Southbridge subcommittee sends three Cultural Council appointments to full Town Council

Select Board · Meeting of February 11, 2026

Southbridge's joint Education and Human Services subcommittee unanimously recommended three new Cultural Council appointments and renewed a pond treatment contract at a seven-minute session Wednesday. The subcommittee, chaired by Councilor Montigny with Councilors Provo and Chenier present and Councilor Ortiz excused, forwarded all items to the full Town Council for action at its February 23 meeting. The three appointees — actor and library volunteer William Bolster, former Ruth Wells Art Center director Mara DeWitt, and community member Patrick Brackett — each received terms through June 30, 2028, contingent on completing state ethics training.

Members noted the three picks would bring the Cultural Council to full capacity, calling it "always a great thing for Southbridge when we can fill a board." The panel also approved a $10 budget transfer to cover an unexpected membership dues increase and renewed the town's annual pond treatment contract with Solitude Lake Management for fiscal year 2027 to control weeds and mosquitoes at the reservoir off High Street.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.