January 27, 2026

“Motion by Mr. Donovan to approve, seconded by Mr. Bunker, unanimous..” (Motion: Donovan, second: Bunker)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

“Motion to withdraw the article for four additional police officers made by Mr. Donovan, seconded by Mr. Bunker, unanimous..” (Motion: Donovan, second: Bunker)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

“Motion to approve by Mr. Donvan per delineated spaces and inspections, seconded by Mr. Bunker, unanimous..” (Motion: Donovan, second: Bunker)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

“Mr. Donovan made the motion to appoint Michael Maresco as Town Manager subject to successful contract negotiations and authorize the Chairman to negotiate a contract and bring it back to the board for ratification at a special meeting on Thursday. Ms. Djusberg thanked all the incredible applicants. It was challenging to pick three candidates. She had been a department head for 13 years and a Selectmen. She had never been reviewed as a department head and liked the fact that it was brought up by each of the candidates as something they would do. She felt Mr. Maresco would be a better fit for the town. Motion was seconded by Ms. Djusberg. Ms. Emery - she based her decision on the experience of everyone and what the town would need. Based on answers tonight she felt Mr. Maresco would be the best fit, although this is a difficult decision. Mr. Bunker - all three applicants were great but felt we need someone with the town administrator experience and liked the answers to his questions. He has seen what he has done in the last month in real time and how he has handled things. Mr. Woods - the candidates were excellent. We have a strong town manager form of government, and we need someone who is going to fulfill that strong role. There are areas in town that need to be addressed. He wants a strong town manager that will run the town, which will work with the department heads, who isn't afraid to discipline when necessary. He's been screaming for a year and a half that we're in a tough financial position, and we're in a tough financial position, but we also have other situations that need to be addressed. As a small business owner, he is frustrated by not being able to function as a selectman because of how municipal government works. His position is that we've extended the contract for Chief Bonney for 5 years, for Chief Glynn for 5 years for stability, and right now for bringing the town manager in. All the candidates were excellent. He wants someone who has the experience and who has been through it and that is why he wants Mr. Maresco. The Board pushed to get this done because of the financial problems we have. It owes the town's people to work through these problems, to work with all the departments. We needed to bring someone in who can do that. The interviews went very well, and he thought Mr. Maresco is the best person for the position in town. Roll call vote: Ms. Emery, yes; Mr. Bunker, yes; Mr. Donovan, yes; Ms. Djusberg, yes; Mr. Woods, yes..” (Motion: Donovan, second: Djusberg)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

“Mr. Donovan made a motion to have the town manager write to the Board of Health that the Select Board is opposed to the regulations from a financial standpoint. Town counsel would have to enforce the provisions of the fine structure, and the health agent would be charged with administering the program when we have a reduction in staff already because of our financial situation. He has asked the Chairman to see if the Board will submit an article to town meeting to make Abington a right to farm community and let the voters make that determination and ask the BOH to put off any further consideration until the people of the town have had the opportunity to render their decision. These regulations as proposed would take effect immediately according to the posting. Mr. Bunker asked what would happen if the regulations are adopted and we go forward with the right to farm? Mr. Donovan - he doesn't think the BOH should be rushing into this matter; it should be addressing the rat issue in terms of education and baiting and working with the Cooperative Extension Service. Ms. Emery - she talked to the Chairman and thought 7 pages was too long and didn't agree with a lot that was on it. It is her understanding that this is not the final document and there will be many changes. She hopes there will be changes to it. Ms. Djusberg - doesn't agree with some of this. Doesn't want government coming into her home but likes the people to come and vote on these decisions. Mr. Woods - lives in North Abington near the post office and no one around him has animals, but there are rats in the area, so he pays the pest guy to put out bait traps. It's not because there are animals around. Aaron Christian, Chairman, Board of Health - Disagrees with the regulations that are out there. They sent it to town counsel, and it was redlined. They had a meeting with Joe Kenney on November 17th, and he had a lot of great input on barn animals. They won't ban wild and exotic animals. They have gotten a lot of feedback. This came about from the Public Health Excellence Program, and they determined there were several areas that they were lacking in terms of public health enforcement, one of which was stables, and that dictates what types of grant access they have. They have been working on this for the past two years but have gotten more feedback in the last two weeks. The Board thanked Aaron for coming up. Mike Lavery, 238 Washington Street - naming or identifying chickens was meant as a joke. Thought BOH was doing a great job, and Chris works hard; another body might help. Katie VanNest - naming and identifying chickens was a joke. Tense exchange between Ms. VanNest and Mr. Donovan followed. Krista Manna - had submitted a letter to the Board from her daughter and summarized points on chicken raising; she was against the regulations. Carol Dolan, 15 Pinecrest Road, BOH - the document hasn't been finalized yet. She would like everyone to give them a chance to work through this. They are doing this for the quality of life and for our community; they are not trying to prevent animal ownership but to look for emergency preparedness issues and viruses jumping from animals to humans. We all vaccinate for rabies and that has kept the public safe. Meghan Gundal, 106 Rockland Street - fourth generation farmer, an active member of the MA Farm Bureau. There are two chapters of MGL that should be recognized - MGL chapter 40A Sec. 3 re structures for animals and chapter 111 Sec. 125A re nuisance and odors. Mr. Woods - this is not an attack on the Board of Health. He respects that they came here on their own . It's an attack on the changes. This is nothing personal to anyone on the BOH. He considers it an overreach. It seems as though everyone is entitled to their opinion except if you're a selectman. Joe Kenney, 172 Russell Lane, Animal Control Officer, and runs an exotic animal business and is well versed in animal laws - state, federal. These laws as written are not done correctly in his opinion. He respects the BOH and has known most of them for a long time and has worked with them. He doesn't think they understand how this bill is written or how it's going to affect people with their animals. It is overreaching. It would allow health agents to walk onto your property unannounced. Wrong. You would need a warrant for that. It would involve the police, enforcement, and health inspector. There are standards for animals through MA Department of Agriculture and exotics through the Division of Fish and Wildlife. This is extensive and overreaching in the way it is written. It would cost the town a significant amount of money to enforce and invade our privacy on our own property. Chief Bonney - is happy this isn't in effect yet. From a financial standpoint, this would be very taxing for the department. Having a talented Animal Control Officer like Joe is hugely important. We need him, and we only have him for a limited number of hours per week. Krista Manna - if there are problems with animals, they can already send someone out to inspect without these regulations. Mr. Donovan's motion was seconded by Ms. Djusberg, unanimous..” (Motion: Donovan, second: Djusberg)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)