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Select Board continues budget review; COLA guidance, well testing, and maintenance priorities discussed
Summary
Board and advisory members reviewed COLA guidance (recommended 2–2.7%), discussed environmental testing frequency for private wells (PFAS/VOC testing), and identified maintenance and repairs (approx. $30,000) for municipal buildings to include in upcoming budget preparations.
The Select Board continued a detailed budget review at its Feb. 17 meeting, focusing on cost‑of‑living adjustments, environmental testing obligations, and prioritized maintenance work for town buildings.
Advisory members recommended a COLA in the 2.0–2.7% range, citing Social Security/CPI movement; Speaker 6 estimated a fiscal impact of roughly $18,500–$20,000 per 1% increase in salary lines. Board members balanced parity with highway and police contracts and discussed step increases that would affect roughly half of employees in a given year.
On environmental testing, staff and board discussed whether the town could reduce the frequency of private‑well testing from quarterly to annual or less if results remain nondetect (ND) over a multiyear period; the conversation referenced prior testing programs and potential MassDEP requirements. Board members asked staff to confirm the number of private wells still subject to testing and to pursue clarity with state regulators on testing frequency and funding responsibility.
Maintenance priorities raised included custodial and building repairs that could total about $30,000 for the coming year, plus potential flooring and other capital items. The board asked staff to prepare refined cost estimates and quotes ahead of upcoming joint meetings and town‑meeting warrant finalization.
Board members scheduled follow‑ups with department heads (COA, Fire, Highway, Parks) to complete numbers for the next meeting.
