During general planning priorities discussion on Nov. 20, members returned to larger themes: whether the town should encourage more housing now, what infrastructure and public-safety capacity exists, and how frequently the master plan should be revisited.

Victoria Ames said she believes the town has already exceeded the housing numbers recommended in the town plan. Other members countered that the master plan projects out a decade and that identifying developable land now is part of responsible planning. Several members cautioned that the police and fire departments and water service in parts of town may not be equipped to support a large, near-term increase in housing density.

The board discussed updating only sections of the master plan (for example, the housing section) more frequently than the entire plan. On capital needs, members referenced CIPC items: a town hall rehabilitation estimate of about $900,000 and replacement fire apparatus estimates discussed in the meeting with a wide range depending on specifications. The governance committee recommendation on the town meeting form and questions about the state-owned Christian Hill railroad bridge (including possible town cost shares and reuse of historic timbers for trail features) were raised as additional town priorities.

Board members agreed these are ongoing topics for future agendas; no formal action on master-plan timing or capital commitments was taken at the Nov. 20 meeting.