NORTHFIELD — Voters will be asked to approve six articles at a Special Town Meeting later this month, including one seeking to increase the number of sewer commissioners from three to five.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

Selectboard members debated at a recent meeting whether these sewer commissioner positions should be elected or appointed, but ultimately followed the recommendation of the Board of Sewer Commissioners for the positions to be elected.

“The people who are actually doing the work feel really strongly about it,” said Selectboard member Sarah Kerns. “I think they’re right. This is such a hot-button topic and such a contentious topic, and to have the town voting … on these positions is the right way to go.”

When considering upsides of making them appointed positions, Selectboard member Barbara “Bee” Jacque noted that the Board of Sewer Commissioners’ work is a “technical area” and that there are challenges associated with elected positions, such as recourse for officials who don’t show up to meetings.

Other articles to be voted on at the Jan. 24 Special Town Meeting include using $27,250 from the fiscal year 2024 Police Department salaries budget to buy up to eight stationary solar radar units, and expending $50,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund for costs associated with engineering and/or repairs to the sewer mains on Highland Avenue.

Article 2, meanwhile, seeks voters’ approval for the town to join the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ Franklin County Cooperative Inspection Program for plumbing, gas and electrical inspections.

“We have businesses that cannot get going without Article 2,” said Jacque.

To view the full meeting warrant, visit bit.ly/3tN6PwX.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.