During the meeting, a member raised concerns about the committee’s exclusion from critical budget discussions, highlighting how changes were made to the budget that were not communicated to them. This lack of transparency left the committee feeling disconnected from the town’s financial processes, which are integral to their charter responsibilities. One member expressed their frustration, noting, “I didn’t hear about it at all except Joe eventually told me,” indicating a stark communication gap.

The budgetary issues were compounded by the committee’s unique responsibility for healthcare costs, a burden shared only with the school department. The financial strain was further exacerbated by an approximate $2,900 shortfall in the salaries line item, which the committee learned about during the meeting. Additionally, there were concerns about missing financial postings related to interest and Comcast payments, which had not been recorded since September. The committee initiated communication with the treasury department to address these discrepancies, hoping to resolve them promptly.

Members acknowledged the challenges faced by the town’s finance department, which is dealing with staffing shortages and operational hurdles. However, the committee emphasized the need for clearer communication and a more collaborative approach to avoid future misunderstandings. There was a consensus that a meeting with the town manager, Jen, would be beneficial to clarify the committee’s role and expectations, particularly in the context of financial management and budget preparation. A smaller group from the committee was suggested to meet with Jen to streamline the process and focus on specific concerns, respecting her extensive responsibilities.

The meeting also touched on the importance of understanding the expectations between the committee and the town leadership. The members expressed confusion over their roles and the town’s obligations to them, especially regarding recording meetings and managing budgetary matters. This confusion underscored the need for a focused agenda to ensure productive dialogue during the proposed meeting with the town manager.

Beyond the budgetary concerns, the meeting covered updates on the Public Access Cable (PAC) policies. Members discussed reviewing and uploading pertinent policies to the committee’s website, including job descriptions, an equipment policy, and a political campaign policy. A notable gap identified was the lack of a drone policy under the equipment policy, which requires attention. The committee engaged in dialogue about organizing these policies, with suggestions to rename and restructure categories for clarity.

There was also a update regarding the committee’s studio space. A member relayed information from a Lunenburg Municipal Building Design Committee meeting about the potential relocation of municipal offices to the Ritter building. This move would allocate the entire second floor, complete with a bathroom and a new elevator, for the committee’s use. The news was received positively, highlighting the collaborative atmosphere during the discussions.

The meeting concluded with routine matters, such as the approval of minutes from the previous meeting, where minor corrections were noted. Members also discussed the upcoming expiration of the cable advisory committee’s contract in February 2025 and the need to clarify communication responsibilities among members. A brief mention was made about the enterprise fund investment status, with the next update due on February 2.