West Bridgewater Select Board Approves New Cable Manager, Advances DPW-Water Merger to Town Meeting

WEST BRIDGEWATER — May 6, 2026 — West Bridgewater Select Board approves new WBCAM station manager and sparks debate over Water Department merger. The board unanimously ratified Luke Azak as station manager at WBCAM effective May 11, filling a vacancy left by outgoing manager Ben, in a hire recommended by the cable advisory board after a multi-candidate search. The board also ratified Caroline Nelson as Outreach Assistant and Meals on Wheels Coordinator at the Council on Aging, effective May 13, approved a common victualer license for Tosca's Pizza at 499 West Center Street, and passed a two-to-one vote for a one-day entertainment license for midget wrestling at Barrett Ale House for August 10. In a joint session with the Board of Water Commissioners, Town Administrator Linda Ghiloni argued that integrating the Water Department under DPW management requires converting the elected water board to appointed status, saying "I don't think having an integrated DPW department with two elected boards works — I think you either do what we're looking at now or you do nothing." Water Commissioner John countered that the board has operated for 116 years and that removing elected accountability "sets a bad precedent." Voters will decide the question at Annual Town Meeting on May 11; if approved, a state special act would be required to complete the change, a process that could extend into early 2027.