Sudbury Select Board defers 2023 goal vote after four-hour session

SUDBURY — October 24, 2022 — Sudbury Select Board adjourns goal-setting session without ranking its 2023 priorities. The Oct. 24 meeting, facilitated by Mel Kleckner of the UMass Collins Center, produced only a preliminary straw poll across 14 candidate goals before members ran out of time. Vocational education access led with 17 points, followed by the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail at 10, transportation funding at 8, and sustainability initiatives and a townwide ADA transition plan tied at 7. Chair Charles Russo, Vice Chair Janie Dretler and members Daniel Carty, Lisa Kouchakdjian and Jen Roberts debated whether to restructure the process around higher-level categories, with Kouchakdjian arguing the board needs "a space needs assessment" and staffing study before a new town manager arrives. The interim town manager announced a new $250,000 wastewater planning grant and confirmed $100,000 in state funding had arrived toward the $130,000 sustainability coordinator position. The board will resume ranking at its Nov. 1 meeting.