Charlton Select Board Defeats Reorganization Motion 3-2, Spiewak Remains Chair

CHARLTON -- February 10, 2026, Charlton Select Board voted 3-2 to keep Chair Karen Spiewak in place, rejecting a reorganization motion that exposed sharp internal conflict at the February 10 meeting. Member David Singer, who requested the item, told the board that Spiewak had on at least six recorded occasions attempted to prevent him from speaking, twice by shouting him down, at least twice by gaveling him, and twice by threatening to have him removed from a meeting, which he said would violate his First Amendment rights. Spiewak did not address the specific allegations, saying instead that "actions speak louder than words" and that her 30-plus years of public service speaks for itself. Singer and Member Peter Lancette voted in favor of reorganization; Spiewak, Vice Chair Stephen Koronis, and Clerk Basia Zurawski voted against. In other business, the board unanimously reduced a commercial solar permit fee at 261 North Sturbridge Road from $34,200 to $2,500 and took a divided first look at a draft policy on town cooperation with federal agencies, with a binding vote scheduled for February 24.