so arranged that the term of one commissioner shall expire each year, with the
manner of selection for such commissioners to be consistent with Section 5 of
Chapter 121B of the General Laws.
(c) Powers and Duties. The Housing Authority shall make studies of the housing needs
of the town and shall provide programs to make available housing for families of low
income and for elderly and disabled persons of low income. The housing authority
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shall have such other powers and duties as are assigned to housing authorities by
the General Laws.

Section 5-11. Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds
(a) Composition. There shall be a board of commissioners of trust funds consisting of 3
members.
(b) Powers and duties. The board shall have the management of all trust funds given or
bequeathed for the benefit of the town or the inhabitants thereof, unless the donor
in making the gift or bequest shall otherwise provide and all of the powers that are
conferred upon it by general law and such additional powers and duties as may be
authorized by this Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting vote.

Section 5-12. Board of Assessors
(a) Compostion. There shall be a board of assessors consisting of 5 members.
(b) Powers and Duties. The board of assessors shall annually make a fair cash valuation
of all property, both real and personal, within the town and shall have all the powers
and duties given to boards of assessors under the General Laws and such additional
powers and duties as may be authorized by this Charter, by-law, or Town Meeting
vote.

ARTICLE VI. TOWN MANAGER.
Section 6-1. Appointment and Qualifications
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.L. c.40, §23A or any other General or Special
Law to the contrary, there shall be in the Town of Littleton a Town Manager
appointed by the Select Board for a term of up to three (3) years, who shall serve at
the pleasure of the board. The Town Manager shall be especially fitted by education,
training, and experience to perform the duties of the office. The Town Manager shall
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not have served in an elective office in the town government for at least one (1) year
before being appointed.
(b) The position of Town Manager shall be a full-time position. The Town Manager shall
devote the Town Manager’s best efforts to the office and shall not hold another
public office, elective or appointive, or engage in any business or occupation during
the town manager’s term unless the action is fully disclosed and approved by the
Select Board in advance and in writing.

Section 6-2. Powers and Duties
The Town Manager shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) As the chief administrative officer of the town, shall act as the agent for the Select
Board and shall be responsible to the Select Board for the proper operation of town
affairs for which the Town Manager is given responsibility under this Charter.
(b) Supervise, direct, and be responsible for the efficient and coordinated
administration of all town functions, including department heads and their
respective departments, as may be authorized by this Charter, by-law, Town Meeting
vote, or Select Board vote. Nothing contained in this Charter shall affect the
operation of the Fire Department which shall continue to function under the
provisions of §42 of Chapter 48 of the General Laws, nor shall it affect the operation
of the Police Department which shall continue to function under the provisions of
§97A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
(c) The Town Manager shall have the power to delegate, authorize or direct any
subordinate or employee of the town to exercise any power, duty, or responsibility
which the office of Town Manager is authorized to exercise under this Charter, bylaw, Town Meeting vote or Select Board vote. All actions that are performed under
such delegation shall be deemed to be the actions of the Town Manager.
(d) The Town Manager shall appoint, based on merit and fitness alone, and remove all
department heads whose method of appointment is not otherwise defined in this
Charter, by-law, Town Meeting vote, or Select Board vote. For department heads
supporting an elected or appointed body, the Town Manager shall consult with the
respective elected board, commission or committee prior to such appointment or
any subsequent evaluation or removal.
(e) Recommend for Select Board appointment or removal of volunteer members of
multiple-member boards for whom another method of appointment or removal is
not provided for in this Charter, by-law, Town Meeting vote, or Select Board vote.
Recommendations for appointment shall be based on merit and fitness alone. All
applications for the appointments shall be forwarded to the Select Board along with
the Town Manager’s recommendation(s).
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(f) Fix the compensation of all town employees, consistent with the personnel system
established in section 3-4(i) of this Charter and within the limits established by the
overall approved budget, the town’s wage and classification schedule and collective
bargaining or other agreements.
(g) Administer personnel policies and any related matters for all municipal employees,
by adopting appropriate practices, rules, or regulations consistent with the
personnel system established in Section 3-4(h) of this Charter and to administer all
collective bargaining agreements entered into by the town.
(h) Negotiate, subject to the approval of the Select Board, all contracts with town
employees, except those otherwise excluded in this Charter, over wages and other
terms and conditions of employment. The Town Manager may, subject to the
approval of the Select Board, employ special counsel to assist in the performance
of these duties.
(i) Shall participate as specified in Article VIII – Financial Procedures.
(j) Serve as the chief procurement officer for the Town and award and execute all
contracts for services and supplies for all Town Agencies, in accordance with and
subject to the provisions of the General Laws, including the authority to appoint
such assistant procurement officers as the General Laws provide.
(k) Inspect and sign all payroll and expense warrants for payment.
(l) Keep the Select Board and the Finance Committee fully informed as to the financial
condition of the town and to make recommendations to the Select Board and to
other elected and appointed officials as the Town Manager deems necessary or
expedient.
(m) Ensure that complete and full records of the financial and administrative activity of
the town are maintained and render reports to the Select Board as may be required,
but not less than annually.
(n) Attend all regular and special meetings of the Select Board, unless excused.
(o) Attend all sessions of the Town Meeting and answer all questions addressed to the
Town Manager that are related to the warrant articles and to matters under the
general supervision of the Town Manager.
(p) Develop and maintain a full and complete inventory of all town-owned real and
personal property.
(q) Have jurisdiction over the leasing, rental and use of all town facilities, including land
and buildings, except those town facilities under the control of the School
Committee, the Board of Light Commissioners, Board of Water Commissioners,
Board of Library Trustees, and the Park and Recreation Commission. The Town
Manager shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all town property,
excluding school and library buildings and facilities managed by Littleton Electric
Light and Water Department.
(r) Perform such other duties as necessary or as may be assigned by this Charter, bylaw, Town Meeting vote, or Select Board vote.
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Section 6-3 Acting Town Manager
Pending the appointment of a Town Manager or the filling of a vacancy or during the
temporary disability of the Town Manager, the Select Board shall appoint a suitable person
to perform the duties of the office.
Section 6-4 Removal or Suspension
The Select Board may, by the affirmative vote of four (4) of its members and subject to the
employment contract, terminate and remove or suspend the Town Manager.

ARTICLE VII. FINANCE COMMITTEE
Section 7-1. Composition
There shall be a Finance Committee composed of seven (7) members, appointed as
follows: two members by the Select Board, one member by the Board of Water
Commissioners, two members by the School Committee, one member by the Board of
Library Trustees, and one member by the Town Moderator. The Town Moderator’s
appointment will be made at a Select Board meeting.

Section 7-2. Term of Office
The terms of the office are three (3) years.
Section 7-3. Eligibility for Appointment
No one shall be eligible for appointment to the Finance Committee who, at the time of
his/her appointment, is not a resident of the town, is an elected officer of the town or an
appointed officer with power to incur expense chargeable against appropriated funds. If a
member, during his/her term, becomes ineligible for appointment to the Finance
Committee, his/her place shall become vacant.
Section 7-4. Filling of vacancies
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the officer or board whose appointee
has ceased to be a member of the Committee.

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Section 7-5. Powers and Duties
(a) The committee shall have all the powers of the appropriation, advisory, or
finance committees as defined by Section 16 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws.
(b) The committee shall have all the powers of reserve funds for extraordinary
expenditures as defined by Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
(c) The committee shall participate as specified in this Charter’s Article VIII –
Financial Procedures.
(d) The committee shall provide a report in the Town Meeting Report as specified in
Section 2-10 of this Charter.

ARTICLE VIII. FINANCIAL PROCEDURES

Section 8-1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Town shall begin on the first day of July. The budget and capital plan
shall be available upon request and on the town’s website.
Section 8-2. Budget and Budget Process
(a) Annually, the Town Manager shall meet with the Select Board, Department of
Finance, and Finance Committee to determine the budgetary goals for the
subsequent fiscal year and, prior to September 30, issue a budget message which
shall set forth guidelines and the calendar dates for developing the annual budget
for the next fiscal year. All town departments, including the school department and
library, must submit an itemized budget for the new fiscal year to the Town Manager
as prescribed by General Laws and this Charter. The Town Manager shall make
changes to the submitted budgets, as necessary, and inform each affected
department head of changes made to their submitted budgets. By January 2, the
Town Manager shall submit to the Finance Committee and the Select Board the
proposed balanced budget for the next fiscal year and proposed capital plan for the
next ten (10) years.
(b) The Finance Committee will meet with the Select Board in joint session to consult
with the Town Manager, department heads, and the Superintendent of Schools to
determine the next fiscal year budget and capital plan to be presented at Spring
Town Meeting.
(c) The Finance Committee shall be responsible for presenting the budget at Spring
Town Meeting and will be the first party recognized before any other person or
committee, when it shall provide an overview of the financial articles on the warrant.
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ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION.
Section 9-1 Purpose
This article provides for the creation, restructuring, or abolition of the departments and
offices which perform the day-to-day operations of the Town.
Section 9-2 Authority
Plans to reorganize, consolidate, create, merge, divide, or abolish any town department or
office will be proposed by the Town Manager but require authorization by the Select Board.
Section 9-3 Public Hearing and Notice
The Select Board shall hold at least one public hearing on any proposed reorganization,
consolidation, creation, merger, division, or abolition of any town department or office.
Notice of the public hearing shall be given at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the
hearing by posting in at least three (3) public places in town, including the town’s website.
The notice shall include a description of the proposed changes and their anticipated
impact. Within sixty (60) days following the public hearing, the Select Board shall vote to
implement the proposed changes, with or without amendments.
Section 9-4 Allocation of Funds
Any action involving the creation, restructuring, or consolidation of a department that
requires an appropriation of funds shall be subject to approval by a vote of Town Meeting.
Section 9-5 Collective Bargaining
Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the town's obligations under M.G.L.
Chapter 150E or other applicable collective bargaining laws. Any reorganization that affects
the wages, hours, or working conditions of employees covered by collective bargaining
agreements shall be implemented in accordance with applicable law and existing
agreements.

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ARTICLE X. TOWN ELECTIONS

Section 10-1. TOWN ELECTIONS
The regular municipal election shall be held on the first Saturday following the Spring Town
Meeting of each year. There shall be no preliminary town elections.
Section 10-2. NOTICE
Notice for elections shall state the election date and opening and closing hours of the polls,
along with all offices to be filled and the full text of any question to be presented to the voters.

ARTICLE XI. RECALL
A person who holds an elected office in the Town of Littleton, with more than 6 (six) months
remaining in the term of that office on the date of the filing of a recall affidavit, under
Section 11-2, may be recalled from office by the registered voters of the town of Littleton, in
the manner provided in this Charter.
Section 11-2. RECALL PETITION
Two percent of the voters of the town of Littleton may file with the clerk of the town an
affidavit containing the name of the officer whose recall is being sought, along with a
statement of the grounds for removal. The clerk of the town shall provide to the voters
petition blanks demanding the recall and shall keep copies of these printed forms
available. The petition blanks may be completed either by writing or typewriting. They shall
be addressed to the Select Board, contain the names of the voters who filed the affidavit
and the grounds for recall as stated in the affidavit, demand the election of a successor to
that office, and be dated and signed by the clerk. A copy of the petition shall be kept on file
in the office of the clerk in a record book maintained for the purpose.
The recall petition shall be returned and filed in the office of the clerk within 30 days after
the date upon which the clerk issued the petition and shall contain the signatures of at
least 15 per cent of the total number of voters duly recorded on the registration list of the
clerk as of the most recent preceding town election.
The clerk shall, within 48 hours after the filing, submit the petition to the registrars of voters
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who shall, within 5 (five) days, certify on it the number of signatures which are names of
voters of the town.
Section 11-3. DATE OF RECALL VOTE
If the recall petition shall be certified by the registrars of voters to contain the sufficient
number of signatures of voters, the clerk of the town shall immediately submit the petitions
to the Select Board. Upon its receipt of the certified petitions, the Select Board shall, within
48 hours, give written notice of the recall petitions and their certification to the person
whose recall is being sought.
If the officer sought to be recalled does not resign his/her office within 5 (five) days after the
delivery of the notice, the Select Board shall order an election to be held not less than 60
nor more than 100 days after the date of certification of the sufficiency of the petition by
the registrars of voters; but if another town election is to occur within 90 days after the date
of the certification, the Select Board may, at their discretion, postpone the holding of the
recall election until the date of that other town election.
If a vacancy occurs in the office after a recall election has been ordered, the election shall
nevertheless proceed as provided in this section, but only the ballots for the new
candidates shall be counted.
Section 11- 4. PROHIBITIONS
An officer whose recall is being sought shall not be a candidate to succeed himself at the
recall election. The nomination of candidates, the publication of the warrant for the recall
election and the conduct of the election shall be in accordance with the law relative to
elections, unless otherwise provided in this act.
Section 11- 5. CONTINUATION OF DUTIES
The incumbent shall continue to perform the duties of the office until the recall election is
held. If not recalled in the election, the incumbent shall continue in office for the remainder
of the unexpired term, subject to recall as before, except as otherwise provided in this act.
If the incumbent officer is recalled, the officer shall be considered removed upon the
qualification of a successor who shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. If
the successor fails to qualify within 5 (five) working days after receiving notification of
election, the incumbent shall be considered removed and the position declared vacant.
Section 11- 6. RECALL BALLOT
All ballots used at a recall election shall contain the following propositions in the order
indicated:
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FOR THE RECALL OF (NAME OF OFFICER)
AGAINST THE RECALL OF (NAME OF OFFICER)
Adjacent to each proposition, there shall be a place to mark a vote.
After the propositions shall appear the word “CANDIDATES” followed by the names of all
candidates arranged alphabetically by surname. Adjacent to the name of each candidate
shall be a place to mark a vote.
If a majority of the votes cast upon the question of recall is in the affirmative, the candidate
receiving the highest number of votes shall be considered elected.
If a majority of the votes cast upon the question of recall is in the negative, the ballots for
the candidates need not be counted unless the incumbent officer has previously resigned
from office under Section 11-3.
Section 11- 7. SIX MONTH GRACE PERIOD
A recall petition shall not be filed against an officer within 6 (six) months after that officer
assumes office. In the case of an officer who has been subjected to a recall election and
was not recalled by that election, a subsequent recall petition shall not be filed against the
officer until at least 6 (six) months after the date of the previous recall election.
Section 11- 8. POST RECALL
A person who has been recalled from an office or who has resigned from an office while
recall proceedings were pending shall not be appointed to any town office within 12
months after the recall or resignation.

ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISION

12-1 RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Any person holding an appointive or elective office may resign their office by filing a
resignation with the Town Clerk, and such resignation shall be effective immediately,
unless a time certain is specified therein when it shall take effect.
12-2 REMOVAL OF APPOINTEES
Any person appointed to an office, board, commission or committee may be removed for
cause by the appointing authority. Where the appointing authority consists of three or more
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positions a majority vote of the full membership shall be required for removal of an
appointee. Removal procedures for individual positions specified by this charter or the
General Laws shall supersede those in this section.
12-3 RELATION OF CHARTER TO BYLAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS, AND
SPECIAL LAWS
Where provisions of this Charter conflict with provisions of Town bylaws, rules, regulations,
and orders the Charter provisions shall govern.
12-4 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS TO PREVAIL
To the extent that any specific provision of this Charter shall conflict with any provision
expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
12-5 SEVERABILITY
If any provisions of this Charter are held invalid, the other provisions of the Charter shall
not be affected thereby. If the application of the Charter or any of its provisions to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of this Charter and its provisions to
other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
12-6 PERIODIC CHARTER REVIEW
Not less than once every 10 years in each year ending in a 6, a special committee shall be
established to review this charter and make a report, with recommendations, to the town
meeting concerning any proposed amendments that the committee may determine to be
necessary or desirable.
12-7 NUMBER AND GENDER
Words importing the singular number may extend, and may be applied to several persons
or things; words importing the plural number may include the singular. Words importing
one gender shall include all genders.
12-8 RULES AND REGULATIONS
A copy of all rules and regulations adopted by any town agency except for the school
committee and the public schools shall be filed in the office of the town clerk. The town
agency is responsible for the posting of their rules and regulations on the agency’s or the
official town website.
12-9 PROCEDURES GOVERNING MULTIPLE MEMBER BODIES
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a) Meetings - Meetings of any multiple-member body shall be held on the call of the
respective chairperson, or by a quorum of the members. Notice of all meetings shall be
filed with the Town Clerk and posted on the town bulletin board at least forty-eight (48)
hours in advance of the time set, in accordance with the Open Meeting Law, MGL c. 30A,
§20. The Town Clerk shall also cause notice of all meetings to be posted on the official town
website. Failure to post notice on the town website shall not prevent meeting from taking
place or invalidate actions taken at any meeting for which notice was properly posted on
the town bulletin board.
b) Rules and Minutes - Each multiple member body shall determine its own rules and order
of business unless otherwise provided by this charter or by town by-law and shall provide
for the keeping of minutes of its proceedings. These rules and minutes shall be public
records, and shall be kept available for public inspection. Per the General Laws these must
be posted within the next three public body meetings or within 30 days, whichever occurs
later.
12-10 LOSS OF OFFICE, EXCESSIVE ABSENCE
If any person appointed to serve as a member of a multiple member body shall fail to
attend four (4) or more regularly scheduled consecutive meetings, or one half or more of all
the meetings of such body held in one fiscal year, or refuses to communicate with or
appear before the appointing authority when invited, that appointed official may be
removed from their position in accordance with Section 10-2.

ARTICLE XIII. TRANSITION PROVISIONS
Section 13-1 CONTINUATION OF GOVERNMENT
All persons appointed or elected to positions at town agencies shall continue to perform
their duties until they are reappointed or reelected, successors to their respective positions
are duly sworn, or their duties have been transferred and assumed by another town agency
in accordance with this charter.
Section 13-2 CONTINUATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
Upon adoption of this charter, a person holding a town office or a position in the
administrative service of the town or a person holding employment under the town shall
retain that person’s office, position or position of employment and shall continue to
perform the duties of that person’s office, position or position of employment until
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provision shall have been made for the performance of those duties by another person or
agency; provided, however, that a person in the permanent service of the town shall not
forfeit their pay grade or time in the service of the town as a result of the adoption of this
charter; provided further, that this section shall not provide a person holding an
administrative office or position or a person serving in the employment of the town on the
effective date of this charter with any greater rights or privileges with regard to that person’s
continued service or employment with the town than that person had before the effective
date of this charter. Nothing in this paragraph shall impair the rights of any person under an
individual employment contract or collective bargaining agreement.
Section 13-3 TRANSFER OF RECORDS AND PROPERTY
All records, property and equipment of an office, department or agency or part thereof, the
powers and duties of which are assigned in whole or in part to another office or agency,
shall be transferred immediately to the office, department or agency to which the powers
and duties are assigned.
Section 13-4 TRANSITION TO APPOINTED POSITIONS
Once final determination of which, if any, positions/boards will be included in the charter
as changing from elected to appointed, this section will define for each of those
positions/boards the structural details.

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7A

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

Minutes Approval
Meeting Minutes for July 27, 2026 and August 3, 2026
Requested by: James A. Duggan, Town Administrator

Action Sought: Approval

Proposed Motion(s)
MOVE that the Select Board vote to approve the meeting minutes from the Select Board
Meetings on July 27, 2026 and August 3, 2026.
Additional Information
Included in the Board’s packet are draft minutes from the Select Board Meetings on July
27, 2026 and August 3, 2026.
Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition

Town of Littleton
Select Board

MEETING MINUTES

July 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Littleton Town Offices – 37 Shattuck Street, Room 103
Notice of public meeting as required by M.G.L. Chpt.30A §18-28

Meeting attendees – Gary Wilson, Chair; Charles DeCoste, Vice Chair; Mark Rambacher, Clerk; Kyle Bubp,
Member; Karen Morrison, Member
Also present –James Duggan, Town Administrator; Tony Sousa, Assistant Town Administrator
The Select Board convened in Executive Session at 5:30 PM.
Select Board Member Mark Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to enter into Executive Session
pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) and (7) and Suffolk Construction v. DCAM, 449 Mass. 444 (2007),
for the purpose of strategy discussions with counsel related to a grievance by the Littleton Police
Association under the collective bargaining agreement, as discussion in open session may have a
detrimental effect on the Town's bargaining position; and pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(2), to
conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel, specifically the Police Chief and Town
Administrator. Seconded by Select Board Member Karen Morrison. Roll call vote: Kyle Bubp – Aye;
Karen Morrison – Aye; Mark Rambacher – Aye; Charles DeCoste – Aye; Chair – Aye. Motion carried 50.
The Board indicated it would reconvene in Regular Session at approximately 6:30 PM.

2. Organization / Pledge of Allegiance / Moment of Silence / Read
Mail
A. Moment of Silence for Steven Wood Ziegler, retired Air Force Veteran and
retired Littleton Police Officer
The Board reconvened in Regular Session. Select Board Member Rambacher read a tribute honoring the life and
legacy of Steven Wood Ziegler, who passed away on July 18, 2026, at the age of 83. Mr. Ziegler began his
career as a volunteer firefighter in Lincoln before serving in the United States Air Force. He subsequently
served with the Lincoln Police Department, the Boston and Maine Railroad Police, and for 14 years as a
detective with the Littleton Police Department. The Board observed a moment of silence in his memory.

3. Department/Board Updates and Requests
A. Input from Bedford Town Manager, Matthew Hanson and retired Town
Manager of Billerica, Robert Mercier on the Littleton Charter recommendations
Town Administrator Jim Duggan introduced Bedford Town Manager Matthew Hanson and retired Billerica
Town Manager Robert Mercier, both of whom were invited to provide perspective on charter reform based on
their direct experience navigating similar transitions in other communities. The Chair noted that the Charter
Committee had completed approximately 18 months of work and that the Board sought additional insight into
the practical implications of moving to a Town Manager form of government.
Robert Mercier shared his background as former Town Manager of Billerica and Town Administrator of
Burlington, as well as his experience serving on an elected Select Board. He emphasized that personnel
management is the central function that a strong Town Manager charter most meaningfully clarifies. He
observed that in Burlington, elected boards informally extended personnel authority to him even without a
formal charter requiring it, because they understood the complexity of HR matters. However, he cautioned that
this informal arrangement is not reliable or consistent, and that formalizing the chain of command through a
charter is the more prudent course. He stressed that HR is evolving rapidly and that inconsistent treatment of
employees—particularly around compensation—can create significant legal and operational risk for the town.

Matthew Hanson provided a detailed account of the charter reform process in Tyngsborough, where he served as
Town Administrator. He noted that the initial attempt to pass a full charter failed at Town Meeting because the
cumulative opposition from groups concerned about individual provisions—the town clerk becoming appointed,
sewer commission changes, elected boards converting to appointed—proved sufficient to sink the whole
document. The committee subsequently separated the Town Manager provision and brought it forward as a
standalone Special Act of the Legislature, which passed. The DPW consolidation and related changes followed
in subsequent years, with the full process spanning approximately four years from the committee's start.
On the question of appointing authority, Hanson explained that in Tyngsborough, the Town Manager was
granted appointment authority over all non-school, non-library staff. For the Police and Fire Chiefs specifically,
a compromise was reached whereby the Select Board retained approval authority—effectively a veto—over
those appointments, while the Town Manager remained the appointing authority. For other department heads,
consultation with relevant elected boards was included in the charter but left intentionally vague, with the
practical expectation that at least one board member would participate in interviews. Hanson strongly
recommended that dismissal authority remain solely with the Town Manager, noting that requiring board
involvement in terminations creates serious procedural and legal complications, as boards cannot discuss
individual employees without first inviting them into an executive session.
On the question of elected versus appointed boards and staff, both guests noted that moving the TreasurerCollector from elected to appointed in Tyngsborough yielded significant benefits, including the discovery of a
longstanding embezzlement case that had gone undetected for nearly a decade. The Town Clerk conversion,
however, failed at Town Meeting on more than one occasion due to strong public attachment to that elected
position. Hanson noted that in Tyngsborough, the incumbent clerk had run unopposed for twenty years, which
undercut the argument that residents needed to retain the ability to choose that official. He recommended the
Board strongly consider the appointed Town Clerk model, while acknowledging that Town Meeting has the
final say. He also noted that a well-drafted charter avoids being overly prescriptive, as a Town Manager who is
not a team player will not last long regardless of what the document says.
Both guests confirmed they were unaware of any Massachusetts community that had adopted a Town Manager
or strong charter form of government and subsequently reversed course.
Charter Committee member Betsy Bohling asked whether it would be advisable to bring a complete charter—
maintaining current elected positions as-is—to Town Meeting rather than only extracting the Town Manager
provision, so that the town would at least have a codified governing document. Hanson indicated there was
nothing wrong with that approach, provided that only one or two truly contentious provisions were the reason
for any separation. Charter Committee member Joe Knox noted that the committee's expectation had been that
the Select Board would review the recommendations and make its own editorial decisions before bringing
anything to Town Meeting.
Resident Rob Rounce, speaking as a Charter Committee member, commented during public input that he
strongly favored the Special Act approach and urged the Board not to risk a Town Meeting failure by bringing
too much at once. He emphasized that the committee spent 15 months on its work and that a defeat would set
the effort back significantly.

B. Introduction of School Superintendent, Michael Caira
The Chair welcomed new Superintendent of Schools Michael Caira. Superintendent Caira expressed his
gratitude for the welcome and noted that he began his educational career as a teacher at Russell Street School in
Littleton in 2000 and was deeply honored to return as Superintendent. He described himself as a studentcentered leader and emphasized his commitment to collaboration with town administration. He noted that his
family has a multi-generational tradition of public service in education and municipal government. Select Board
Member DeCoste conveyed positive feedback he had received from colleagues in Ashland, where
Superintendent Caira previously served. The Superintendent was warmly received and invited the Board and
community members to reach out to him directly.

C. Veterans' Agent – Purple Heart Day request to use Littleton Common on
August 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Town Administrator Duggan presented the Veterans' Agent's request to use Littleton Common for a Purple
Heart Day ceremony on August 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM, continuing a tradition established in the prior year. Select
Board Member Rambacher agreed to attend and read the proclamation.

Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to approve the request of the
Veterans' Agent to use Littleton Common on August 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM for a ceremony to honor
Purple Heart Veterans. Seconded by Select Board Member Bubp. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

D. Veterans' Agent – request to have flags at half-staff on July 31 from sunrise
to sunset in honor of Steven Wood Ziegler
Select Board Member Bubp moved that the Select Board vote to approve the request of the Veterans'
Agent, in honor of the life of Stephen Wood Ziegler, Air Force Veteran and former Littleton Police
Officer, that the Select Board order the flags on all municipal buildings to half-staff on July 31 from
sunrise to sunset. Seconded by Select Board Member Rambacher. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

E. Update from the Town Clerk about the Americans with Disabilities (ADA)
Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
Town Clerk Diane Crory clarified a question raised at a prior meeting regarding why the elementary school was
not included in the ADA Self-Evaluation. She explained that Shaker Lane School was excluded because it is
being torn down, and the elementary school is not approved by the state for elections or town meetings and
therefore falls under the school department's ADA compliance obligations rather than the town's. The high
school and middle school are included because they are used for elections and town meetings. Town Clerk
Crory confirmed that the evaluation covered all areas accessible to the public and requested the Board formally
accept the plan so it could be returned to the Collins Group for state approval.
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board accept the Self-Evaluation and Transition
Plan from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Seconded by Select Board Member Bubp. All in favor.
Motion carried 5-0.

F. Update from the Town Clerk about ADA improvements at Fay Park
Town Clerk Crory reported on meetings she had conducted with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Fire
Department, the Highway Department, and the Building Commissioner in connection with ADA improvements
at Fay Park. She noted that several trees will need to be removed, adding to project costs, and that Parks and
Recreation is still working to locate existing plans for the area.
A significant development was the condition of the gazebo, which was found to be in serious disrepair: it is
visibly leaning, one of the main structural posts is bending, and another post is no longer properly seated on its
sonotube. Building Commissioner Henry Fontaine will be issuing a formal letter and the structure will be
cordoned off with caution tape until it can be assessed and repaired. Town Clerk Crory indicated that addressing
the gazebo will take priority before other ADA improvements at Fay Park proceed.
Crory also presented a broader, prioritized ADA improvement plan that had been developed in coordination
with Town Administrator Duggan. The plan includes grant applications for improvements to Littleton Common
(already submitted), Fay Park, accessible trails at Long Lake/Colonial Drive and Mill Road/Mill Hill, Cooper
Field (parking and accessibility to the playing surface), Castle in the Trees/Aiden's Playground (including a
$250,000 playground surface replacement that could be split 50/50 with the state), Long Lake Beach, and
parking and signage corrections at multiple trailheads. The Board discussed the possibility of engaging Nashoba
Valley Tech students to assist with gazebo repairs as a cost-saving measure, and the Town Clerk indicated she
would follow up with the appropriate contact at the school.
Select Board Member DeCoste raised a question about whether permeable compacted material, rather than
asphalt, would be more appropriate for trailhead parking areas given drainage and environmental concerns.
Town Clerk Crory indicated this would be taken into consideration. Select Board Member Rambacher noted that
fire gates at Long Lake and Mill Hill may create barriers to accessibility and asked how those would be
addressed; Crory indicated she had raised the issue with the relevant department and would follow up.

G. Update from Executive Session and announcement of any actions taken, as
appropriate
The Chair reported that the Board is nearing completion of contract negotiations with the incoming Police Chief.
The Board authorized the Chair to continue negotiations during the week, with participation from other
members, and to sign the contract upon conclusion of those discussions, with a target of no later than August 1
to align with the anticipated start date.

H. Possible vote to approve the employment agreement between the Town of
Littleton and Police Chief Douglas Landry
No vote was taken on this item at this meeting. See Item 3G above.

4. Public Input/Members' Updates
Rob Rounce, 25 Juniper Road, offered comments on several matters. He commended DPW Director Jahnle for
the new transfer station setup and encouraged broader public communication about the improvements. He
praised Interim Police Chief Landry for hosting a well-attended public forum on recent residential break-ins,
noting the Chief's openness and his commitment to continuing such community engagement. Speaking as a
Charter Committee member, Mr. Rounce expressed strong concern about bringing too broad a package to Town
Meeting. He urged the Board to pursue the Special Act approach for the Town Manager model specifically, and
to address other charter changes individually through bylaw amendments where possible, rather than risk a
comprehensive failure. He noted that the Committee worked for 15 months and cautioned against repeating the
pattern of placing articles on the warrant only to withdraw them before Town Meeting.
Members' Updates: Select Board members reported on several community activities, including the Appleman
Triathlon (which surpassed last year's $40,000 fundraising goal), the Dirigible Business Spotlight event, and the
ongoing production of a welcome to Littleton video. Select Board Member Rambacher reported that the
Affordable Housing Trust discussed Hebrew Senior Living's proposal to construct 86 deeply affordable senior
apartments at 410 Great Road, and that the RFP for the Durkee property is being revised to reflect a
recommendation that the town sell rather than retain ownership of the property. The Chair noted that a new
transfer station configuration at the recycling facility is working well and praised the public safety presentation
hosted by Chief Landry.
Flock Security Cameras / Charter Committee / Nagog Orchard: Select Board Member Bubp reported that Town
Counsel advised a moratorium on data centers or similar uses cannot be implemented by the Select Board alone
and would require a Town Meeting vote to amend the zoning bylaws. He noted that he is working with members
of the Planning Board and the Electric Light Department to develop a broader framework focused on energy and
resource consumption thresholds rather than targeting data centers specifically. Select Board Member
Rambacher provided a brief update on the Nagog Orchard, noting that equipment stolen in recent break-ins had
been recovered and that a report from MDR was pending. He indicated the Board would need to decide in the
next one to two meetings whether to declare the Orchard House surplus property for purposes of a Fall Town
Meeting article, and that the Affordable Housing Trust is prepared to assist with outreach.

5. Appointments
A. Appoint Will Pickard to the Agricultural Commission
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to appoint Will Pickard to the
Agricultural Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2029. Seconded by Select Board Member Bubp.
All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

B. Appoint Stephen Hadden to the Clean Lakes Committee as the Lake
Matawanakee Alternate
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to appoint Stephen Hadden to the
Clean Lakes Committee as the Lake Matawanakee Alternate for a term expiring June 30, 2029. Seconded
by Select Board Member Bubp. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

6. Select Board Discussions
A. Data Center Moratorium Update
Select Board Member Bubp reported that Town Counsel confirmed the Select Board does not have unilateral
authority to impose a moratorium or pause on data center development, as doing so would require a zoning
bylaw amendment and therefore must go to Town Meeting. He also noted that the Healey Administration has

issued guidance on data centers, including language directing such facilities to self-provide power. Select Board
Member Rambacher noted that state-level amendments that had been discussed for the economic development
bill—including data center moratorium provisions—were withdrawn and are not moving forward at the state
level. Select Board Member Bubp indicated he is working with the Planning Board and the Electric Light
Department to define what the town is actually trying to regulate, with a focus on energy and water consumption
thresholds rather than data centers as a category. The Planning Board could open a public hearing on a zoning
moratorium, the date of which would effectively serve as the operative date.

B. Select Board Goals Recap and Assignments
The Board reviewed its FY2027 goals and discussed assigning member champions to each. The following
assignments were identified:
●

Charter Revision – Select Board Member Bubp (primary), given his extensive involvement with the
Charter Committee.

●

Flock/Surveillance Camera Policy – Select Board Member Bubp, with the Chair assisting; the group
agreed the scope should encompass surveillance technology broadly, not just Flock cameras, and that
the new police leadership team would be engaged.

●

Data Center / Energy Resource Consumption Bylaw – Select Board Member Bubp, continuing existing
work.

●

Boards and Committees Education/Orientation – Select Board Member Rambacher.

●

Neglected Properties Bylaw – The Chair (primary), with Select Board Member Rambacher assisting.

●

Green Communities / Stretch Energy Code – The Chair.

●

Employee Handbook Update – The Chair, working with Town Administrator Duggan and HR Director.

●

Town Meeting and Election Schedule Review – To be developed; discussion included potential format
changes.

Select Board Member Morrison noted that several items on the goals list—including the school chargeback
policy, department head attendance at Town Meeting, the budget process, Amazon delivery vehicle compliance,
the employee handbook, and neglected properties—were more appropriately categorized as Town Administrator
operational goals rather than Select Board goals, and suggested the minutes reflect this distinction.

C. Vote to approve use of Town roads for the August 16, 2026, Tour de Cure
bicycle event for cystic fibrosis
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to approve the request of the
American Diabetes Association to use Town roads for the Tour de Cure on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Seconded by Select Board Member DeCoste. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

D. Vote to approve use of Town roads for the October 4, 2026, Bikes not
Bombs bicycle event
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to approve the request of Bikes Not
Bombs to use Town roads for the Century Bike Challenge on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Seconded by
Select Board Member Bubp. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

E. Discuss and authorize the Town Administrator to submit a request to
Governor Healey designating select census tracts as Opportunity Zones
Town Administrator Duggan presented a proposal to submit a request to Governor Healey to designate select
Littleton census tracts as federal Opportunity Zones. He acknowledged that Littleton's area median income, at
127% of AMI, exceeds the standard 70% threshold, but argued that making the request is a proactive and lowrisk step that could yield significant economic development benefits. The designated areas under consideration
include the Donelan’s Plaza area, the MBTA Communities area, The Point, and properties along 550 and 410
Great Road. Federal Opportunity Zone designations offer investors capital gains tax deferral and potential taxfree appreciation on long-term investments, incentivizing private investment in those areas.
Select Board Member Rambacher suggested that the description reference the broader village commercial area
rather than specifically naming Donelan’s Plaza, and Town Administrator Duggan confirmed the actual

boundaries are determined by census tract. The Board authorized the Town Administrator to submit the request
without objection.

F. Discuss and vote to adopt the Massachusetts Commercial Property
Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program
Town Administrator Duggan presented the C-PACE program, which enables eligible commercial, industrial,
agricultural, nonprofit, and multifamily properties of five or more units to access long-term private financing for
clean energy improvements, including high-efficiency HVAC, LED lighting, solar systems, energy storage, EV
charging infrastructure, and water conservation measures. The program carries no cost to the town; the property
owner applies through MassDevelopment, which approves the project and sends a draft assessment to the town.
The tax collector adds the betterment to the property tax bill, the town collects the payment, and remits it to
MassDevelopment. In the event of non-payment, the town pursues collection as it would any delinquent real
estate tax, including placing a lien on the property. Town Administrator Duggan credited Assistant Town
Administrator Tony Sousa, who had experience with the program from his prior work in Everett, for the
recommendation. The Board noted that the program complements the Opportunity Zone initiative and supports
the town's sustainability goals.
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to adopt the Massachusetts
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program. Seconded by Select Board Member
Bubp. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.

7. Town Administrator Update
A. Update on Municipal Operations, Projects and Initiatives
Town Administrator Duggan reported that the Elder & Human Services department has seen a significant
expansion of programming in the new facility, with 50 programs held the prior week and over 705 check-ins
recorded. EHS collaborated with the Highway Department to host a Veterans' Breakfast, which received strong
feedback. Duggan also reported that a check in the amount of $93,633 was received for senior center solar tax
credits and will be applied directly toward reducing the senior center's debt service. He highlighted the work of
Project Manager Nancy, who has been assisting across multiple departments and coordinating outreach efforts
to improve the town newsletter and social media presence. The newsletter currently has over 1,000 subscribers.
A mammogram van is being arranged for the town parking lot, and footage for the Littleton welcome video is
being coordinated with the Select Board. Town Administrator Duggan also noted that staff have been assigned
to assist the Veterans' Agent with both administrative and outreach functions to increase awareness of available
veteran and family services.

B. Civic Leadership Academy Announcement
Assistant Town Administrator Tony Sousa reported that the Civic Leadership Academy will relaunch in the fall.
The application portal will be updated on the town website in the coming weeks. He noted that the inaugural
spring session was a success and that program graduates had since become active in town government, including
one new town hire and at least one individual who signed up for LCTV workshops and expressed interest in
serving on boards and committees. Sousa invited Select Board members to participate in future sessions.

C. Presentation about Town Meeting Survey Results
Assistant Town Administrator Sousa presented highlights from the Spring 2026 Town Meeting survey,
compared against the October 2025 Special Town Meeting survey. Key findings included:
●

The Mailtown Meeting Report remains the dominant information source (82% in fall, 83% in spring).

●

An earlier weeknight start time, such as 6:00 PM, was the top schedule preference in both surveys,
followed by maintaining a 7:00 PM weeknight start.

●

Among open-ended responses on scheduling, 9 of 10 respondents advocated for some form of virtual
or remote participation option.

●

Support for childcare and shuttle service remained consistent across both surveys, in the high 70th
percentile range.

●

Family obligations remain the leading reason residents cite for missing Town Meeting.

Select Board Member Rambacher asked whether the data supported investigating a 6:00 PM start for the Fall
Town Meeting, and the Town Administrator indicated he would look into the logistical feasibility, including
coordination with athletic programs that use the fields in the early evening. Select Board Member Morrison
noted the importance of ensuring that scheduled field use is not disrupted.

8. Minutes
A. Approve the minutes of July 13, 2026
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Select Board vote to approve the meeting minutes from
the Select Board Meeting on July 13, 2026. Seconded by Select Board Member DeCoste. All in favor.
Motion carried 5-0.

9. Anticipated Adjournment
Prior to adjournment, Select Board Member Rambacher read a tribute in memory of Jess Schoffel, a longtime
teacher at Russell Street Elementary School who passed away earlier in the month, recognized for her more than
two decades of service to Littleton Public Schools students and families. A moment of silence was observed.
Select Board Member Rambacher moved that the Board adjourn in honor of Jess Schoffel. Seconded by
Select Board Member DeCoste. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned.

Town of Littleton
Select Board
Joint Meeting with Finance Committee

MINUTES

August 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Littleton Town Offices – 37 Shattuck Street, Room 103
Notice of public meeting as required by M.G.L. Chpt.30A §18-28

Meeting attendees – Gary Wilson, Chair; Charles DeCoste, Vice Chair; Karen Morrison, Member
Also present –James Duggan, Town Administrator; Tony Sousa, Assistant Town Administrator
Finance Committee members – Steve Venuti, Chair; Fred Faulkner, Vice Chair, Sanjay Gowda, Frederick
Kingsley, Sam Hayes, Karen McCloskey
The Select Board convened in Executive Session at 6:00 PM.

1. Executive Session
Select Board Chair, Gary Wilson called the meeting to order, noting it was an out-of-cycle Select Board meeting
that would be brief. He announced that the Board would enter Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A,
§21(a)(2) to conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel, specifically the Police Chief and the Town
Administrator, with an anticipated return to open session at approximately 6:30 PM.
Motion to enter Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(2) to conduct contract negotiations
with non-union personnel, specifically the Police Chief and Town Administrator, was made by Select
Board Member Charles DeCoste and seconded by Select Board Member Karen ____. The motion carried
3-0 on a roll call vote (Karen – Aye; Chuck – Aye; Gary – Aye).

2. Select Board Discussions
The Board reconvened in open session following the Executive Session. Chair Wilson led those present in the
Pledge of Allegiance. He noted that the evening's agenda constituted a joint meeting with the Finance
Committee and that the Board would receive a presentation from the new Police Chief before voting on his
employment agreement.

A. Update from Executive Session and announcement on any actions taken, as
appropriate
Chair Wilson announced that the Board had met in Executive Session and was prepared to act on the Police
Chief employment agreement.

B. Possible vote to approve the employment agreement between the Town of
Littleton and Police Chief Douglas Landry
Chair Wilson introduced the vote to approve the employment contract for Douglas Landry as Police Chief,
effective August 3, 2026. Chair Wilson acknowledged the contributions of the town's HR Director, Michelle
Vibert, as well as the Finance Department, in completing the contract process. He also noted that Deputy Chief
Patterson would remain with the department through September 1st to assist with the transition before his
retirement.
Motion to approve the employment contract for Police Chief Douglas Landry, effective August 3, 2026,
was made by Select Board Member Charles DeCoste and seconded by Select Board Member Karen ____.
The motion carried 3-0 (Aye – Chuck; Aye – Karen; Aye – Gary).
Following the vote, Chief Landry expressed his gratitude to the Board and the entire leadership team for their
support throughout the process.
The Board also addressed a separate administrative matter: a waiver request regarding earned accrued vacation
leave for Town Administrator James Duncan as part of the close-out of Fiscal Year 2026.

Motion to approve the waivers concerning earned accrued vacation leave for Town Administrator James
Duncan, with the condition that the vacation be used by the end of Fiscal Year 2027, was made by Select
Board Member Charles DeCoste and seconded by Select Board Member Karen ____. The motion carried
3-0.

3. Joint Meeting with Finance Committee
A. Discuss reorganization proposal of Littleton Police Department
Chief Douglas Landry presented a proposal to reorganize the Littleton Police Department, framing the request
around a confluence of retirements, a rapidly growing and young officer force, and a unique budget opportunity
created by personnel transitions. He stated that this was not a request for additional headcount — the department
would remain at 24 full-time sworn officers — but rather a restructuring of supervisory ranks to add a second
lieutenant position funded entirely within the existing FY 2027 budget.
Background and Context
Chief Landry noted that he had been with the Littleton Police Department for 13 years, joining as the 13th
officer when the department was at full staff, and that the department has since grown to 24 officers. He
highlighted the dual retirements driving the reorganization: former Chief Pinard, who retired in May, and
Deputy Chief Patterson, set to retire on September 1st. His own promotion to Chief vacated the Lieutenant's
position, which had only been reinstated approximately three years prior after a roughly 15-year absence.
The department recently conducted a promotional interview board — which included three outside police chiefs,
Select Board Chair Gary Wilson, and HR Director Vibert — for both the Deputy Chief and Lieutenant positions
simultaneously. The board process yielded strong candidates, and Chief Landry announced that a new Deputy
Chief and a primary Lieutenant had been selected. He indicated that the pool of candidates also produced
several additional highly capable officers who could fill a second lieutenant role if approved.
The Proposal: A Second Lieutenant
Chief Landry proposed creating a second lieutenant position by reassigning an officer from within the existing
24-person roster rather than adding a new body. Specifically, the Lieutenant selected through the promotional
process was coming from the Detective/Special Services division. By delaying the backfill of that detective slot
and reorganizing the Special Services unit to operate with three officers (the detective sergeant, the detective
SRO, and the patrol SRO), the department could absorb the structural change without increasing overall
headcount.
He described a shift coverage model in which one lieutenant would work Monday through Friday on the day
shift, and a second lieutenant would work Monday through Friday on the evening shift — the two busiest shifts
— providing consistent command-level supervision across those hours for the first time.
Financial Analysis
Chief Landry and Town Administrator James Duggan presented a financial breakdown prepared with the
assistance of Finance Director Robin Healy. The analysis showed that because the incoming Chief, Deputy
Chief, and Lieutenant are all entering their roles at lower salary steps than their predecessors, and because the
part-time maintenance position previously held by Bill Cole (approximately $12,000) would not be backfilled
following his retirement, the department would realize sufficient cost avoidance to fund the second lieutenant
within the FY 2027 budget, with an estimated buffer of approximately $43,000 (inclusive of the $12,000
maintenance savings).
A notable discussion arose around the Quinn Bill (educational incentive pay). Finance Committee Member Fred
Faulkner observed that the new contracts reflected full Quinn Bill eligibility, whereas the outgoing positions had
been budgeted at only 0.5 Quinn, resulting in an apparent increase of approximately $52,000–$56,000 for the
same positional slots. Chair Wilson and Town Administrator Duggan explained that the outgoing Chief and
Deputy Chief had been mid-contract and subject to older contractual terms, while the new contracts —
consistent with prevailing practice among comparable communities — include full Quinn. They further
explained that moving the Deputy Chief and Lieutenant positions to compensation tables (off individual
contracts) made full Quinn a practical necessity, as no qualified sergeant would accept a promotion that placed
them below their current earnings. Finance Director Healy also acknowledged a calculation error in some of the
Quinn figures for master's degrees that would cause those projected numbers to be slightly higher than shown.

The Board and Finance Committee discussed projections for FY 2028 and FY 2029. Finance Director Healy
noted that the out-year figures were based on the current compensation grid only, without factoring in COLA
increases or contract negotiation outcomes, since those were unknown. Faulkner and Finance Committee
Member Steve Venuti expressed concern that while the FY 2027 numbers appeared to work, the structural cost
increase — particularly with union contracts expiring and full Quinn kicking in department-wide on July 1st of
the following year — created genuine uncertainty for future budget cycles.
Operational Rationale
Chief Landry described the day-to-day supervisory gaps driving the proposal. He noted that the department
currently has very young officers — in some cases, the Officer in Charge on a given shift has been on the job for
fewer than two years, alongside officers with less than one year of service and trainees with only weeks of
experience. He cited this as a liability and risk mitigation concern, noting that Massachusetts POST regulations
now require a supervisor to review any use-of-force incident in the same shift it occurs, which is operationally
difficult when a supervisor is not consistently present.
He also explained that the department's four patrol sergeants carry a disproportionate administrative burden —
including court prosecution, LTC licensing, FFL inspections, sex offender registry management, breath test
machine compliance, and accreditation work — which keeps them office-bound and away from road
supervision. The two lieutenant positions would absorb many of those administrative duties, freeing the
sergeants to return to active patrol supervision and mentorship of new officers. He noted that the accreditation
transition to a digital system in FY 2026 had required a sergeant to be pulled from shift duties for approximately
six months, contributing directly to elevated overtime costs that year.
Chief Landry also spoke to departmental morale, expressing that the opportunity for promotion fosters
enthusiasm and re-engagement, and that the department already had strong internal candidates ready to fill the
second lieutenant role immediately.
Town Administrator Duggan added his strong support for the proposal, noting his experience with police
departments in other communities where poor internal culture had severely damaged morale and operations. He
characterized Chief Landry's proactive, vision-driven approach as uncommon and valuable, and emphasized the
importance of building experienced leadership around a very young officer corps.
Board and Finance Committee Discussion
The discussion was substantive and candid. Select Board Member Steve Venuti acknowledged that he entered
the meeting as a skeptic, particularly given the off-cycle nature of the request and anticipated future budget
pressures, including school department requests and upcoming contract negotiations. He made a comparison to a
prior situation in which a new department head had been asked to get settled before making structural asks,
raising the possibility that Chief Landry's needs might look different six months into the role. Chair Wilson and
Select Board Member DeCoste noted that the second lieutenant had been part of former Chief Pinard’s vision as
well, and was not entirely new to the Board.
Finance Committee Member Karen McCloskey indicated she was supportive of the structure and rationale,
while sharing concern about FY 2028 budget uncertainty. Faulkner remained the most skeptical voice, stating he
did not have a strong yes, objecting to the off-cycle timing, and flagging the Quinn bill acceleration as an
unbudgeted cost increase. He acknowledged understanding the logic but expressed concern that this could
exacerbate budget pressures in the coming year.
Venuti ultimately indicated he was persuaded, conditionally, stating his support was predicated on the
expectation that the FY 2028 ask would not include additional officer headcount, that the SRO reclassification
and any detective position questions be handled in the regular budget cycle, and that the full picture of contract
impacts would need to be assessed when those negotiations conclude.
Chair Wilson noted that he had been personally moved by what he heard during the lieutenant and deputy chief
interviews — specifically, how burdened the sergeants were by administrative duties — and cited public safety
as a factor that always weighs heavily in his thinking on off-cycle requests.
A question was raised about whether the union needed to weigh in on the reorganization. Chief Landry indicated
that management rights were reviewed and the proposal was consistent with the existing contract, noting that the
union was temporarily losing a member (the detective moving to lieutenant), but that his intent was to discuss
restoring that detective position in the FY 2028 budget cycle.

Following discussion, the Select Board voted, with Finance Committee members also indicating their support by
consensus.
Motion to support and approve the reorganization of the Littleton Police Department as proposed by Chief
Douglas Landry was made by Select Board Member Charles DeCoste and seconded by Select Board
Member Karen ____. The motion carried 3-0 (Select Board). Finance Committee members Steve Venuti,
Sandra Casale, and others present also indicated support by informal vote.

7B

Littleton Select Board
AGENDA ACTION REQUEST

August 10, 2026

Executive Session Minutes Approval
Meeting Minutes for June 22, 2026, and July 13, 2026
Requested by: James A. Duggan, Town Administrator

Action Sought: Approval

Proposed Motion(s)
MOVE that the Select Board vote to approve the Executive Session meeting minutes
from the Select Board Meetings on June 22, 2026, and July 13, 2026.
Additional Information

Board Action
Motion

Second

In favor

Opposed

Disposition