In a recent government meeting, a heated discussion unfolded regarding the town's budget, specifically focusing on the significant increase in the assessor's contract and the introduction of a new landscaping line item.

The meeting commenced with a vote on an amendment, which ultimately failed with 126 opposed and 78 in favor. Following this, the council returned to the original motion to approve Article 3 of the budget, which totals $2,265,924.

A key point of contention arose when council member Brian Tigheira questioned the jump in the assessor's contract from an initial request of $50,000 to a revised figure of $108,000. Chief Scott Eagle explained that the previous assessor, who had served for over 30 years, retired, necessitating a new bid process. The town struggled to find a replacement, ultimately negotiating the contract down from an initial request of $120,000.

Another topic of discussion was the newly introduced $40,000 landscaping budget. Randy, a council member, expressed confusion over this line item, noting it had not appeared in previous budgets. Eagle clarified that the amount was allocated to York Landscaping, which now manages landscaping across various town properties, including the public safety building and transfer station. This service was previously handled by the recreation department, but due to staffing limitations, it was deemed necessary to contract out the work.

The meeting also addressed procedural concerns regarding the budget's accuracy. It was revealed that a clerical error had resulted in the incorrect figures being presented. The council acknowledged that the actual budget should reflect an additional $158,071, which would be addressed in a special town meeting scheduled for June 25. This oversight was attributed to a new employee unfamiliar with the budget process, and officials assured attendees that the necessary corrections would be made.

As the meeting progressed, members emphasized the importance of transparency and clarity in the budget process, with several attendees expressing discomfort over the discrepancies. The council reiterated that the current vote was essential to maintain operations until the special meeting could rectify the budget figures.