Budget Advisory Committee approves minutes, sets deadlines for write‑ups and requests clarifications ahead of deliberative session

At the Jan. 14 meeting the Milford Budget Advisory Committee moved to accept the minutes of its Jan. 7 meeting. A motion to accept the minutes was seconded and the committee recorded the motion as approved by voice vote; the transcript records ‘‘Aye’’ and the chair announced the minutes approved. The meeting record did not include a detailed roll‑call tally for the minutes vote.

Members discussed process questions the committee must resolve before deliberative session. Committee chairs circulated the template provided by town staff (Tina) for advisory write‑ups and reminded members that drafts should be submitted in time for the town’s production schedule; the committee cited a practical deadline in mid‑January (members referenced the 20th/21st timeframe) and asked members to submit final edits and minority/abstention language by that date. Members agreed that if an advisory member abstained at the preliminary committee review, the write‑up should include a footnote explaining the abstention (for example, ‘‘abstention due to need for further information’’) rather than omitting the fact.

The group reviewed the protocol for deliberative session attendance and voting. The town moderator has instructed committee members that votes at deliberative session require physical presence; multiple members noted that a member traveling (one member mentioned a planned Florida trip) will not be able to cast a vote remotely and that the committee should plan for an eight‑member final vote if an absent member cannot attend.

Ending

The committee closed by confirming who will supply outstanding clarifications (staff follow‑ups on abatements, pool estimate scope, petition authorship, and dam ownership) and by scheduling a tentative meeting for the following Tuesday if further committee action is needed before deliberative session.