The commendation for Officer McNamera was a central focus of the meeting. The Chief of Police presented the award, recognizing McNamera’s role in a cryptocurrency fraud case that began with a report of a Bitcoin scam involving a cryptocurrency ATM in Lunenburg. The victim, a Worcester County resident, experienced a loss of approximately $13,000. Officer McNamera collaborated with the New England State Police Information Network, which specializes in cryptocurrency cases, to trace the stolen funds to a Tether digital wallet holding over $109,000 in assets. Through legal processes involving search warrants and subpoenas, and with assistance from the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI, the funds were seized and frozen. This operation marked the first seizure of Tether by a local law enforcement agency in Massachusetts.

In his acceptance remarks, Officer McNamera expressed gratitude for the Chief’s support, which facilitated his training in cybercrime investigations. He highlighted the prevalence of scams targeting the elderly and detailed instances where victims were manipulated into believing they were under threat, often resulting in financial losses. McNamera underscored the importance of partnerships with organizations that aid in such investigations.

The meeting also acknowledged the retirement of Officer John Brock, who had served with the Lunenburg Police Department since 2011. Officer Brock’s contributions included roles as a firearms instructor and a field training officer. He expressed appreciation for the Chief’s leadership and noted his retirement was motivated by a desire to allow younger officers to assume more responsibilities. Despite his retirement, Brock will continue to serve the community as a reserve officer.

Budgetary challenges were another topic at the meeting. The Town Manager provided a report on the FY2027 budget preparation, highlighting challenges such as rising health insurance costs, retirement assessments, and school transportation expenses that exceed revenue growth. He emphasized the need for transparency in presenting budget information to stakeholders and warned of potential service reductions and the likelihood of requiring a budget override. Additionally, the Town Manager addressed the status of the FY25 budget closeout, noting that the town had missed the November 30 deadline to submit the required Schedule A to the Department of Revenues, risking the withholding of local aid. This delay also affects free cash certification, crucial for town meeting planning and funding.

Concerns were raised about the operational costs of the TC Pacios building, which the town assumed control of after the Lunenburg School Department vacated it. The town faces approximately $120,000 in annual maintenance costs. Despite expectations of a 50% reduction in energy expenses due to decommissioning half of the building, gas usage has only decreased by 20-22%. The facilities director was tasked with preparing a memorandum on these costs, and discussions with building users about long-term sustainability are planned.

The meeting also covered the approval of pedaler’s licenses for Wayne BS of Power Home Remodeling Group and Joyce Higgins of Weather Vein Home Services. Both applications were approved unanimously, allowing the businesses to solicit door-to-door without concerns from the board.

In other business, the board discussed a $150,000 Community Culvert Grant application submitted to MassDot. This grant would fund the design phase for the Goodidge Street Culvert over Easterbrook, a vital corridor connecting Lunenburg to surrounding areas. The design phase’s completion would enable the town to be shovel-ready for future infrastructure improvements.

The meeting concluded with discussions on legislative earmarks for the FY27 state budget, focusing on prioritizing town-side requests to balance past allocations to public safety and education. The board also engaged in preliminary discussions on warrant articles for the upcoming town meeting, including articles related to Kids Kingdom and the town’s 300th anniversary, with a submission deadline set for March 16th.