The Town Council meeting on September 16, 2024, began with the approval of the previous meeting's minutes. The council unanimously agreed to the minutes from September 3, with a vote of 6 in favor and none opposed.

Next, the council reviewed the claims for the day. A council member noted that the town spends over $2,000 monthly on postage for wastewater bills. They suggested promoting online billing to save costs. The council then approved the claims with the same unanimous vote.

Mayor Stair provided an update on the town's budget. He expressed gratitude for the collaboration among council members in preparing the budget. The proposed budget, available for public review since September 6, shows a revenue of $48.8 million against estimated spending of $52.5 million. The mayor assured that the gap would be bridged using surplus funds and by reprioritizing projects.

Key highlights of the budget include hiring four additional firefighters and one police officer to enhance public safety. The budget also allocates $1.5 million for infrastructure improvements and plans for further capital projects over the next five years.

The mayor emphasized the importance of quality of life initiatives, including new pathway connections and renovations to Lincoln Park. Additionally, the budget includes a minimum 4% pay increase for town employees and aims for pay parity among public safety staff.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue seeking public input on the budget before finalizing it in early October.