The proposal to create a reserve fund dedicated to unforeseen personnel expenses took center stage during the meeting. This initiative, originally introduced at the October meeting, aims to provide financial flexibility for human resource needs, including retention and covering unexpected liabilities. The board discussed the practicality and legality of such a fund, with comparisons made to similar efforts in other towns like Salisbury. These funds are typically incorporated into the operating budget and used as a catchall for various expenses, such as pensions and other liabilities.

Concerns were raised about the legality of increasing the budget after approval by the town meeting, which traditionally requires unforeseen emergencies for additional funding requests. To circumvent this, suggestions were made to reallocate excess funds between line items or establish a dedicated reserve fund. The latter option was considered more viable, potentially requiring a warrant article to be presented at a future town meeting.

Board members explored the structural challenges within Newbury’s budgeting process, debating whether a single fund could serve multiple departments or necessitate individual allocations. A proposed amount of $25,000 was discussed, with funding to be drawn from free cash and replenished yearly based on usage. There was a strong consensus on the importance of clearly defining the fund’s parameters and ensuring transparent communication to avoid workforce misunderstandings.

Further, the discussion acknowledged that while the fund might not be utilized annually, its availability would be prudent for extraordinary circumstances. Ongoing dialogues with the town council were noted as necessary for clarifying the legal implications and logistics of implementing such a fund. The board plans to continue refining the proposal and gauge interest from other town entities, with the aim of presenting a plan at a future town meeting.

In addition to the fund proposal, the board discussed the potential involvement of the select board in approving individual requests to access the fund.

The meeting also addressed ongoing personnel changes within the town. A new van driver was hired, slated to start in December, and the resignation of a Department of Public Works worker was noted, though the position had already been filled. Additionally, a new full-time firefighter began work in November, leaving only one vacancy in the fire department.

On the topic of workplace issues, the board received updates indicating no new reports of discrimination or safety issues, which was viewed positively. The proposal to include all board members’ names in the report to highlight collective responsibility received unanimous support.

Finally, the board discussed the scheduling of future meetings, agreeing to tentatively plan for a December meeting while acknowledging the likelihood of cancellation due to the holiday season unless matters arise.