HOLDEN – The Board of Selectmen will choose someone to fill the vacant town seat on the Wachusett Regional School Committee when it meets Dec. 12, having decided not to leave it open.
Although members noted the person will only serve until the spring town election, when the number of seats on the committee will also shrink, they wanted to ensure Holden had its full complement of representatives as the school district goes through the budget season.
The board debated options, including getting more applicants, but with five already — more than usual for an open seat — they felt they could move ahead.
But then they had to determine when to make the vote with the December meeting schedule.
In the end, they chose Dec. 12, planning an earlier start than usual for the meeting to allow time to interview the five applicants who have expressed interest. And if the timing is right, whoever is selected could attend the School Committee meeting that night to get one meeting of experience before the January budget treat.
The board also discussed work on a naming policy and how the board would proceed, such as criteria to be used and the process.
The effort stems from efforts to name the senior center in honor of a past director. Selectmen sought to develop a standard for any naming of town buildings, something the town has done only a few times.
The board also is continuing to look at the intersection of Wachusett and Highland streets.
Selectman Richard Bates noted a recent accident there.
“I think it’s critical we at least address what, if anything, we can do. We’ve mitigated to the best of our ability. There needs to be more done before we have a tragedy there.”
Town Manager Peter Lukes said that there had been no traffic study in the last decade and added, “There is a limited amount of action we can take in realigning the intersection.”
He said some options include blinking signs and traffi c enforcement.
“Speed is definitely a factor,” Lukes said of the hazard at the intersection.
