Budget committee plans to hold meetings at Matthew Thornton Room pending scheduling

The Merrimack School District budget committee voted during its meeting to plan future meetings at the Matthew Thornton Room in Merrimack Town Hall, with staff to confirm calendar availability before making the change permanent.

Marie, a committee member who moved the plan, said she “very much like[d] the, the room,” and urged an arrangement that angles desks into a U-shape so “no one has their back to any public” in the benches. Members who had visited the space praised its accessibility and audiovisual setup: “I love the u shape. I love that it's live, so people can follow us online,” said Shannon, noting the room’s phone-in capability and live posting features. Matt (staff) and others added that the layout improves sight lines for presenters.

Concerns centered on scheduling conflicts. Pat said the town manager, Paul Micali, controls the room calendar and that availability for some January and February dates remained unconfirmed. Gina warned that alternating locations could confuse the public and reduce participation. Committee members agreed to proceed with planning at Matthew Thornton Room but to keep a plan B to meet in the current location if scheduling conflicts prevent consistent use.

The committee took the consensus vote requested by the chair: 10 in favor, 1 abstention and 2 absent. The chair said the next meeting is expected to be at Matthew Thornton Room “unless otherwise noted” and directed staff to confirm dates with the town manager and notify the committee of any conflicts.

The decision does not finalize a permanent move; members agreed they may revisit the location if logistical issues arise.