Selectmen interview possible town counsel representatives
By Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Selectmen started interviewing candidates for town and/or labor counsel at their meeting on Dec. 19.

They talked with Len Kopelman of Kopelman and Paige P.C., the Boston-based firm that is under contract with the town. One of the firm’s lawyers has served the town for many years as the labor counsel but he retired this year, said Town Administrator Gregory Barnes.

“It was felt this was a good time to review our counsel,” Barnes said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean we are switching town counsel.”

Kopelman said he designed his firm to mimic what goes on in Town Hall, so he has different lawyers to handle different departments in town.

He told the board he was curious to know what they wanted, and said if they renewed the contract, one of his colleagues would sit with selectmen to discuss what the firm could do for them.

The board expressed concern that recent decisions rendered by town counsel have been too ambiguous.

Kopelman said his lawyers like to remain policyneutral, but said it was a “major wake-up call” hearing their concern.

Kopelman and Paige work with the town on an at-will basis.

Selectmen also spoke with Demitrios M. Moschos of Mirick O’Connell, with three offices in Massachusetts.

He said his firm has dealt with every area of labor law, and because of this, they don’t have to spend a lot of time finding answers to questions.

Moschos said he would put together a team of three people so someone was always available to town officials.

Barnes said additional interviews are still being set up and he believes most will take place during mid- January.

“There is no immediate rush to make a decision,” Barnes said.

The department heads will get a chance to voice their opinions about the lawyers before the selectmen make a decision.

In other business:

• Residents Ed and Mary West donated 29 acres of land to be put under conservation restriction. The property, located on Boutelle Road, is owned by the Wests. The couple is not giving up ownership of the land, but rather putting a lifelong restriction on it, so it can not be developed by future owners. The seven acres of land around the Wests’ house is exempted from the conservation restrictions.

“The Wests love their land. They want to ensure certain things continue on it,” said June Johnson, the attorney representing them.

“I would like to commend them for what they did,” said Barnes. “This will help future generations enjoy that land.”

The two grantees of the land will be the New England Forestry Foundation and the Townsend Conservation Land Trust.

• Selectmen signed proclamations for three Boy Scouts who earned Eagle Scout ranking, the highest rank they can achieve. Selectmen said Saturday, Dec. 30, would be Timothy Crory, Jeffrey Michael Cormier, and Jordan Scott Saverse Day, in honor of the new Eagle Scouts.