Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council debates secret ballot and public town‑meeting votes as reevaluation and budget season loom
Summary
Councilors weighed switching some town budget votes to a secret ballot to speed meetings and protect privacy while staff urged preserving line‑item town‑meeting public hearings; members also recommended an after‑action report and earlier notice for future property revaluations.
Councilors at a South Berwick workshop debated procedural changes to the town’s budget process and discussed how to communicate large changes such as property revaluations to residents.
One councilor proposed allowing anonymous or secret ballot voting for budget items to shorten long town‑meeting sessions and protect voter privacy. Supporters said the change could reduce meeting time and allow residents to vote without public pressure. Opponents cautioned that the current line‑item, public town‑meeting process lets residents ask questions about specific expenditures and sometimes changes votes after hearings. The moderator emphasized the town’s baseline budget approach and noted public hearings provide residents a chance to hear departmental explanations before voting.
Revaluation communications: councilors said the town’s last property reevaluation occurred after a 17‑year gap and recommended producing an after‑action report and a five‑year notice and vendor‑selection schedule before the next reassessment so residents have adequate lead time. A councilor suggested a five‑year phased public education plan so residents know what to expect and how to prepare.
Next steps: no formal change was made; the council asked staff to walk new members through the current budget cycle and suggested any motion on voting methods be brought to a future meeting for consideration with appropriate timing to meet ballot/charter deadlines.
