Dighton Select Board Defers Stormwater Governance Decision, Eyes 30-Day Review

Select Board · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Dighton Select Board defers stormwater governance decision as twin deadlines close in. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Jason Lawrence to the Conservation Commission but spent the bulk of the meeting hearing competing testimony on whether to move the town's Stormwater Committee from under the Board of Health, which has formally requested to shed the committee, to direct Select Board oversight. Town Administrator Ralph Mataka asked for 30 days to consult peer communities and relevant boards before returning with options, telling the panel, "I'm not asking for any motions to do anything other than, you know, can I look into this." Planning Board Vice Chair Dan Higgins warned that a new state requirement takes effect October 1, 2026, mandating a single unified municipal response to solar farm applications, with automatic approval granted to any project the town cannot collectively review.

Stormwater Committee Chair Nancy Gulat cautioned against restructuring, noting the committee's track record with federal regulators and that a $45,000 ARPA-funded bylaw update must be finalized before a September grant deadline, a deadline that cannot be met until the board names a reporting authority. The board also unanimously approved warrants totaling $747,457.34, voted to retain town-owned property at 0 Pleasant Street, ratified a health agent memorandum of agreement, and voted to post a job description for the principal assessor position following the resignation of Stephanie Schechter.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report, 2,819 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.