The committee’s primary focus was on the recent school budget proposals, which presented substantial increases over the previous year. The high school requested an 11.3% budget increase, while the middle school sought a 23.5% hike. These proposals resulted in a considerable funding gap, with the high school facing a $2 million discrepancy and the middle school a $5 million deficit.

Frank Johnston, a member of the committee, provided insights from a recent school meeting, describing the budget discussions as a “fine-edged sword.” He noted that despite efforts to execute tier-one cuts, including reductions in supplies, further personnel cuts might be necessary, leading to larger class sizes. The committee recognized the urgency of exploring every possible avenue to mitigate these deficits, especially for the elementary school, and planned a follow-up call to delve deeper into their budget constraints.

In addition to the school budget concerns, the committee examined the potential deployment of a full-time police resource officer in schools. Currently, two officers serve the middle school three days a week on an overtime basis. The proposal discussed involved hiring a full-time officer to work five days a week at a straight-time rate, estimated to cost around $80,000. The funding for this position would be divided among towns, with one town expected to cover a portion of the costs. Members noted the need for a dedicated officer due to recent incidents, emphasizing the importance of ensuring school safety and the complexities involved in resource allocation.

The committee also reviewed updates from various departmental budget liaisons. Notably, a successful meeting with the fire department resulted in a $6,000 reduction in their budget proposal. The Buildings Department raised concerns about unspent funds totaling approximately $47,000 from articles dating back to 2012, prompting a desire to understand the reasons behind this financial oversight. The library’s budget was reportedly straightforward, with no issues needing attention.

The meeting included a discussion on the zoning bylaw committee review, which required finalization before the town meeting to ensure public understanding of proposed changes. The zoning bylaw section 167 was noted for its extensive material, necessitating adequate time for public review.

Additionally, the committee acknowledged a recent government HR report, encouraging members to review the document ahead of an upcoming meeting. The session ended with public participation, although no new emails or comments were received, and attendees did not raise any concerns or questions.

Planning for the next meeting was confirmed, with sessions scheduled to occur in person at Town Hall on the first Monday of each month. An inquiry regarding the certification of free cash revealed that the process was ongoing, with expectations for completion by the end of January and improvements in variances compared to earlier reports.