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Trustees plan to reallocate retirement line and delay hiring while superintendent will stay another year to train replacement
Summary
Trustees reviewed the 2025 operating budget and discussed reassigning the superintendent's retirement line into maintenance while deferring a hiring/training program until next fiscal year; Superintendent Joyce said she will stay another year and trustees agreed to plan a training stipend in next year's budget.
Trustees examined the cemetery operating budget and the perpetual-care and capital-reserve accounts and discussed how to reflect an upcoming personnel change in next year's budget. Superintendent Joyce told trustees she plans to remain in her role for another year and recommended deferring formal training and hiring of a replacement until the following year to allow time to identify and vet candidates.
Nut graf: Trustees agreed to plan for successor training in the 2026 budget cycle and to consider reallocating the superintendent's retirement line toward land maintenance or toward a temporary stipend to support a trainee. The board emphasized it will budget for a training stipend when hiring and will return to the select board with a clear request during the normal budget process.
In discussion, trustees considered the town's overall appropriations cap and the timing of site walks and department requests that determine available funds. Several trustees described the retirement line as a potential source to reallocate next year to cover a stipend or training pay if the superintendent trains a replacement. The board agreed the most prudent approach is to keep the superintendent in place for one more year to oversee projects (including donated land and cemetery transitions) and to include a modest training allocation in the subsequent year's budget.
Superintendent Joyce said explicitly that she will remain for another year to help train a successor: "I am gonna give you another year. I will tell you that I'm gonna stay here for another year," she said. Trustees said they will prepare for a stipend or training line item in their 2026 budget submission and will coordinate with the select board on timing and any wage decisions.
Ending: Trustees will prepare budget requests that reflect the superintendent's continued service this year, plan a trainee stipend in next year's budget discussion, and revisit the item during the town's formal budget schedule.
