Littleton Select Board Unanimously Backs Paint Stewardship Bill, Advances Charter Commission

LITTLETON — November 18, 2024 — Littleton Select Board endorses paint stewardship, launches charter commission process. The board voted unanimously Monday to endorse a state paint stewardship resolution, joining more than 99 Massachusetts municipalities calling on the legislature to pass a bill that would allow residents to return unused paint to retail stores at no cost — funded by a 75-cent-per-gallon eco-fee paid at purchase. Tom Erwin of Dalton, a retired advocate who has been traveling the state building municipal support, told the board the bill has been filed for seven consecutive legislative sessions without a floor vote and that roughly 40 percent of paint currently returned to collection sites in neighboring states is coming from Massachusetts residents crossing state lines. The board also advanced plans for a Littleton Charter Commission, agreeing on a seven-to-nine member body appointed at large, with applications opening shortly and appointments targeted for a February 3 special meeting; Bob Mercier, a former town manager in Billerica and Tyngsborough selectman who helped lead that town's 2022 charter adoption, warned the board that their first attempt failed after 30 meetings because they did not do enough community outreach. The board set the 2025 annual town meeting for May 6 and approved its budget-season calendar, including joint Finance Committee sessions January 21 and 28 and a Super Saturday budget meeting February 1.