Stow Select Board Unanimously Denies Retired Officers' Grievance Over Special Officer Elimination

STOW — March 10, 2026 — Stow Select Board upholds police chief's elimination of special officer position for two retired officers. The board voted 4-0 Tuesday to deny a personnel grievance filed by retired Chief William Bosworth and retired Lieutenant Darren Thraen, who argued Chief Michael Sallese's January decision to eliminate the Special Officer designation was inconsistent with how every prior retired officer had been treated. Bosworth put combined annual training costs at about $2,500, equivalent to five overtime shifts, and said the 10 percent administrative detail fee offset that figure; Sallese countered that the two officers had generated roughly $1,500 in administrative revenue since 2024 against $4,300 in training costs. Member Hector Constantzos said he "personally disagreed" because the officers were only 22 months from the age-65 threshold, but called the decision "within the chief's purview." The board also approved an overhaul of the sergeant promotion policy, replacing a subjective process with an outside-vendor exam and assessment center worth 80 percent of the total score, and ratified a new three-year contract for Lt. Kellie Barhight covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.