MassVoter.com← Dighton Board of SelectmenDighton Board of Selectmen · 2024–2026 Board · Regular meeting
July 9, 2025
12 recorded votes, 7 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Peter D. Caron, Nicole Mello
Absent: Mark Pacheco
Every vote, in order
Enter into Executive Session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21 (a)(1)(3) To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional compe
To enter into Executive Session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21 (a)(1)(3) To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to enter into Executive Session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21 (a)(1)(3) To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. Non-Union Personne! Matter To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. Dighton Permanent Fire Association Local 302 Grievance | Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. : Meeting called back to order at 6:49 p.m. by Chairman Caron. Present: Chairman Caron, Selectman Mello, Town Administrator Ralph Vitacco, Executive Assistant Karin Brady, Town Accountant Sirena Amaral, members of the Finance Committee, Chairman Peter Roache, Doug White and Ron McKay. Also Present: Members of SRPEDD, Taylor Perez and Robert Cabral Present via Zoom: Rebecca Mitchell, candidate for Town Nurse and Susan Gustafson Moment of Silence A moment of silence was requested by Chairman Caron for Elizabeth Rose, Alice Souza and Betty Tragakis. 1 | Selectman Mello read a short synopsis of the life of Alice Souza and her service to the Town of Dighton. Scheduled Appointments Board of Selectmen/Finance Committee Joint Meeting End of Year Transfers The Finance Committee did not have a quorum. . : The Town Accountant gave a short description of the request for End of Year Transfer from the Town Historian budget to the 250° Tricentennial Budget..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Transfer the $250.00 from the Town Historian budget to the Tricentennial Budget
To transfer the $250.00 from the Town Historian budget to the Tricentennial Budget
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to transfer the $250.00 from the Town Historian budget to the Tricentennial Budget. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Dighton Housing Production Plan Taylor Perez, Director of Housing and Research, SRPEDD (Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development) Mr. Cabral gave a presentation on the Dighton Housing Production Plan and a recent survey that was conducted. Taylor Perez, present via Zoom, went over the Housing Production Plan Report prepared by SRPEDD. She said it was determined that there was a lot of concern about tax burden. Ms. Perez indicated that SRPEDD would like to spend some more time on open responses. Selectman Mello asked about 40B. Mr. Cabral said discussing 40B housing gives the town some control over that such as where they would like to see it in town and the town could proactively plan. Taylor Perez said it gets communities thinking about where it could go and it is a requirement that every town has to meet. Town Administrator Vitacco said the Housing Production Plan will help the Planning Board, the Economic Development Committee and also the developers. He said it is a useful tool to give control to the Town on what 40B development will come in to the town. He said this is extremely important, because unscrupulous developers love towns without Housing Production Plans, and the good developers have an idea what the town is looking for and locations. Mr. Vitacco said he is a strong proponent of Housing Production Plan. Taylor Perez said when it comes to picking sites, it can become contentious. Chairman Caron asked about the median income and if that is accurate. Taylor said she thought it was accurate and would double check that figure. Sue Gustafson, via Zoom, said she would like to know where the income figures come from and also wondered how to get more people to respond. 2 Taylor Perez said this presentation will be publicly available and if anything changed, it will be adjusted and everyone is free to look back on it. Sue Gustafson asked if SRPEDD looks at neighboring communities. Taylor Perez said they do. Sue Gustafson said that taxes seem to be high in comparison to other communities and wondered how the housing plan would affect our services. Taylor Perez said there was a lot of concern about taxes. We will talk about infrastructure as part of the plan and be candid about the limitations. Announcements : Announcements were read by Selectman Mello Town Administrator's Report Mr. Vitacco when over the upcoming road closures and plans for advertising. = He said the town financial team is still meeting. Mr. Vitacco said at the next Board of Selectmen's meeting we will be discussing the Sanitation Enterprise Fund and we will also discuss a Debt Exclusion option. Mr. Vitacco said at the August 13th, Board of Selectmen's meeting we will discuss townwide staffing cuts and finally on August 27, we will discuss a plan and how to move forward with a budget for FY27. Mr. Vitacco said he would produce a one-page budget sheet for review at the next meeting. He said cherry sheets were made available and were not much different than what we anticipated. Mr. Vitacco said we received a letter from Senator Dooner that D-R received additional Chapter 70 money and that translates into our assessment. He also said that he would be receiving some information from Labor Counsel and would be forming a Personnel Policy Review Committee to review policies and create some new personnel policies as well. Old Business None. Public Input None. New Business Reworld Contract.” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Authorize the Town Administrator to sign the contract with Reworld Waste, LLC. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye
To authorize the Town Administrator to sign the contract with Reworld Waste, LLC. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the contract with Reworld Waste, LLC. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Facilities Use Request- Car Show, Taunton Youth Football.” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
That the town award the SERSG paper contract to WB Mason
That the town award the SERSG paper contract to WB Mason
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED that the town award the SERSG paper contract to WB Mason. Rall Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Board of Health Member Position Appointing Process.” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
That the Board of Selectmen accept the appointing process for the Board of Health Member position
That the Board of Selectmen accept the appointing process for the Board of Health Member position
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mella motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED that the Board of Selectmen accept the appointing process for the Board of Health Member position. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Board of Health Selection for Town Nurse Rebecca Mitchell was present via Zoom and expressed interest in becoming the Town Nurse..” (second: Caron)
Appoint Becka Mitchell as Town Nurse for the Town of Dighton
To appoint Becka Mitchell as Town Nurse for the Town of Dighton
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to appoint Becka Mitchell as Town Nurse for the Town of Dighton. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Continue this item to the next Board of Selectmen's meeting
To continue this item to the next Board of Selectmen's meeting
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to continue this item to the next Board of Selectmen's meeting. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Goal Setting Mr, Vitacco recommended that goals be set for five years and reviewed on an annual basis. He said they should be memorialized in a long-range plan. Chairman Caron said he thought it was a good idea to start the process. He thought some things would be, go from weekly to bi-weekly pay, personnel policies, Capital items and planning for budget shortfalls. Mr. Vitacco said he thought it should take more than one meeting. 4 Chairman Caron said he did not think it should be listed on the agenda each meeting..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Table the goal setting agenda item until the next meeting
To table the goal setting agenda item until the next meeting
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to table the goal setting agenda item until the next meeting. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Approve Warrant #53A-25 in the amount of $138,630.78, Warrant #53B-25 in the amount of $139,459.44, Warrant #1C-26 in the amount of $3,340.00, all dated July 2, 2025
To approve Warrant #53A-25 in the amount of $138,630.78, Warrant #53B-25 in the amount of $139,459.44, Warrant #1C-26 in the amount of $3,340.00, all dated July 2, 2025
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to approve Warrant #53A-25 in the amount of $138,630.78, Warrant #53B-25 in the amount of $139,459.44, Warrant #1C-26 in the amount of $3,340.00, all dated July 2, 2025. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Approve Warrant #54A-25 in the amount of $44,577.58, Warrant #54B-25 in the amount of $108,131.55, Warrant #54C-25 in the amount of $33,576.92, Warrant #2A-26 in the amount of $104,725.00, 2B-26 in th
To approve Warrant #54A-25 in the amount of $44,577.58, Warrant #54B-25 in the amount of $108,131.55, Warrant #54C-25 in the amount of $33,576.92, Warrant #2A-26 in the amount of $104,725.00, 2B-26 in the amount of $99,450.90 and Warrant #2C-26 in the amount of $162,209.95, all dated July 10, 2025
From the minutes
“Selectman Mella motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to approve Warrant #54A-25 in the amount of $44,577.58, Warrant #54B-25 in the amount of $108,131.55, Warrant #54C-25 in the amount of $33,576.92, Warrant #2A-26 in the amount of $104,725.00, 2B-26 in the amount of $99,450.90 and Warrant #2C-26 in the amount of $162,209.95, all dated July 10, 2025. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye..” (second: Caron)
Approve the Board of Selectmen's meeting minutes of June 25, 2025
To approve the Board of Selectmen's meeting minutes of June 25, 2025
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron stepped down to second and it was VOTED to approve the Board of Selectmen's meeting minutes of June 25, 2025. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye..” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
Adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m
To adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m
The minutes say the motion was voted but do not list a roll call for it.
From the minutes
“Selectman Mello motioned, Chairman Caron seconded and it was VOTED to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m. Roll Call: Chairman Caron, aye. Selectman Mello, aye. Respectfully submitted, Karin Brady Executive Assistant Board of Selectmen Documents Reviewed: End of Year Transfer ~ Town Historian to the Tricentennial Committee Dighton Housing Production Plan Dighton Road Work Announcement Flyer Blood Drive Flyer Reworld LLC Contract Facilities Use Request - Karl Spratt Memorial Field SERSG Award of Paper Contract - W.B. Mason ; Board of Health Member - Posting of Vacancy Board of Health Recommendation for Public Health Nurse Remote Participation Policy Minutes of the Board of Selectmen's Regular meeting of June 25, 2025. 6.” (Motion: Mello, second: Caron)
From the Dighton Board of Selectmen’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. Nearly every vote is a roll call with each Selectman named; we check every roll call against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Member photos: Mark Pacheco and Peter Caron from the Taunton Daily Gazette; Glen Cabbage from the Town of Dighton video of the September 23, 2026 Board of Selectmen meeting (identified by the nameplate in front of each member).
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