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Select Board reviews department budgets, approves ranges for town administrator hire
Summary
The Select Board heard budget presentations from planning, legal, conservation and other departments, approved multiple operating budgets or adjustments, and adopted a job description and salary range for a new town administrator pending recruitment.
The Brentwood Select Board reviewed departmental budgets and approved several operating budgets and adjustments before adopting a Town Administrator job description and a salary range for recruitment.
Planning and related budgets Planning Board Chair Kristen Aldred presented the Planning Board budget and said the board has generated roughly $100,000 in grant money over recent years. The board and Select Board members discussed line items including overtime for the planning assistant, professional training and engineering/surveying costs. After discussion, the Select Board voted to approve the Planning Board budget as presented (the bottom‑line figure discussed was approximately $120,061). Board members debated small line‑item adjustments and whether to aim for individual budget cuts; the Planning Board said many of its expenses are grant‑offset or required to maintain core functions.
Zoning, legal and assessing The Select Board approved the Zoning Board budget (level funded at the requested amount) and later approved a reduced legal budget after discussion. The town attorney line was adjusted downward to $33,503 and an engineering/surveying line of $500 in the legal budget was removed or repurposed; the board recorded a separate motion to approve the adjusted legal figure.
Assessing contractor and appraisal work The board discussed the town’s appraisal/assessing contracts and the cost of outside appraisal services. Several board members asked for updated pricing and for a decision on the frequency of an outside assessor’s on‑site presence; the Select Board voted to table a decision about changing the assessor schedule and the fee structure until the administrator receives updated figures from the assessor/consultant.
Conservation, emergency management and executive office The Conservation Commission reported its activity and asked for level funding; the board approved the conservation budget, noting the commission expects to use its conservation fund for some specialized expenses (easement work, counsel or appraisals). Emergency management was level funded at the requested amount. The Select Board revised the executive office budget after a Select Board member volunteered to forgo his board stipend for the coming year; the board approved an executive office figure of $19,412 after adjustment.
Town Administrator job description and salary range The Select Board reviewed and approved a Town Administrator job description drafted from a consultant template and local edits. The board then adopted a salary range for recruitment purposes — $75,000 to $110,000 annually — to be used in the posting and hiring process. Select Board members said they will conduct a diligent interview process and that final salary offers will be tied to candidate qualifications.
What’s next Many budgets will be revisited as the board continues to compile the town’s operating budget. Select Board members encouraged department liaisons to continue refining line items and to communicate with the finance director about grants, reimbursements and fee revenue so the fiscal picture is clear before the warrant and town meeting process.
