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Select Board finalizes draft warrant and recommends multiple budget articles, separates highway equipment for separate vote
Summary
The Brentwood Select Board reviewed and recommended multiple budget and warrant articles on Jan. 28, including the general operating budget, grouped CRFs, a master plan expendable trust fund, and a separate $150,000 article for highway vehicles and equipment.
The Brentwood Select Board on Jan. 28 reviewed the preliminary town warrant and voted to recommend a series of budget and capital articles to appear before voters at Town Meeting.
Key board recommendations included support for the general operating budget, a grouped capital reserve warrant for several standard CRFs, and a $25,000 appropriation for the multipurpose municipal building study fund. The board also agreed to close an older solar CRF and a library amphitheater CRF and transfer those funds as proposed. It approved creation of a master plan expendable trust fund and recommended placing $8,500 from the town’s unreserved fund balance into that new fund to pay for an updated master plan.
After discussion with public works leadership, the board decided to remove “Highway Vehicles and Equipment” from a grouped CRF warrant and present it as a stand‑alone article asking voters for $150,000 for highway vehicles and equipment, mirroring a similar ask last year when the town purchased a large highway truck. The board said it expects public discussion on that higher amount and deferred final funding strategy to Town Meeting.
The board voted to recommend a warrant to add a full‑time assistant director (replacing a part‑time summer position) with adjusted language and an amended dollar figure that reflected existing budgeted funds; the recommendation passed the board by a 3–2 vote. Select Board members who opposed raised concerns about adding a full‑time position while some current workloads and finance items were still being assessed.
The board voted to sign a reviewed Casella contract providing municipal services as reviewed by town counsel. Several other standard CRFs were approved as a grouped article; the board approved the grouped CRF article after removing the highway vehicles line.
The board and BudCom will continue to finalize warrant language and allow amendments at the public budget hearing and Town Meeting. Several warrant articles remain subject to adjustment, including the front‑end loader purchase placeholder and potential lease language for a loader if counsel advises.
