Whitman Select Board Approves Contract for New Town Administrator

Weighs Comprehensive Debt and Capital Overhaul

WHITMAN — August 11, 2026 — In a milestone session marking leadership transition and long-term fiscal planning, the Whitman Select Board voted unanimously to approve an employment contract with incoming Town Administrator Sabrina Chilcott. The board also reviewed sweeping new capital planning and debt management frameworks presented by the Budget Subcommittee, while tabling both a 10-year municipal cable access agreement and a committee appointment in favor of broader transparency and civic notice.

The Full Story

The Whitman Select Board tackled pivotal administrative and structural policy decisions during its Tuesday meeting. Following an executive session near the end of the evening, the board returned to open session to unanimously ratify the employment agreement for Sabrina Chilcott as Whitman’s incoming Town Administrator. Chilcott, who previously served as Assistant Town Manager in Pembroke, will succeed retiring Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter, whose retirement takes effect in early September 2026.

Fiscal policy modernization dominated the legislative portion of the meeting. Budget Subcommittee members Dawn Byers and Shawn Kain presented comprehensive policy templates covering Capital Planning and Debt Management. Developed utilizing standards from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services (DLS), the draft frameworks are intended to establish formal long-term guidelines for infrastructure investment, debt ceilings, and capital project closeouts.

Select Board Vice Chair Daniel L. Salvucci and Chair Justin Evans noted that the town must carefully reconcile the model language with Whitman’s existing town bylaws, regional school district agreements, and feedback from the town’s bond counsel, financial advisors, and Capital Committee.

“Ultimately, I think one of the things that will come out of this is we need policy over the next five years that is going to keep us on stable ground, but also allow us to provide the services that our citizens expect.” — Shawn Kain [00:45:22]

A strong emphasis on municipal transparency emerged earlier in the meeting regarding committee appointments. After the board formally accepted the resignation of Scott Lambiase from the By-Law Study Committee, Byers moved to table the appointment of applicant John Casey to the vacancy. Byers stressed that simultaneous resignations and appointments without publicly posting open seats create an appearance of closed-door recruiting. The board agreed to table the appointment to the next meeting and directed staff to publicize committee vacancies on the town website and electronic message boards.