The most urgent concern was the proposed budget cuts, which aimed to address financial constraints without resorting to layoffs. The board discussed a strategy involving uniform salary reductions across departments, estimating a potential savings of $75,000 for every additional 5% cut. The proposed cuts, while intended to be equitable, raised concerns about employee morale and the practicality of maintaining services with reduced personnel. Public safety and essential services were prioritized, with discussions on minimizing impacts by limiting office operations to four days a week and potentially closing town offices one day a week for energy savings. These measures would result in increased workloads for remaining staff, prompting a need for careful consideration.

Another major topic was the school budget, which faced a significant shortfall. An amendment proposed the appropriation of $200,000 from free cash and an additional $411,000 from the operating budget, but this only covered a fraction of the over $15 million gap. The board recognized the need for further solutions to address this shortfall and discussed the potential for a grant to fund restoration work on the Town Hall, which would require a 50% match. Concerns about limited available free cash and the implications of reallocating funds from other areas were noted.

The board also examined the trash collection budget, identifying an additional need of $300,000 to $400,000 to maintain services without requiring an override. The existing budget was approximately $476,000 short of meeting needs, necessitating either an override or operational changes, such as restricting highway services during snowstorms to standard hours. The implications of these changes on community expectations were highlighted, with members emphasizing the importance of public understanding and engagement in these discussions.

Public engagement was a recurring theme, with concerns raised about transparency and the dissemination of information. Despite meetings being recorded and accessible online, a lack of public awareness was noted as a barrier to constructive dialogue. This was compounded by contentious meetings where misinformation circulated.

The board addressed the library’s certification, which depended on maintaining staff hours to secure state funding. Proposed cuts to the library’s budget aimed to keep its certification intact while exploring ways to minimize financial impact. The board also reviewed cuts in the parks and recreation department, deciding to eliminate the assistant director position while maintaining the head of the department’s salary due to its self-funding nature and support for school children.

Additionally, the board discussed a letter of support for Project 211 plus 21, which advocated for changes to the Massachusetts school funding formula. The letter aimed to address financial difficulties faced by school districts, urging state representatives to prioritize adequate operational funding and alleviate the burden on municipalities.

As the meeting concluded, updates on personnel matters were provided, including the hiring status of a new housing coordinator. The board then transitioned to administrative tasks, reviewing and signing payroll and bills payable warrants before adjourning to join a scheduled joint meeting with another board.