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Resident urges funding for walkways and greater senior‑services support in FY26 budget
Summary
A resident asked the Finance Committee and Select Board to prioritize funding to complete the town’s walkway network and to increase operating support for senior services and the new senior center during the FY26 budget discussion.
Ralph Tyler of Deacon Lane addressed the joint meeting during the public‑comment period to urge the town to make walkways a funding priority and to increase support for services at the town’s new senior center.
Tyler said a recent traffic survey highlighted the need to finish a walkway network across town and that construction slowed after losing Community Preservation funding. "I just hope that this committee could find 45¢ a day per household to fund walkways in this year's budget," he said, asking the town to commit to steady funding until projects are finished.
Tyler also said he was disappointed by what he described as limited programming and staffing at the new senior center and suggested the town consider allocating a larger share of the budget for services for seniors and disabled residents — "somewhere 5%, maybe 7% of the budget," he said — so that services match the town’s large senior population.
Committee and board members acknowledged the comments and invited department heads and budget presenters to incorporate the concerns into departmental budgeting discussions. The comment was offered during the public‑comment period preceding the FY26 budget hearing.
