Freetown Select Board Approves Fees, Contracts, and Union Agreement in October Session

FREETOWN — October 16, 2023 — Freetown Select Board acts on more than a dozen items, flags fire station budget gap. Meeting Monday, the board unanimously approved building permit fee increases recommended by the Building Commissioner following a survey showing Freetown lagged neighboring communities, and cleared a memorandum of agreement with Public Employees Union Local 272 fixing a step-increase formula that had penalized long-serving clerical employees by tying raises to promotion date rather than anniversary date. Town Administrator alerted the board that the Fire Station No. 3 renovation — budgeted at $3 million — is currently projected to run $1.2 million over, with a new apparatus bay, bunk space, and meeting room driving the cost; she noted available free cash means no immediate tax increase, but a town meeting appropriation will be required. The board tabled appointment of a Freetown representative to the Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School Committee, directing staff to arrange a joint session with the School Committee, leaving two candidates — Charles "Jack" Lepre and Joseph Zeni — without a decision; the board also approved a peddler's license for solar company Sunrun, conditioned on police notification and employee identification badges, and voted to open the town beach gate one day per week year-round for seniors, weather permitting.