The proposal to lower the voting age caught the attention of the board members, who considered the impact of 16 and 17-year-olds participating in local elections. The discussion included the potential of presenting a resolution to the Joint School Committees to gain broader support. While the idea was met with general approval, there was a consensus on the need for additional time to research the matter before making a final decision. This topic emerged as a focal point of the meeting.

In the realm of town planning and development, the board tackled two zoning articles. The first concerned the creation of zoning for standalone battery energy storage facilities. Board members highlighted the necessity for further information before reaching a conclusion on this emerging technology. The second article dealt with a change to the structure conversion bylaw, which would potentially allow for more units in older buildings. This proposal faced scrutiny from some board members who questioned its necessity and sought additional insights from the planning board.

Fiscal responsibility was a recurring theme throughout the meeting, as the board reviewed the operating budget and confronted a budget gap of approximately $87,000. Deliberations touched upon the use of free cash for retirement and other expenses, with board members expressing hesitancy about utilizing ARPA funds for retirement payments. The decision to postpone voting on the proposed articles and operating budget to the next meeting was made to ensure thorough consideration of all available data and financial implications.

The allocation of ARPA funds also stood out as a issue. With the funds expiring at the end of the year, there was a sense of urgency to determine their best use. The board engaged in a debate over whether to address immediate needs or reserve the funds for future use, ultimately resolving to use $55,000 of the ARPA funds to cover teacher retirements. This decision was justified by the one-time nature of the expense and its potential link to the pandemic. Importantly, this move was anticipated to enhance the town’s capacity to manage operating expenses.

Other matters addressed during the meeting included a donation from Bartlett Tree Experts for the care of a prominent local tree and the approval of a greenhouse installation on Hadley Road. Additionally, a bonfire permit request from the Fire Department was granted. While these items were important to the community, they did not elicit as much discussion as the aforementioned topics.

Public comments during the meeting were limited, and the board had few reports to present. The Town Administrator did confirm the date and location of the upcoming town meeting.