Town of Warwick
Minutes of Hybrid Meeting of the Warwick Selectboard
Warwick Community School
Monday, April 27th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Selectboard Members Present: Brian Snell, Chair; Alan Genovese, Vice-Chair; Keith Ross, Clerk
Others Present: David Young, Town Coordinator; Diana Noble, Assistant to the Town Coordinator; Dawn Magi; Matthew Dorgan, Highway Superintendent; Todd Dexter, Highway Commission; Tracey Styles, Assessors and Highway Commission Clerk; Joe Larson, Fire Chief; Laurette Crane; Jim McRae; Sue O’Reilly-McRae
Others Present via Zoom: Claudia Lewis
- Call To Order – Snell called the meeting to order at 6:04pm
- Appearances
- Cultural Council Appointments
- Ross MOVED to appoint Sue O’Reilly-McRae and Louise Doud to the Cultural Council. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Cultural Council Appointments
- Annual Town Meeting Action Items
- Vote on Annual Town Meeting venue (Town Hall or School) – The Board agreed that there is no right answer to this question, as there are benefits and drawbacks to both locations. The Town Hall has better acoustics for hearing impaired people. The School has a larger space with better parking, and the potential for easier involvement for parents with children. Ross proposed holding this year’s town meeting at the Town Hall and holding a straw poll with those in attendance. Young asked that Saturday meetings be considered in the future.
- Snell MOVED to vote to hold the Annual Town Meeting at the Town Hall, and hold a straw poll for where the meeting should be in the future. Genovese – Yes; Ross – Yes; Snell – Yes. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Sign Annual Town Meeting Warrant to post by 6:30pm
- Snell MOVED to Annual Town Warrant as presented with no changes. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Vote on Annual Town Meeting venue (Town Hall or School) – The Board agreed that there is no right answer to this question, as there are benefits and drawbacks to both locations. The Town Hall has better acoustics for hearing impaired people. The School has a larger space with better parking, and the potential for easier involvement for parents with children. Ross proposed holding this year’s town meeting at the Town Hall and holding a straw poll with those in attendance. Young asked that Saturday meetings be considered in the future.
- Continued Appearances
- Highway Equipment Bid Review – The Board discussed the Highway Commission’s recommendation to purchase a Wacker Neuson loader rather than a lower-cost alternative. Discussion focused on safety, roadside operation, transportation between job sites, equipment specifications, reliability, and parts availability. Concerns were raised, mainly by Young, regarding the bid process and whether the recommended machine exceeded the original specifications. Highway representatives Dorgan and Dexter stated that the recommended equipment better met operational and safety needs for Warwick’s highway work. A motion was made and seconded to support the Highway Commission’s recommendation. Further discussion followed, including warranty coverage, long-term maintenance costs, and fuel usage.
- Genovese MOVED to support the Highway Commission’s recommendation. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Fire Department Updates – Chief Larson provided updates on department activities, including receipt of a $10,500 grant to complete the department’s hydraulic rescue equipment set. The Chief reported that the grant program had been extended for an additional five years and noted that the new equipment had already contributed to a documented life-saving rescue. The Chief also discussed establishing a hazardous materials reimbursement account to recover costs associated with spill response and cleanup. Additional updates were provided on renovations and improvements at the fire station, including completion of bathrooms, offices, meeting space, and HVAC upgrades. An open house is planned for the fall.
- Highway Equipment Bid Review – The Board discussed the Highway Commission’s recommendation to purchase a Wacker Neuson loader rather than a lower-cost alternative. Discussion focused on safety, roadside operation, transportation between job sites, equipment specifications, reliability, and parts availability. Concerns were raised, mainly by Young, regarding the bid process and whether the recommended machine exceeded the original specifications. Highway representatives Dorgan and Dexter stated that the recommended equipment better met operational and safety needs for Warwick’s highway work. A motion was made and seconded to support the Highway Commission’s recommendation. Further discussion followed, including warranty coverage, long-term maintenance costs, and fuel usage.
- Chapter 268 Section 20C and 20D Ethics disclosures or exemptions – none
- Minutes of previous meetings – The Selectboard approved the minutes of the March 9, March 23, and April 6 meetings, with one correction to the April 6 minutes regarding language related to the regional agreement ballot process.
- Genovese MOVED to accept the minutes from March 9, March 23, and April 6, with the aforementioned change, 2026. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Citizens’ concerns and suggestions for future agenda items – None
- Discussions and reports
- Town Coordinator Report:
- Grant extensions – Young reported that the digital equity grant was extended and the elder engagement grant was extended as well.
- Budget and Town Meeting Updates – The Selectboard discussed preparations for Town Meeting and announced a pre-Town Meeting information session hosted by the Finance Committee. Members thanked town departments, the Finance Committee, and volunteers for their collaborative work on the budget process.
- Selectboard Reports
- Town Coordinator Search Committee Facilitation – Ross and the Town Coordinator Screening Committee reported receiving ten applications for the position. The committee plans to meet to select several candidates for preliminary interviews before recommending finalists to the Selectboard.
- Six Town Regionalization Planning Board Update – Genovese updated the Selectboard on the Five Town and Six Town Regional Agreement process, including progress on legislative language related to future ballot votes.
- Town Coordinator Report:
- Actions
- Approve Sustainable Purchasing Policy superseding the Buy Recycled Purchasing Policy – The Selectboard reviewed and approved an updated sustainability purchasing policy required for continued eligibility for recycling and sustainability grant funding.
- Ross MOVED to sign the Sustainable Purchasing Policy. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
- Approve Sustainable Purchasing Policy superseding the Buy Recycled Purchasing Policy – The Selectboard reviewed and approved an updated sustainability purchasing policy required for continued eligibility for recycling and sustainability grant funding.
- Approval of administrative actions taken – none
- Items unanticipated at time of posting – none
Snell MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:01pm. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.
The next meeting will be Monday, May 4th at 6:00pm to precede Annual Town Meeting at 7:00pm
Respectfully submitted by Heather Berlin, Town Secretary
Documents consulted at this meeting:
*Meeting agenda dated April 27, 2026
*Annual Town Meeting Warrant
*FY27 Omnibus Budget
*Minutes for March 9, March 23, and April 6
*Highway request form and underlying bid documentation
*New Environmental Purchasing Policy, present policy and cover letter example