The Select Board entered a new era Monday evening as members reorganized following the town election, unanimously selecting Benjamin Zoll to serve as the board’s Chair. Zoll, a Precinct 6 resident, took the gavel from Acting Chair Winston Daley in the Dumpy Conference Room, signaling a shift in leadership as Milton prepares for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. Motion Made by J. Driscoll to elect B. Zoll as Chair and Motion Passed 5-0. Shortly after, the board tapped Meghan Haggerty to serve as Vice Chair. Motion Made by W. Daley to elect M. Haggerty as Vice Chair and Motion Passed 5-0. The board also designated Member Albert to serve as Secretary to assist with document certification. Motion Made by J. Driscoll to elect Member Albert as Secretary and Motion Passed 5-0.

I just wanted to thank the residents for coming out for the election and putting their trust in us, Zoll said after taking his seat at the head of the table. Let’s get to work. Haggerty expressed similar gratitude toward the municipal employees who managed the transition, noting, Thank you to the amazing town staff who really did support us through this whole process. I am also excited to get started. Daley welcomed the new and returning colleagues to the challenges of town governance, describing the post-election period as a whirlwind and inviting them into the breach.

The board quickly pivoted to the looming Town Meeting, which begins Wednesday. Town Administrator Nick Milano updated the board on a proposed amendment to Article 42, the town’s sign bylaw. The Planning Board is recommending an extension of the Building Commissioner’s review window for sign permit applications from the current seven days to 30 days. Milano explained that the change is driven by the high volume of applications handled by the inspectional services department, which has recently struggled with the strain of 40B growth and record-keeping upgrades. His concern was if he was unable to get to it within seven days and there was something defective with the application, it would be missed in that window, Milano told the board. This just gives a little bit more breathing room.

Financial transparency remained a focal point as the board reviewed Articles 36 and 37, which involve potential energy agreements and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) arrangements. Chair Zoll requested that a formal presentation be prepared before the articles are debated on the Town Meeting floor to ensure residents understand the process. Milano confirmed he plans to provide a high-level overview of the PILOT articles to clearly articulate what the articles are trying to achieve. This discussion comes as the town prepares to debate the $155.7 million FY27 budget, which includes critical funding for additional staff hours in the building department and a new master plan for traffic calming. Milano noted that if the FY27 budget is approved, the town can begin coordinating a comprehensive traffic calming process with input from the Traffic Commission.

The board also began the process of reshuffling committee assignments. Daley expressed a desire to remain on the Finance Subcommittee to maintain continuity on the town's three-year financial plan, but he suggested that Richard G. Wells Jr. take Haggerty’s former seat on that committee. I think Member Wells' experience in operations over the last 15 to 20 years would be incredibly helpful there, Daley noted. Wells, a long-time public servant, also weighed in on the format of the board’s upcoming annual retreat, scheduled for June 13 at 10:00 a.m. While a facilitator was used last year to discuss government roles, the board opted to skip the outside help this time to focus on specific local priorities.

Wells observed that while the facilitator was good at taking us through roles and responsibilities from an outside perspective, the board now feels prepared to lead its own sessions. Daley advocated for a deeper dive into local issues, stating he wants the group to spend time wish casting for the town’s future rather than focusing on generic procedural training. I would actually prefer if it was just our group and the Town Administrator, Daley said. The board will use the June session to audit their progress on previous goals and set a new agenda for the coming fiscal year.

Looking ahead, the board scheduled a presentation from MassDOT regarding the Randolph Avenue safety pilot for May 26. They also plan to meet with representatives from Beth Israel Deaconess Milton Hospital to discuss the ongoing PILOT relationship and expectations for future adjustments. Regarding the MassDOT meeting, Zoll emphasized the importance of local coordination, asking if the Traffic Commission would be involved. Milano confirmed they would be part of the internal meetings to ensure a unified town position on the road diet and traffic counts currently underway.