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Select Board previews streamlined town meeting agenda; warns against mid-meeting budget changes
Summary
With the warrant pared from roughly 130 to about 20 articles, the board urged preparedness for town meeting, warned that floor motions altering school-budget numbers could complicate tax-rate setting, noted a member’s recusal on a CPA article, and discussed electronic voting trials and tradeoffs.
Chair Bob and board members said the annual town meeting warrant has been trimmed to roughly 20 items and scheduled a noon review of motions with staff to confirm wording. Members discussed how a floor motion to increase school or other budget lines could force advisory or stabilization steps and complicate timely tax-rate setting; one board member said the advisory committee would assess financial consequences if any floor amendment is offered.
On CPA Article 13, a board member announced he will recuse himself because of an ancestral property connection; he said colleagues have agreed to step in. The board noted the recusal on the public record and confirmed the article will proceed with that member abstaining from related votes.
The board also debated electronic voting for town meeting. Members said a reliable automated voting system could speed votes and reduce visible peer pressure, but past loaner systems had technical failures (dead batteries and failed buttons) and there is ongoing concern about secret-ballot mechanics and the potential for errors. Members asked staff to explore vendor reliability and cost if the board wants to pilot another system.
Board members said they expect the regular articles to take about half an hour and the CPA discussion may take longer; staff reminded the board that childcare will be available during the meeting for attendees.
