East Bridgewater Approves Library Contract, Animal Inspector, and DPW Sick-Leave Policy

EAST BRIDGEWATER — July 13, 2026 — East Bridgewater Select Board approves library contract, animal inspector, and new sick-leave policy at July 13 meeting. The board unanimously approved a three-year contract extension for Library Director Karen Urbic through June 2026 and appointed Casey Arsenault of Brockton as inspector of animals through April 2029 — Arsenault holds a Massachusetts wildlife rehabilitator license and works at a 30-horse farm in Randolph. The board also adopted a new sick-leave donation bank policy allowing non-union Department of Public Works employees to contribute leave to a union colleague with limited accrued time. Chief of Police Michael Jenkins briefed the board on plans to deploy four Flock automated license plate reader cameras funded entirely by approximately $30,000 in federal asset forfeiture money received through the department's work with the FBI Boston Metro Gang Task Force, with implementation expected in six to eight weeks at no cost to taxpayers. In open forum, Joppa Market owner Kevin Patel received an update on House Bill 5130 — the special act that would authorize new all-alcohol retail licenses in town — which is currently in its third reading in the House with support from the full state legislative delegation and a December 31, 2026 deadline.