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Residents say compressed budget timeline could limit outreach to parents and hurt school outreach
Summary
During public comment, residents including a board member and local parents urged the board to slow the budget timetable and explain dissenting votes so the community — especially school families during spring break — can be properly informed.
Residents used the meeting’s public comment periods to urge greater transparency and more time for outreach ahead of the April 2 annual town meeting.
Kristen Harmain of 134 Davis Road told the board the process felt accelerated this year, saying: "it really feels like we're having an accelerated timeline this year for the budget process" and that holding the first referendum during spring break would "limit our opportunity to reach out to parents, to reach out to the community, and market our budget." Harmain said last year’s schedule allowed more time between hearing, town meeting and referendum and worried the compressed calendar could disadvantage the Board of Education’s outreach.
Other residents echoed the request for clarity. Paul Spanheimr asked how to find foreclosure and unpaid-tax information online. Trish Tanka urged board members who opposed the budget to explain what they would change rather than simply voting no, saying it would be helpful for the public to hear constructive options. Andrew North and Al Bruno asked elected members to be explicit about why they opposed or supported the figures to give voters clearer context ahead of the meeting.
Board members responded in closing remarks that members had opportunities to present ideas during deliberations and that majority decisions determine which proposals advance to the town meeting. The meeting record shows recorded opposition from Bev and Betty Anne on several budget motions, but no member elaborated at length on specific alternative cuts or increases during the meeting.
What happens next: The board has forwarded the recommended figures to the April 2 town meeting; residents seeking more detail were told the usual public-meeting and town-meeting processes are avenues to raise specific line-item suggestions.
