By Nick P. Angelides,Special to the Sun Journal

SABATTUS – The torch has been passed. Guy Desjardins was appointed chairman of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night.

Leading his first meeting of the year, Desjardins said he’s aiming for efficiency of time.

“I want to structure our meetings differently,” he said. “I’m hoping that our meetings last from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by workshops.”

The workshops will allow selectmen to become more involved in various departments, committees and general town matters, Desjardins said. “These workshops will be open to the public. We will get more business done, and it will be scheduled business.”

Selectmen also stressed that policies will no longer be a suggestion but a code that departments and residents follow. For instance, based on town policy, the Fire Department was denied permission to purchase one-channel pagers because only one quote had been obtained. The vote was 3-2.

“We need to see three quotes,” said Mark Duquette.

“It’s the rules,” said newly elected Selectman William Henshaw.

Selectmen’s meetings may not be the only thing to change in days to come. Results of the town’s Charter Commission survey collected Friday showed taxpayers wanted to maintain the town meeting. The survey also indicated that 62 percent of voters prefer to have a board of selectmen and town manager form of government.

“People want a town charter, they have said yes twice now,” Charter Commission Chairman Jon Mennealy said. “We need the town’s support if we are going to spend the next few months preparing for this.”

The board said it strongly supports the charter, but had difficulties raising and appropriating money for it when taxpayers never agreed to do so. An article will appear on the town warrant asking to transfer money from another account, which would not change the tax commitment.

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