The discussion on legal fees revealed concerns about their distribution across town departments, with planning and zoning frequently requiring town council presence at meetings. To gain better control over these expenses, suggestions were made to implement measures evaluating when legal advice is necessary. There was a call for a detailed breakdown of legal costs, proposing a quarterly review to provide transparency and identify cost drivers. The board recognized the need for improved oversight to manage legal expenditures and reduce reliance on external legal services.

In addition to legal expenses, the board examined other budgetary challenges, including a proposal to increase facilities expenses by $22,000. This increase was justified by the management of several ARPA projects, with assurances that unspent funds would revert to free cash. The discussion also touched on agricultural transportation costs, which had been under-budgeted the previous year. A notable concern was the $75,000 bill for transporting a single student to Norfolk Aggie, prompting suggestions to re-evaluate transportation service bids to potentially lower costs.

Budgetary issues extended to animal control, where callback stipends and expenses for food and cleaning supplies had exceeded budget allocations. The board considered reallocating surplus funds from other lines to cover these costs. Additionally, the snow and ice deficit was addressed, with a proposed budget transfer to cover the shortfall, avoiding the burden on the tax rate.

The board proceeded to approve budget transfers totaling $243,162. These transfers included allocations to cover the snow and ice deficit and address other budget overages. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Beyond budgetary concerns, the board discussed future capital needs for local schools, specifically Asaws Elementary School, where crumbling sidewalks and a recent sinkhole incident raised safety concerns. Though the town administrator confirmed the sidewalk issues were cosmetic and unrelated to the sinkhole, plans for improvements were to be revisited. The board also addressed committee appointments, confirming Lorraine Carboni as the new vice chair following a member’s departure. Larry Constant was appointed to the economic development committee as a representative from the Finance Committee, alongside Daniel Wilgga from the planning board.

The agenda included a request from Redand Brewery to operate for a private event in August 2025, which was approved without dissent, and the appointment of John Gregory to the energy advisory committee, with terms adjusted due to a reduction in committee membership.