Conservation Commission forms screening panel for administrator hire despite counsel warning

WESTON — March 9, 2021 — Weston Conservation Commission forms screening subcommittee for administrator hire despite town counsel's same-day caution. The 6-0 vote installed Chair Joe Berman, Josh Feinblum and Alison Fronk Barlow to interview three remaining candidates in executive session with Town Manager Leon Gaumond, citing the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law's Exemption 8. Deputy Town Manager Lisa Yanakakis warned that an advisory from KP Law's Lauren Goldberg, forwarded an hour before the meeting, flagged the risk of forced release of executive-session minutes if finalists drop out. Berman said at least one candidate had asked for confidentiality and called open-session interviews "frankly, unethical." Departing Administrator Michelle Grant urged protecting candidates, saying "these candidates have jobs — they don't need this one." The commission also issued negative determinations for a pool at 55 Scotch Pine Road and a DEP-mandated leach field relocation at 133 Boston Post Road, and closed a Bogle Brook bank restoration hearing at 40 Sherburn Circle.