Selectmen review recreation, highways, transfer station, buildings budgets; town seeks answers on Osprey Lake dam costs

Selectmen reviewed several departmental budgets and operational updates on Tuesday, including the Recreation Department, Highway Department, government buildings, the transfer station and vehicle/equipment maintenance. The board also discussed a state-owned dam, Osprey Lake, and whether the town may be financially responsible for upcoming expenditures.

Recreation: Melanie, speaking for the Recreation Department, told the board registration and program numbers have grown since 2016 and that the department expects to exceed last year's participation. She said hiring Isabel ("Izzy") full time in April allowed the department to expand offerings, including a five-week summer teen program, concerts at the gazebo and special events supported by sponsorships and the department's revolving fund. "We've already surpassed last year's numbers and we still have programming coming up," Melanie said. She told the board most budget lines were level-funded; increases were limited to uncontrollable costs…