Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Oversight
Mass resignation and allegations of acting outside advisory mandate highlight governance and transparency concerns.
Allegations of BPAC overreach during the Baboosic Greenway project at the May 5 meeting triggered mass resignations and led directly to the board's May 26 vote to disband the committee. The episode exposed gaps in advisory committee governance and project oversight.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee oversight issue originated during public discussion of the Baboosic Greenway rail trail project at the May 5, 2026 Board of Selectmen meeting. Property owners and residents raised allegations that the committee had exceeded its advisory role by engaging in non-transparent actions and attempting to influence other town boards.
These claims centered on the committee's handling of the rail trail, including alleged deceptive communications and unauthorized surveying on private land, which prompted the board to signal a need for reassessment of the committee's charter and operations.
The controversy escalated when the committee submitted a mass resignation letter dated May 12, 2026, citing governance confusion over the project. At the May 26, 2026 meeting, a citizen speaker framed the resignations as a response to unclear town oversight rather than committee misconduct, while the board debated pausing versus fully disbanding the group.
The board ultimately voted 5-0 to accept the resignations and formally disband the committee, with plans to redesign its structure and membership for any successor body. This sequence directly links the project-related allegations to the dissolution decision and ongoing questions about advisory committee governance.
The Board and staff will determine the appropriate future structure and membership for a successor committee.
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