Freetown, MA

Board of Assessors

Planning Board

Building Committee

The Freetown Building Committee is meeting virtually to receive minutes, get updates on building projects, and continue discussions on land in the South Main Street corridor for a future fire station. The committee will also discuss its current makeup, including two vacancies, and any proposed adjustments. This is a regular working meeting with no votes or final decisions listed on the agenda.

• Receive minutes from previous meeting
• Updates on COA/Library joint building project
• Updates on Village School grant and future use
• Continued discussion on land in South Main Street corridor for future fire station needs
• Discussion of committee makeup and two vacancies

Council on Aging - Library Community Building Committee

The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee meeting scheduled for August 25, 2026, has been cancelled. The agenda document contains an amended notice stating the meeting will not take place, superseding the original listing of topics such as design updates and budget reviews.

• Meeting cancelled per amended notice

Board of Selectmen

The Freetown Board of Selectmen and Personnel Board will hold a joint meeting to discuss and vote on a wide range of operational items, including a police cruiser lease, environmental monitoring at the Howland Road Landfill, multiple paving and construction contracts, and personnel actions. The agenda also includes updates on clean energy regulations and zoning law changes, as well as several votes on appointments and donations.

• Vote to approve lease agreement for one 2026 Dodge Durango Police Cruiser with All American Investment Group, LLC
• Vote to approve agreements for post-closure environmental monitoring (PFAS and routine) at Howland Road Landfill for 7/1/26-6/30/27
• Vote to award Milling & Paving Overlay of Keene Road and Various Streets Project to P.J. Keating Co.
• Vote to approve purchase agreement with Iron Horse Structures for a Salt Shed for the Highway Department
• Vote to increase hourly rates for winter 2026-2027 snow plow drivers by five dollars per hour

Agricultural Commission

The Freetown Agricultural Commission is meeting to discuss topics from a Farmland Protection webinar, review progress on the Right-to-Farm (RTF) bylaw and fact sheet, and approve minutes from the June 2, 2026 meeting. The agenda is routine and contains no major decisions or public hearings.

• Discuss topics from Farmland Protection initiative webinar
• Review RTF bylaw progress
• Review RTF fact sheet progress
• Approve minutes from June 2, 2026 meeting

SRPEDD: Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO)

The Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO) will vote on releasing the draft Congestion Management Plan and the draft Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan for a 21-day public comment period. The meeting also includes updates on Regional Transit Authorities and administrative changes to the FFY2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), with no votes needed on those items.

• Roll call vote to approve minutes of June 16, 2026
• Update on FFY2026-2030 Amendment #7 (no vote)
• FFY2026-2030 TIP Administrative Modification #1: GATRA equipment and facility changes (no vote)
• Vote to release Draft Congestion Management Plan for 21-day public comment
• Vote to release Draft Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan for 21-day public comment

Building Committee

The scheduled meeting of the Freetown Building Committee has been cancelled. The original agenda included updates on the COA/Library joint building and the Village School grant.

• Cancelled meeting
• COA/Library joint building updates
• Village School grant and future use
• South Main Street corridor land for future fire station needs
• Committee vacancies and makeup

SRPEDD: Joint Transportation Planning Group (JTPG)

The Joint Transportation Planning Group (JTPG) will meet to consider recommending two draft plans to the Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO) for release to a 21-day public comment period: the Southeast Mass Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan and the Southeast Mass Congestion Management Plan. The group will also approve minutes from its June 10, 2026 meeting, hear updates from Regional Transit Authorities, and hold a community of practice discussion. Public comments will be accepted at the start of the meeting.

• Roll call vote to approve minutes of June 10, 2026 meeting
• Roll call vote to recommend Draft Southeast Mass Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan to SMMPO for 21-day public comment
• Roll call vote to recommend Draft Southeast Mass Congestion Management Plan to SMMPO for 21-day public comment
• Public comments opportunity at meeting start
• Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) report and updates

Board of Health

The Freetown Board of Health meeting scheduled for August 12, 2026, has been cancelled. The agenda included routine items such as approving prior meeting minutes, discussing a proposed policy on minimum requirements for permit applications, and receiving updates from the Health Agent and Public Health Nurse.

• Meeting cancelled
• Review of minutes from May 20, June 25, and July 8, 2026
• Discussion of proposed policy on minimum requirements for permit applications
• Health Agent update
• Public Health Nurse update

Water & Sewer Commission

The Freetown Water & Sewer Commission is meeting to discuss new business, including a water main connection at 170 Middleboro Road and potential warrant articles for a Special Town Meeting. Updates will cover water line extensions, equipment, and agreements with neighboring cities. The agenda includes regular business such as approving minutes and a refund.

• 170 Middleboro Road: connect to water main
• Special Town Meeting warrant articles
• Extending water line on Narrows Road and Howland Road
• Innovation Way: MassDOT and City of Fall River
• Refund for 23 South Main Street

Conservation Commission

The Freetown Conservation Commission will hold a hybrid meeting on August 10, 2026, to continue hearings on two Notices of Intent and consider two Requests for Determination of Applicability. The agenda also includes approval of minutes from previous meetings and any other business. All items are under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

• Continued Notice of Intent — 173 Chace Road (Applicant: Maria Andrade)
• Continued Notice of Intent — 82 Cliff Drive (Applicant: Mark Presentato, Rep: Mandy Hicks, Guaranteed Builders & Developers Inc.)
• Request for Determination of Applicability — 133 Quanapoag Road (Applicant: Jesse Nunes)
• Request for Determination of Applicability — 32 North Main Street (Rep: Byron Holmes)
• Minutes: 4/13/26 (Executive Session) & 7/13/26

Board of Assessors

The Freetown Board of Assessors will meet virtually to approve prior minutes, discuss the status of a PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way, and consider a tax abatement request for Map 245, Lot 82. The board will also enter executive session to discuss real estate negotiations and litigation involving three properties.

• Status of PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way
• Tax abatement request under G.L. Ch. 60 for Map 245, Lot 82 (years 1967-2000 & 2012-2026)
• Executive session on real estate negotiation for 18 USRV Way
• Litigation: S&S Freetown, LLC vs. Board (136 South Main Street)
• Litigation: Crystal Springs, Inc. vs. Board (35 Narrows Road) and Zitano vs. Board (2 Zitano Way)

Council on Aging

The Freetown Council on Aging meeting scheduled for August 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM at 227 Chace Road has been cancelled. The cancellation notice was signed by the Director on July 29, 2026, and posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.

Council on Aging - Library Community Building Committee

The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee meeting scheduled for August 4, 2026, has been postponed. The notice confirms the meeting will be held virtually via Zoom, but no substantive decisions or discussions are listed as the agenda is procedural and the meeting has been postponed.

Planning Board

The Planning Board will conduct public hearings regarding special permits for commercial composting and manufacturing facilities. The board will also discuss proposed bylaw changes for the Fall Town Meeting and updates to stormwater and subdivision rules.

• Special permit for commercial composting at 0 Thomas Lucas Lots, Off Chace Road
• Special permit for a 21,500 sf manufacturing building and six 875 sf contractor bays at 186 Middleboro Road
• Two-lot residential subdivision proposal at 71 High Street
• Discussion of Fall Town Meeting bylaw changes regarding data centers, construction bays, and ADUs
• Review of stormwater and subdivision rules and regulations revisions

Board of Selectmen

The Freetown Board of Selectmen meeting scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM was cancelled. The cancellation notice was filed and posted in compliance with the state Open Meeting Law, which requires 48-hour notice for local public body meetings.

Library Trustees

The Board of Library Trustees will review monthly financial and patron data and vote on outstanding minutes. The board is scheduled to discuss hiring a part-time position and receive updates on the Preservation Project and the MBLC/Building Committee.

• Discussion on hiring a part-time position
• Preservation Project update
• MBLC/Building Committee updates
• Review of payroll, expenditures, and circulation statistics
• Discussion of Director's mileage

Historical Commission

The Freetown Historical Commission will discuss a request from the Freetown Veterans group to relocate the stone monument at 4 Corners to Chace Road Veterans Park, noting strong resident opposition to moving it from the Assonet Village Historic District. The commission will also review a feasibility study grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for the Village School House, and consider bandstand repairs and recognition of restored historic homes outside the historic district.

• Discuss moving the stone monument from 4 Corners to Chace Road Veterans Park
• Village School House grant from MHC for a feasibility study
• Bandstand fence repair and power washing
• Recognition of historic homes saved and restored outside the historic district
• Membership discussion

Zoning Board of Appeals

This meeting of the Freetown Zoning Board of Appeals has been cancelled. The agenda listed two public hearings on building violation appeals and routine business items, but no action will be taken.

• Cancelled public hearing: Case #622-161 County Road, Map 227 Lot 50 — appeal of violation notice
• Cancelled public hearing: Case #623-Edward G Pina Lane, Map 241 Lot 28.02 — appeal of violation notice
• Approval of minutes from 05/20/2026 and 06/24/2026 was on the agenda
• Board reorganization was on the agenda

Board of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will meet Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. They will approve prior meeting minutes, discuss the status of a PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way, and then enter executive session to consider real estate negotiations for that same property and litigation strategy for three pending lawsuits.

• Status update on PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement for 18 USRV Way
• Executive session to discuss real estate value/negotiations for 18 USRV Way
• Executive session on litigation: S&S Freetown, LLC vs. Board of Assessors (136 South Main Street)
• Executive session on litigation: Crystal Springs, Inc. vs. Board of Assessors (35 Narrows Road)
• Executive session on litigation: Zitano vs. Board of Assessors (2 Zitano Way)

The Board of Assessors met virtually and approved the previous meeting's minutes unanimously. The board then entered executive session to discuss a PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way and litigation strategy for several properties, returning to open session with no reportable action. No substantive decisions were made in open session.

• Approved minutes of previous meeting (unanimous)
• Entered executive session for real estate and litigation discussion (3-0)
• Concluded executive session with no reportable action

Council on Aging - Library Community Building Committee

The Freetown Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee will meet to discuss a communication plan from the OPM, site permitting steps and process, and an update on the MBLC process. The meeting is open in person and via Zoom. No votes or decisions are listed on the agenda.

• Discussion on Communication Plan from the OPM
• Discussion on Site Permitting, Steps and Process
• Update on MBLC process and communication
• Schedule permanent meetings for the next two months

The Freetown Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee met and discussed the OPM's communication plan, site permitting, and MBLC deadlines. No formal votes were taken, but the committee reached consensus on a bi-weekly Tuesday 1:00 PM meeting schedule at the COA facility for August and September 2026. The OPM agreed to correct the communication plan title to include the Council on Aging and to include the COA Director in distributions.

• Adopted bi-weekly Tuesday 1:00 PM meeting schedule at COA facility (consensus)
• Scheduled meetings for Aug 4, Aug 18, Sep 1, Sep 15, 2026
• Agreed to include COA Director in communication plan distribution
• Agreed to correct communication plan title to reflect joint project
• Deferred budget overview and bill payment discussion to next agenda
• Placed ratification of July 10 votes on Aug 4 agenda

Parade & Fireworks Committee

The Parade & Fireworks Committee is meeting to review recent events including the Strawberry Festival, fireworks display, and July 4 parade, discussing pros and cons. They will also address replacing 30 flags, sponsor thank-you letters and tax receipts, and committee vacancies and finances.

• Recap of Strawberry Festival
• Need to replace 30 flags and bunting
• Recap of fireworks festival with pros/cons
• Recap of July 4 parade with pros/cons
• Discussion of finances and 4 committee vacancies

Local Emergency Planning Committee

The Freetown Fire Chief will hold a meeting to review proposed bylaws and discuss the status of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan.

Finance Committee

The Freetown Finance Committee will discuss and vote on nine interdepartmental transfers totaling $67,458, including shifts for police salaries, dispatch wages, and fire department expenses. The committee will also vote on minutes from the June 24, 2026 meeting.

• Police FT Officers Salary to Police Overtime: $15,000
• Police FT Officers Salary to Police Vehicle Repair: $10,000
• Part-Time Dispatch Wages to Equipment Repair: $2,600
• Unemployment Benefits to Town Treasurer Postage: $20,000
• Fire Department Expenses to Fire Callmen Salary: $13,000

Agricultural Commission

This meeting of the Freetown Agricultural Commission has been cancelled. The agenda would have included discussion of a Farmland Protection Initiative webinar, RTF bylaw progress, and RTF fact sheet progress.

• Meeting cancelled
• Farmland Protection Initiative webinar discussion (cancelled)
• RTF bylaw progress review (cancelled)
• RTF fact sheet progress review (cancelled)

The Freetown Agricultural Commission did not hold its scheduled meeting on July 14, 2026, because a quorum of members was not present. No decisions were made or items discussed.

Board of Health

The Freetown Board of Health will meet via Zoom on July 14, 2026, to discuss the use of opioid settlement funds. The agenda includes a call to order and any other business that may come before the board.

• Discussion on Opioid Settlement Funds

The July 14, 2026 meeting of the Freetown Board of Health was cancelled. No substantive decisions were made.

Board of Assessors

This meeting of the Freetown Board of Assessors has been cancelled. No items were discussed or decided.

• Meeting cancelled per amended notice

The Board approved the minutes from the June 8 meeting. The board entered executive session to discuss real estate and litigation strategy, but no actions were reported following that session.

• Approved June 8 minutes (unanimous)

Board of Selectmen

The Board of Selectmen will discuss and vote on the Police Department's Use of AI Policy and the Police Chief's request to install Flock cameras in Freetown. The board will also consider approving a one-day liquor license for the Boys & Girls Club, authorizing the Town Administrator to declare surplus items under $1,000, and awarding the Freetown Elementary School Roof Recoating Project. Additionally, the Personnel Board will vote on rescinding and making appointments to various town boards and committees.

• Discussion and vote on Police Department's Use of AI Policy
• Discussion and vote on Police Chief's request to install Flock cameras
• Discussion and vote on awarding the Freetown Elementary School Roof Recoating Project
• Discussion and vote on approving the 2026 Annual Dog Warrant authorizing the Animal Control Officer to seek out unlicensed dogs
• Discussion and vote on authorizing the Town Administrator to make decisions on surplus declarations for town-owned items valued under $1,000

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved awarding the Freetown Elementary School Roof Recoating Project to the lowest bidder, Leading Way Construction Inc., for $459,600, and authorized Town Administrator Deb Pettey to sign the agreement. The Board also approved several other items, including a one-day liquor license for the Boys & Girls Club, surplus declarations, budget transfers, and appointments. Several items were tabled, including the Police Department's AI policy, Flock cameras, and IMA negotiations.

• Approved $459,600 roof recoating contract to Leading Way Construction Inc. (unanimous)
• Approved one-day liquor license for Thomas Chew Boys & Girls Club for 8/6/26 (unanimous)
• Authorized Town Administrator to declare surplus items under $1,000 (unanimous)
• Approved 2026 Annual Dog Warrant (unanimous)
• Accepted $50 donation from Susan Simao for Council on Aging (unanimous)
• Declared COA and Town Clerk surplus items for disposal (unanimous)
• Approved budget transfers a-h, removed i and j (unanimous)
• Approved Patches Hill Farms event on 10/24/26 (unanimous)

Conservation Commission

The Freetown Conservation Commission will hold a hybrid public hearing on July 13, 2026, to review a Notice of Intent for a proposed 22'x24' detached garage at 82 Cliff Drive. The agenda also includes two Requests for Determination of Applicability (67 Slab Bridge Road and 43 Cliff Drive), two Requests for Certificate of Compliance (14 Washburn Road and off Chace Road), and a Notice of Violation at 4 Captain Harris Drive. The meeting will be held in person at the Multipurpose Senior Center and via Zoom.

• Notice of Intent — 82 Cliff Drive: proposed 22'x24' detached garage
• Request for Determination of Applicability — 67 Slab Bridge Road
• Request for Determination of Applicability — 43 Cliff Drive
• Request for Certificate of Compliance — 14 Washburn Road
• Notice of Violation — 4 Captain Harris Drive

Council on Aging - Library Community Building Committee

The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee will discuss and vote on whether to continue with the current Owner's Project Manager (OPM) and architect for the COA/Public Library Community Building project or issue new RFPs. They will also consider approving an updated RFP for OPM services and authorizing the Town Administrator, COA Director, and Library Director to draft an RFP for a new architect. A status update on the MBLC Construction Grant will be provided.

• Vote on continuing with current OPM or issuing new RFP for OPM services
• Vote to approve updated RFP for OPM
• Vote on continuing with current architect or issuing new RFP for architect
• Vote to authorize drafting RFP for new architect
• Status of MBLC Construction Grant

Water & Sewer Commission

The Freetown Water & Sewer Commission will discuss extending water lines on Narrows Road and Howland Road, an Innovation Way project with MassDOT and Fall River, a MassDEP public water system determination for 65 Cliff Drive, equipment including a crane and laptops, hydrant repairs, a service line at 159/161 County Road, an IMA and water system with New Bedford, the WhiteWater agreement, APEX permanent bleeders, and the APEX asset management project. The board will also approve minutes from May 19, 2026, and a schedule of bills.

• Extending water line on Narrows Road and Howland Road
• MassDEP public water system determination for 65 Cliff Drive
• Equipment purchases: crane and laptops
• Hydrant repairs
• Service line at 159/161 County Road

Taunton River Stewardship Council

The council will hold elections for co-chairperson and receive updates from delegates and committees, including the National Park Service and local towns. The meeting also includes a report on grant programs and scheduling of the next meeting.

• Election of Co-Chairperson
• Delegate updates from National Park Service, towns, and tribal council
• Coordinator updates and grant programs report