Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves DEP grant funds for trash enterprise.

Select Board votes to direct DEP grant funds for trash toters to general fund. The Board voted 4-0 to place Department of Environmental Protection grant money into the General Fund rather than the Enterprise Fund, rejecting a proposal to increase the Finance Committee Reserve Fund by $5,000 that

Townbrief news summary · Apr 2

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Board authorizes $500K utility reserve withdrawal; June repayment plan sought

The Select Board voted 5-0 to authorize a $500,000 withdrawal from the electric utility's rate stabilization fund and unanimously approved the electric department's FY27 budget.

Townbrief news summary · Mar 30

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves steep water rate increases; building permit fees continued to April 6.

Select Board approves 253 percent seasonal water rate increase effective May 1. Chair Charles Surpitski and Vice Chair Michael Dougherty led the 4-1 vote to raise residential rates from $8.50 to $29.91 per 100 cubic feet during May through September, while Linda Alexson opposed, calling the

Townbrief news summary · Mar 23

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves full automation trash contract with 35-gallon totes, relocates spring town meeting to gym.

Select Board approves trash automation contract and moves spring town meeting to gymnasium. The five-member Board unanimously voted to proceed with full automation for weekly trash and recycling pickup using 35-gallon trash totes and 95/96-gallon recycling totes, following Public Works Director

Townbrief news summary · Mar 16

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves 67 commercial shellfish permits for upcoming season.

Select Board approves 67 commercial shellfish permits and two lottery applicants. Chair Charles Surpitski, Vice Chair Michael Dougherty, Sarah Player, and Linda Alexson voted unanimously 4-0 to grant the permits for the year beginning April 1, and voted 3-0-1 to approve commercial licenses for

Townbrief news summary · Mar 10

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board authorizes $200,000 stabilization fund transfer

Electric Light Department won unanimous authorization to draw $200,000 from reserves. The Select Board and ELD Commissioners voted to allow the transfer from the Rate Stabilization Fund through March 31, 2026, after ELD Manager Dylan Lewellyn discussed near-term power costs and upcoming bills.

Townbrief news summary · Mar 9

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves Pony Express license renewal and backs cooling corridors grant

Select Board approves Pony Express renewal and cooling corridors grant. The Board voted unanimously to renew the three-year license agreement with Pony Express operator Royce Knowlton through January 1, 2029, and voted 5-0 to support the Planning Department's application for the Massachusetts

Townbrief news summary · Mar 2

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board reviews FY27 budgets across town departments.

Select Board reviews FY27 departmental budgets across town operations. Interim Town Manager Thomas Younger, Town Assessor Mary-Lou Ireland, Town Clerk Andrea Pappalimberis, and Public Works Director Rick Clarke presented departmental spending proposals with no formal votes recorded. The board

Townbrief news summary · Feb 25

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board approves appointments and pavilion beach use; reviews FY27 departmental budgets.

Select Board conducts comprehensive FY27 budget review across nine departments. Chair Charles Surpitski and members unanimously appointed Vincent Falcione to the Shade Tree and Beautification Committee and Helen Anderson to the Board of Registrars, and approved pavilion beach use for Let's Sauna

Townbrief news summary · Feb 24

Government · Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen)

Select Board suspends FY27 budget hearing, schedules continuation.

Ipswich Select Board halts FY27 budget review, citing unprepared members. Chair Charles Surpitski and Vice Chair Michael Dougherty led a unanimous vote to suspend the hearing after Linda Alexson objected that materials were incomplete and distributed late. Finance Director Catherine Gabriel, Chief

Townbrief news summary · Feb 12