The primary agenda at the meeting was the upcoming special town meeting, scheduled for December 2nd, where a quorum of 75 attendees is necessary for proceedings. The board emphasized that the meeting’s purpose is to reallocate funds to cover a budget deficit caused by clerical errors and unexpected state aid reductions. It was stressed that this reallocation would not involve raising taxes or using free cash and stabilization funds. Instead, the board plans to shift funds from overbudgeted line items such as vocational tuition and transportation, as well as from unfilled positions and surplus assessor funds. The board assured the public that these adjustments would not affect town services.

To ensure community awareness, the board agreed to send reminders through Code Red, a notification system, highlighting the historical challenges of financial management in the town. The board expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts in identifying solutions to the current budgetary issues and reiterated the importance of the special town meeting. Arrangements for the meeting were confirmed with the elementary school, and the board prepared to finalize motions and handouts.

Another topic was the initiative to modernize the presentation of the town’s bylaws. The board discussed the outdated nature of the current bylaws, which have not been revised in over 50 years, and the need to make them more accessible. The plan is to update the language and structure without changing the content, requiring a vote from the townspeople. A representative from General Code outlined two approaches: a comprehensive project for review and updates, or a simpler reformatting focused on structure. The latter takes about 18 months to complete, while the comprehensive approach could extend to 24 months. The board showed consensus on the necessity of this project, recognizing the potential benefits of a well-organized and accessible code.

A representative from General Code emphasized the advantages of an online platform for the bylaws, which would be freely accessible and easy to navigate. The board acknowledged the challenges of locating specific regulations under the current system and expressed strong support for the reformatting initiative. The discussion concluded with examples from other towns.

The meeting also covered the CPACE program, presented by a representative from Mass Development. The program offers commercial property owners the opportunity to finance energy improvements through special betterment assessments on their property tax bills. This financing method does not appear as new debt on the owners’ balance sheets, and the assessment remains with the property if sold. The board showed interest in the program, noting that it requires municipal opt-in and could provide significant economic and environmental benefits.

The board deliberated on the potential local adoption of the CPACE program, weighing the administrative responsibilities against the benefits. The representative clarified that the town would not be liable for litigation costs in the event of a default, as these would be handled by the capital providers. The board decided to consider a vote on the program at a future meeting, acknowledging the complexities involved.

In other business, the board approved pay increases for two town hall employees due to increased workloads. The board also discussed a change order related to paving costs, seeking clarity on whether the additional work was included in the original budget before moving forward. Updates were provided on health insurance discussions, the Farm Museum project, ditch mapping, and the allocation of opioid settlement funds. The board also addressed the appointment of a new firefighter and discussed progress on electronic timekeeping.