Charlton Select Board Approves New Police Officer Within Existing Budget

CHARLTON — July 8, 2025 — Charlton Select Board authorizes a new patrol officer and hears wide-ranging ADA compliance findings at July 8 meeting. The board voted unanimously to allow Police Chief Doubt to hire an additional patrol officer within the already-approved fiscal year 2026 budget, drawing on savings from union contract negotiations and early capital purchases — with Town Administrator Andrew Dowd noting the only potential pressure point is health insurance for the new hire. The board also received a presentation on a $43,470 state-grant-funded ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan update from consultants Jim Mazick, Mike Kennedy, and Connor Robichard of CMRPC, who found the Highway Garage nearly fully compliant but flagged major deficiencies at the community center, the library's children's bathroom, and a Memorial Field portable toilet whose door chain restricts wheelchair entry to 27 inches. The Massachusetts Historical Commission increased its reimbursement on the Number 2 Schoolhouse restoration by $50,000 above the original grant. The board voted to post the ADA plan for comment rather than ratify it immediately, with formal adoption to be scheduled at a future meeting.