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Whately Appoints Liz Sillen as Town Assessor

Select Board · Meeting of September 14, 2026

Whately fills its assessor vacancy and flags a looming multimillion-dollar school debt vote. The Select Board unanimously appointed Liz Sillen as town assessor, restoring a full three-member assessing board after months of vacancy. Members separately warned that Whately's share of a regional technical school building project could require a debt exclusion of $6 million to $7 million over 30 years, with early bond payments around $30,000 rising to roughly $200,000 within three years.

A Leverett representative, Bruce, pitched the town on joining Mayors for Peace for $13 a year; the board tabled a decision pending review of the membership resolution. During public comment, resident Peter criticized delayed minutes approvals and said meeting documents are "not really available to the public," noting "nine out of our ten meetings, nobody follows."

In the full story:

  • Who Was There
  • Organizations And Documents Referenced
  • The complete report — 2,551 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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