The decision to allocate $85,000 from free cash for a new police cruiser was reached after a thorough consideration of the current condition of the police department’s fleet, the high maintenance costs associated with older vehicles, and the expected quicker delivery time for the new cruiser.

Following the cruiser discussion, the board turned its attention to the memorandum of understanding with the Police Union. This agreement would enable the town to hire a Deputy Chief of Police and came with the understanding that it would not necessitate backfilling the administrative Sergeant position. The board expressed satisfaction with the terms of the agreement, which had been clearly understood by the Union.

Another point of discussion was the fiscal year 2025 budget recommendations and proposed town meeting warrant articles. Among the topics were the acquisition of an excavator through a lease-purchase agreement and the funding for Main Street Highway reconstruction, drainage upgrades, and the creation of a unisex bathroom. The board reviewed financing options for the excavator and appreciated the creative solution, ultimately deciding to debate the expenditure of $45,000 from free cash for the first-year lease payment of the equipment. Questions regarding the necessity and replacement of the excavator were raised.

The board also discussed and recommended various warrant articles related to capital stabilization, which included the allocation of funds for snow and ice removal and the reappropriation of funds for the power plant rehabilitation project. The funding for these projects was deliberated, with detailed explanations provided about the funding sources and the objectives of each project.

In terms of town infrastructure, the meeting addressed the potential lease of a dump truck, the allocation of funds for a new line striping machine, and the reappropriation of funds for a security camera system from a special article. The board debated the benefits of in-house line striping and the expected lifespan of the machine.

The meeting also addressed the need for additional funds for the town treasurer due to an actuarial analysis cost increase, which required an additional $4,000. The treasurer’s concerns about the budget’s ability to absorb these costs led to a discussion on the overall budget’s impact and the implications of the cost increase.

Security measures were also on the agenda, with the board considering a reappropriation of funds for the installation of security cameras and a request for the purchase of iPads for the town clerk’s office to update voting equipment. Additionally, there was a request for reallocating funds from the school budget for phone upgrades and a transfer of funds for conservation commission legal expenses regarding Forest Hills.

Finally, the board concluded the meeting with a motion to adopt the town administrator’s funding source recommendations, after expressing concerns about potential future budget constraints.