A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the closure of Sher Valley Medical Center. The center reportedly manages approximately 16,000 emergency room visits annually. Concerns were raised about the economic impact on employees and businesses, as well as the potential increases in ambulance response times. The fire chief estimated that rerouting patients to other hospitals could add up to an additional half-hour delay, with some cases potentially extending to three hours if patients were redirected to hospitals such as Emerson in Concord. This raised alarms about the town’s ability to maintain timely emergency medical services. The board agreed to draft a letter to the governor, emphasizing the economic and medical implications of the hospital’s closure, and to send copies to local representatives like Margaret Scarsdale.

The board also discussed the necessity of proactive communication with local representatives on this issue. It was suggested that immediate action, such as drafting the letter rather than waiting for a subsequent meeting, would be more effective.

Another issue addressed was the fiscal year 2020 budget, with discussions centered around multiple warrant articles for the upcoming special town meeting. Article one proposed raising $656,111 to purchase a Badger meter, crucial for the water department to read residential meters remotely. This expense was framed as a town obligation rather than being covered by the water Enterprise fund due to prior appropriations. The finance committee had reviewed and recommended this article.

Article two involved transferring funds from ambulance receipts to operate EMS, proposing an increase from $700,000 to $800,000. This adjustment aimed to reduce the general fund allocation for the fire department while ensuring a balanced budget and addressing future equipment needs.

Article three suggested a reduction of $13,800 from the May town meeting vote, with adjustments to various line items, including a $6,000 decrease in the Town Administrator’s salary. This proposal also included a reduction in the water selectman wages auto allowance and the postponement of leasing new police cruisers to manage the budget more effectively.

In article four, an increase of $69,128 for the North Middlesex Regional School District was proposed, representing a 6% rise over the previous budget. This increase aimed to balance the budget without using stabilization funds, despite being lower than what the school had requested. The board expressed concerns about the implications of the higher budget request from the school and the potential necessity for another town meeting if the school did not accept the proposed budget increase.

Further discussion revolved around the ongoing negotiations with the school district regarding financial contributions. The board expressed hope that the school would accept the proposed numbers, allowing for continued discussions without restarting the budget process. There was a mention of the collaboration with other town administrators to present a unified front to the school district, emphasizing the need for a realistic budget in light of the town’s revenue constraints.

Additional financial matters included considerations for M.V. Regional Vocational Technical High School, requiring an increase of $248,000 based on student enrollment. An expense line under Solid Waste was proposed to cover costs associated with running the fee collection process for trash, totaling $25,000. This included staff overtime and invoicing software, with a commitment to have a functioning system by October 1.

A key point of contention was the projected trash fee revenue. The budget included a projection of $550,000, but there was disagreement about the necessity to collect the full contracted amount of $800,000 for trash services. It was argued that the town should not subsidize trash costs from other department budgets, and residents should bear the full costs of service as determined by previous votes.

The board also discussed the need to bring forward capital numbers for subsequent years, emphasizing the importance of developing a five-year financial plan to avoid future budgetary pitfalls. A proposal was made to return $18,750 from previously allocated warrant articles that had leftover funds, which would help reduce the existing deficit.

In administrative updates, the town’s community electricity aggregation project was discussed, with consultants from Good Energy indicating that the Department of Public Utilities had revised its guidelines, requiring towns to reapply under new regulations. The board expressed hope that this new process would allow the DPU to address the backlog of applications more effectively.