The board devoted substantial time to dissecting health insurance strategies, focusing on potential savings from high deductible plans. Board members and representatives from Chubb company reviewed supplemental insurance policies proposed for town employees, which were voluntary in nature. These policies, including hospital and disability coverage, aim to alleviate the financial strain of rising health insurance costs by helping employees manage deductibles and offering payments for specific health services. The representative from Chubb highlighted that these supplemental plans could potentially encourage employees to opt for high deductible health plans, thus saving costs for the town.

The board presented simulations illustrating potential savings, noting that if 20% of employees switched to high deductible plans, the town could save approximately $15,000 annually. A more ambitious shift, with 70% of employees opting for these plans, could lead to savings of about $51,000. Despite the benefits, there was concern about the town’s inability to contribute toward supplemental plans for employees choosing high deductible options.

The representatives from Chubb underscored the importance of their proposed policies in providing financial security, allowing employees to manage higher deductibles more effectively.

Attention then turned to the cable licensing agreement with Comcast. Special cable counsel Bill Solomon updated the board on the negotiations for a 10-year contract, the maximum duration allowed under Massachusetts law. The agreement includes a per-subscriber payment structure of $1.49 per month, which replaces previous capital contributions. This agreement ensures stable funding for public education and government-related purposes. The board also discussed subscriber numbers, noting a decline from 1,970 to 1,850, though less severe than trends in other communities.

Concerns were raised about the financial implications of declining subscribers, which could necessitate exploring alternative funding sources. The board explored the possibility of legislative changes that might impose fees on video service providers using public infrastructure. The agreement also maintains cable casting from several locations, including town hall and schools, with provisions for potential additional connections funded by the town.

The session also addressed personnel appointments, including the hiring of Travis Malsski as a recycling attendant and Ronald Murray as a temporary seasonal emergency worker. The board postponed some appointments to clarify membership issues on various committees.

Another topic was the regionalization of fire services, involving discussions among several towns, including Ashburnham, Ashby, and Lunenburg. The board noted the absence of representatives from Groton and Tingsborough, with plans for fire chiefs to meet separately to continue these discussions.

The meeting further included discussions on the town’s federal funds policy and website content policy. The board conducted the first reading of a proposed federal funds policy, establishing procedures for accepting and managing federal grants. The policy outlines the responsibilities of the select board, town administrator, and school committee, while the website content policy aims to provide updated town information online, with guidelines for content management by a newly appointed website administrator.

Lastly, the board scheduled a special town meeting for February 25, 2026, at North Mosex Regional High School, with preparations for warrant articles and a public hearing on any zoning bylaw changes. The board expressed interest in regional approaches to emergency services, discussing potential collaborations with other communities.