Shutesbury Select Board Adopts Employee Committee Policy, Defers Hybrid Meeting Rules

SHUTESBURY — July 21, 2026 — Shutesbury's Select Board approved a new employee committee membership policy and signed onto a regional land conservation earmark at its July 21 meeting. Town Administrator Haley Pelletier presented a three-category framework governing how town staff participate on local boards — operational, advisory, and independent volunteer — with a disclosure requirement to the town clerk; the board adopted it unanimously. The board also unanimously signed a support letter for a state Environmental Bond Bill earmark of not less than $410,000 for Shutesbury conservation work, and approved appointments of Nico Jacobs to the Recreation Committee, Frank McGinn as Finance Committee representative on the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, and Tom Seifert as Planning Board representative on the Community Preservation Committee. A vote on a companion hybrid public meetings policy was deferred pending a survey of other town committees. The board was put on notice that two foreclosed Wendell Road properties — one a burned structure — may require a decision within 60 days of a court ruling expected July 29, with a possible special meeting before the next regular session on August 4.