Residents chided Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night for their response to recent questionable activities by town employees.

“We are losing faith in this government,” said George Lewis during the public participation portion of the Selectmen’s meeting. “The BOS have to show people that they are working on their (residents of Framingham) behalf.”

Lewis was especially incensed by the recent revelations that the town’s Chief Assessor, Dan Dargon, operates his own business, Dargon Associates, as a property appraiser around his hometown of Belmont.

According to Lewis, the appearance of a conflict of interest is foremost in resident’s minds. Dargon is currently besieged by angry residents seeking abatements on the recent spike in assessments for their homes and for apparent under assessments of a number of commercial properties in Framingham.

Lewis invited the Selectmen to a session at the main Framingham Library at 12:20 p.m. Saturday, when the Framingham Taxpayers Association will discuss the assessments and town spending.

Lewis further requestedhe be allowed to sit in on executive sessions when the Selectmen discuss the issues involving Building Commissioner Mike Foley. Last fall, Foley was put on administrative leave while an investigation by the District Attorney concerning his on-the-job activities is proceeding.

Because there is litigation involved, the Selectmen cannot comment on any aspect of the situation, said Selectmen Chair Jason Smith.

Before Lewis stepped to the microphone, Town meeting Member Robert Boles requested Selectmen consider changing their meeting night so there wouldn’t be conflicts with other meetings, specifically the Framingham School Committee. “That’s where I’m headed now,” said Boles.

Lewis followed Boles and supported the request Selectmen change their meeting night. “I’d like to attend the ZBA meeting, but I’m here,” he said. “It’s always a toss up.”

Smith said the Board of Selectmen will make a change of meeting night an agenda item and discuss the idea at a future meeting.

In other news from Tuesday’s meeting:                                  

• 1) Selectmen agreed with the Department of Public Works that three stop signs be placed on Stearns Street, which is in the Saxonville area of town. Two of the stop signs will be at the intersection of Hillside Street and the third where Stearns Street ends at Danforth Street,
• 2) Selectmen accepted three easements that pertain to a pumping station project. Property owners of 40 Nob Hill Dr., 7 Colonial Dr. and 197 Hemenway Rd have agreed to the construction easements which are necessary to continue with the Eaton, Chalis Nob Hill Pumping stations Replacement Project. The three property owners will receive portions of $20,762 for the easements.
• 3) Cemetery Commission received an okay to raise some of the rates for the cemeteries under their jurisdiction to bring a consistency to cemetery rates throughout the town. But the Commission pointed out that the new rates will have insignificant impact on these nearly full and closed out cemeteries.
• 4) Two constables were appointed: Paul L.M. Kelley, a former police officer, has been a constable since 2009 and Richard Gonfrade, a former constable in Marlboro were accepted.
• 5) Selectmen agreed to new officers/directors, new stockholders and transfer of stock for 400 Restaurant, 430 Franklin St.
• 6) Selectmen agree to a change of manager for the Elks Lodge, 450 Union Ave.