Southampton Select Board Tackles Budget Management and Land Acquisitions

The Southampton Select Board held a meeting that focused on the management of the town’s budget, land acquisitions for future development, and the simplification of budget presentations to the voters. The board discussed the potential to give department heads more flexibility in managing budgets, particularly within the police department. Financial transfers, including those for the police station and fire department equipment, were debated. topics included the acquisition of land on Clark Street and off College Highway for public use, the simplification of budget categories, and a review of the town’s financial practices and revenue trends.

One of the primary points of discussion at the meeting was the proposal for simplifying the presentation of the budget, which would enable department heads to have more discretionary power. This increased flexibility was particularly emphasized for the police department, allowing for adjustments within the budget without needing to hold a special town meeting for approval. The police chief highlighted the importance of this flexibility to maintain services amid constraints on the overtime budget.

The board also examined financial transfers for the police station and fire department. There was a detailed deliberation over the sources of funds for these transfers, with suggestions ranging from general operating funds to specific allocations like insurance or wages. The potential acquisition of two parcels of land was another significant item on the agenda. The board considered purchasing the 89 Clark Street property using funds from the David Parsons estate and another parcel off College Highway for various potential public uses, such as a public safety complex, affordable housing, and park commission playing fields.

A substantial portion of the meeting addressed the intricacies of the Water Enterprise fund, the transfer station Enterprise fund, and the use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for town projects. The board emphasized the importance of clear and specific language regarding the sources of funds for budget items to ensure accurate presentation to the voters.

The Select Board also discussed the possibility of using capital funds or American Rescue Plan Act funds for the purchase of a new truck and additional Town Hall maintenance needs. They reviewed the status of various bylaw amendments and discussed the establishment of a health department inspection revolving fund account. Suggestions were made for creating a budget calendar and a townwide financial plan to aid transparency and long-term planning.

Another topic was the debate over the use of the stabilization fund to balance the budget, with one member proposing to withdraw $200,000 from it. This proposal was met with reservations from another member, leading to a broader discussion on the allocation of free cash and the town’s budget development process. The need for better communication and transparency was emphasized, including a recommendation to prioritize the town website over social media for disseminating information.

The meeting also included a review of the Callin Center report, which raised questions about its methodology and comparables. The board decided to take additional time to understand the report before making any decisions.

Salary comparisons for various municipal positions were scrutinized, with concerns about the accuracy and relevance of the data. There was debate on whether to adjust wages for positions with significant percentage increases and the potential impact of these adjustments on the budget.

The effectiveness and cost savings of the town’s electronic tax billing system were debated, with discussions on eliminating the need for paper annual meeting booklets and examining employee work hours for potential adjustments. The board discussed revenue trends and the possible need to increase the Reserve fund.

Lastly, the need for new chairs for the Select Board was mentioned, with some members offering personal donations for the purchase. Adjustments to conservation wages and the use of ARPA funds were considered, as well as potential budget adjustments for the technology services and the health director’s budget.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Scott Szczebak
City Council Officials:
Christine Fowles, Jon Lumbra, Joy Piper, Daniel LaValley, Stephen Johnson

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording