Eliot Select Board Approves New Officer, Policies, and Carryovers

The Eliot Select Board met on October 8 with three of five members present, approving minutes, a new police officer, a procurement card policy update, an emergency action plan, and three fiscal year 26 carryover requests. The board also set an October 22 public hearing on the November 3 special town meeting referendum and tabled a town manager contract extension to a future meeting with full attendance.

Key points

• The board ratified the appointment of Abigail Gilman as a Town of Eliot police officer by roll call vote, with Alex Arresas, Lauren Dow, and William Weedy all voting yes.
• The board accepted an updated procurement card policy aligned with new Munis financial software, and accepted an emergency action plan that qualifies the town for a five percent liability insurance discount.
• The board approved three FY26 carryover requests (Public Works for paving, Police for station renovation, and Administrative for health insurance, communications, and software costs), which the chair said would not require new taxes.
• The board set a public hearing for October 22, 2026 on the November 3 special town meeting referendum, with information on each article posted to the town website.
• The board tabled a town manager contract extension to a future meeting so all five members could vote on it.
• The chair reported receiving a demand letter from a law firm asking the board to reconsider the lot rent stabilization ordinance, and said he responded that the board would not pull it from the ballot but remains open to changes after November 3.

Next steps

• The board will hold a public hearing on October 22, 2026 at Town Hall on the November 3 special town meeting referendum.
• The town manager contract extension was tabled to a future meeting when all five board members can participate.
• The chair will request that the Planning Board provide a list of ordinances in progress at the first meeting in November, with a final product due by the third Thursday in February.
• The town will offer extended voting hours and Eliot First Mile rides to Town Hall on October 21 and 24, and on election day, to help residents register or return absentee ballots.

Read the full transcript