Arlington Select Board votes to enter executive session on town manager contract

ARLINGTON -- July 9, 2026, Arlington Select Board moves behind closed doors on town manager contract talks. The five-member board voted unanimously Thursday morning to enter executive session under MGL Chapter 38, Section 21B to develop a negotiating strategy and possibly conduct direct contract negotiations with Town Manager James Feeney, the sole substantive business of a meeting that lasted under 25 minutes. Before closing the public session, the board voted 5-0 to approve a special one-day beer and wine license for a private event at the Whitmore Robbins House on July 12 and a separate 5-0 vote to permit Eversource Energy to install one new utility pole and relocate two existing poles on Hemlock Street in connection with a MassDOT Safe Routes to School project. Member Diane M. Mahon moved all three items and praised Eversource supervisor Jacqueline Duffy for her responsiveness during a recent Morningside neighborhood power outage. No members of the public appeared at the open forum or the Eversource public hearing.