Select Board — April 14, 2026
The meeting was marked by high-stakes personnel decisions and direct public accusations of conflict of interest and lack of board impartiality.
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The April 14 Select Board meeting in Warner was marked by high tension and several decisions that will shape the town's future. Most notably, the Board voted not to reinstate Kathy Frenette as Town Administrator, a decision that follows significant public debate regarding her employment and the Board's handling of the matter.
During public comment, the atmosphere grew even more contentious when a resident, John Leavitt, alleged that Board Chair Alfred Hanson should have recused himself from votes involving Ms. Frenette due to a prior restraining order. The Board did not provide a recorded response to this allegation of a conflict of interest, raising questions about the impartiality of the decision-making process.
Other significant topics included resident frustrations regarding the North Road encampment on town-owned property—with calls for a welfare officer to manage sanitation and safety—and discussions regarding the potential impact of inter-town ambulance service costs with Hopkinton and Webster. As these issues move forward, residents should continue to monitor how the Board balances legal constraints with community needs.
Public impact
Potential changes to inter-town service agreements and costs with Hopkinton and Webster.
The hiring of a new welfare officer to manage social/safety issues on town property.
Topics discussed
The board entered a non-public session regarding the dismissal, promotion, compensation, or discipline of a public employee.
Discussion regarding the restoration of the highway garage and a secured $139,000 grant for a culvert over Barkley Brook.
Ed Mical reported on the approval to update the Emergency Operation and Continuity of Operations plans.
The board reviewed and voted on several reappointments for the Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and Parks & Recreation.
The board discussed designating specific town positions authorized to make bank deposits following a query regarding the Select Board Administrative Assistant.
Discussion on the technical requirements, costs, and licensing for a proposed repeater on the Transfer Station Tower.
The board discussed inter-town discussions with Hopkinton and Webster regarding ambulance service costs.
Residents expressed conflicting views regarding the employment and reinstatement of Kathy Frenette.
Discussion regarding a homeless encampment on town-owned property and the need for a welfare officer.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Employment status of Kathy Frenette
North Road Homeless Encampment
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
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gemma-4-26b, grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.
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