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Select Board closes FY2026 general fund public hearing, endorses budget; approves routine warrants and committee appointments
Summary
At the Jan. 8 meeting the Select Board closed the public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 General Fund budget and voted to endorse it, approved routine minutes/payroll/warrants and appointed three applicants to town committees by acclamation.
The Select Board on Jan. 8 closed the public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 General Fund budget and voted to endorse the budget as presented. The endorsement follows an earlier presentation by town administration and a meeting with the School Committee in December.
Board members recorded no public comments at the hearing and thanked staff for a thorough presentation. The board then voted in the meeting's routine business to approve minutes, payroll, warrants and treasury warrants and to appoint three applicants to boards and committees by acclamation.
Votes at a glance:
- Motion to approve minutes, payroll, warrants and treasury warrants (mover/second: not specified in record). By roll call the board voted unanimous to approve (Select Board members Matt, Dawn, Malcolm, Tom and the chair voted "aye"). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to close the public hearing on the FY2026 General Fund budget (mover/second: not specified). Roll-call vote: unanimous "aye." Outcome: public hearing closed.
- Motion to endorse the FY2026 General Fund budget (mover: Malcolm; second: Matt). Roll-call vote: unanimous "aye." Outcome: budget endorsed for the finance committee review process.
- Motion to appoint by acclamation three committee applicants: Carolyn Baltzer (Capital Program Committee), Jesse Bell (Real Estate Assessment Committee) and Lisa Botticelli (Zoning Board of Appeals alternate) (mover/second: recorded as "so moved / second"). Roll-call vote: unanimous "aye." Outcome: appointed and welcomed by the board.
Why it matters: Endorsement by the Select Board moves the proposed FY2026 budget forward to the Finance Committee (FINCOM) for detailed review and motions; FINCOM will prepare motions and recommendations for town meeting. The board's appointments fill uncontested vacancies on multiple town committees.
Next steps: FINCOM will continue its review and the board will receive updated warrant documents and zoning article clarifications in the coming week.
