The Selectmen's brief meeting included approving a number of licenses and the invitation to join a financial software consortium.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown will apply to join five other communities to help develop financial management software for municipalities in the commonwealth.

The move was approved Monday night in a brief and uneventful Selectmen's meeting.

Town Manager Peter Fohlin pitched the idea of Williamstown joining in support of a grant application by the Royalston-based Community Software Consortium, which is looking to beta test its assessing/collection software and build new treasurer/accounting software.

"Commercial software is outrageously expensive every year," Fohlin told the board. "This is free. We just have to help to develop it."

The consortium was awarded almost $300,000 from the statewide Community Innovation Challenge program in March and is preparing an application for the next round of grants.

The consortium was created in 1996. It currently has 75 members.

"Since 1996, when the first Board of Directors was elected, the Community Software Consortium has empowered Massachusetts local officials to not only update their departments' technology solutions, but to also own and control these new systems," according to its website, csc-ma.us. "The result has been high quality software, excellent support, and nominal cost."

In other business on Monday night, Chairman David Rempell and Selectmen Ronald Turbin and Tom Costley approved the alcohol and/or common victualler licenses of a number of establishments, including: Waubeeka Golf Course, Tunnel City Coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, Mezze, Papa Charlie's, Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152, Six House Pub, Coyote Flaco, Williams Inn, Moonlight Diner, Thai Garden, Water Street Grill, Cozy Corner and The Orchards.

The board also offered its thanks and congratulations to Paul Langlois, who retired last week after 26 years with the Public Works Department, where he managed the town's transfer station.

"I'm sorry he couldn't be here tonight, but he needs to know how much we appreciate his service," Rempell said.