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Buckfield Select Board reviews midyear finances, fills budget committee seat and schedules state-required hearing
Summary
At its Jan. 20 meeting the Buckfield Select Board received a midyear financial and operations report, appointed Jacob Gilbert to the budget committee, accepted two planning-board resignations, and scheduled a Feb. 3 public hearing to update the town's General Assistance Ordinance as required by state guidance.
The Buckfield Select Board met Jan. 20 and received a midyear administrative and financial update, confirmed a new budget-committee member and set a public hearing to update the town's General Assistance Ordinance.
The town clerk (name not stated) told the board the office has been recarpeted and baseboards installed; a plumber is expected to finish remaining repairs soon. The clerk said the town completed fourth-quarter tax filings, unemployment and family-medical-leave reports, and W-2s. The clerk added they completed a state police non-billable account audit and the annual workers' compensation audit and that Deputy Clerk Rachel is now a notary public, restoring three notaries on staff.
On finances, the clerk reported expense pacing after six months: general government at 47.62%, public safety at 54.11% (attributed to early-year fire-related costs), parks and recreation around 37%, community services 37.52% and library spending at 43.25%. Public works stands at 66% following a large paving bill last fall. The clerk said the town has collected $515,000 of local revenues with $341,000 outstanding and about $199,000 remaining in state revenues, noting municipal revenue-sharing receipts are still expected and that the town is "pacing to end up receiving more than originally projected."
The board approved routine business items by voice vote. Speaker 2 moved and the board approved the consent agenda and the minutes of the Jan. 6 meeting with no recorded opposition.
Appointments and vacancies: Speaker 2 moved to appoint Jacob Gilbert to a three-year term on the budget committee; the board amended the motion after discussion to appoint Gilbert only to the budget committee because the road committee is currently full. The amended motion carried. The board also accepted resignations from planning-board members Marissa Averill and Karen Elliott Whitney and discussed that the planning board's quorum situation will require filling two seats.
Ordinance update and public hearing: The board scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Buckfield Municipal Center to receive public comment on proposed amendments to the Town of Buckfield's General Assistance Ordinance. The clerk said the changes are mostly language and amount clarifications and noted the town must provide seven days' notice; the board voted to hold the hearing with the Select Board meeting to follow.
Other items: the board noted upcoming solid waste committee activity and heard that a loaner ambulance will be available in the coming weeks with little expected cost to the town. There were no public comments. Speaker 3 moved to adjourn at 6:52 p.m.; the motion passed by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Minutes, Jan. 6, 2026: approved (voice vote). - Appointment: Jacob Gilbert to budget committee (three-year term): approved (voice vote). - Planning board resignations (Marissa Averill; Karen Elliott Whitney): accepted (voice vote). - Public hearing scheduled for General Assistance Ordinance (Feb. 3, 6:00 p.m.): approved (voice vote). - Adjournment at 6:52 p.m.: approved (voice vote).
The board requested committee updates and directed staff to continue work on the items discussed. The next scheduled public hearing on the General Assistance Ordinance is Feb. 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Buckfield Municipal Center.
