Budget Advisory Committee schedules joint sessions, reviews police requests and waste-fee options

The Budget Advisory Committee reviewed a revised schedule for joint budget sessions and discussed several department budget requests, including police equipment and solid-waste fee options. The committee approved the Sept. 19 minutes as amended and set internal and joint meeting dates ahead of the Board of Select’s December budget decisions.

Committee members were told an updated calendar (circulated by a staff member) sets the first joint session for Nov. 6 and a follow-up on Nov. 13, with additional internal committee meetings planned before those dates. A participant said they were surprised the schedule changed without consultation, asking aloud, "we decided to change the schedule—I don't know who 'we' is beyond me," and urging clearer notice for members.

Why it matters: The BAC’s ability to review consistent, complete department submissions before the joint sessions will shape the committee’s recommendations to the Board of Select, which is expected to finalize the town budget in December.

Key items discussed

Solid-waste sticker fee: Committee discussion returned repeatedly to whether the current sticker fee should be raised. One member recalled prior increases and argued the sticker is “directly impactful” to users; participants suggested raising the fee substantially (one example cited up to $50) while offering mitigations such as a $10 punch-card discount in the first year to soften the increase for frequent users. No formal motion was made to set a new fee during this meeting.

Police department requests: Members reviewed multiple police budget items summarized by staff: the chief seeks to maintain the gasoline budget despite recent lower pump prices because planned expansion of patrol coverage will put more vehicles on the road. The committee also heard a $5,000 proposal for on-site evidence destruction equipment intended to avoid twice-yearly overtime trips for two officers who currently travel to a regional facility to destroy evidence. A participant framed the purchase as an operational savings trade-off: "...the $5,000 to avoid having two officers travel twice a year." The committee agreed to revisit the request with the police chief for technical details and implementation logistics.

Equipment and training: The department is considering switching patrol pistols from .40-caliber to 9mm to reduce ammunition costs while retaining the Glock platform; members also noted an anticipated loss of one or two officers in the coming year, which would increase training and hiring expenses. There was discussion that taser units occasionally go out for warranty servicing without replacement units provided, leaving the department temporarily short; members asked staff to clarify replacement timelines and whether contract terms should require loaner units.

Animal-control and office staffing: The Animal Control line is being phased out; remaining services and revenue (surrender fees) will be folded into the police operating budget after the recent retirement of the animal-control officer. Separately, a town-office assistant is completing new certifications, and staff said the role/title will be adjusted to match the expanded duties—presented as a process improvement that could reduce officer time spent on administrative tasks.

Budget process and schedule concerns: Several members urged departments to submit budgets in a consistent format that includes step raises and 'not to exceed' figures and asked that salary projections (the county had released a 2.5% figure as a reference) be provided earlier so the BAC can produce useful recommendations. Members expressed concern that proposals distributed as late as Oct. 23 would leave limited time before the first joint session; they agreed to try to meet internally on Oct. 30 and again around Nov. 21 to prepare.

Procedural outcome: A motion to approve the Sept. 19, 2024 minutes as amended was made and carried by voice vote (recorded as "all in favor"). No budget votes or fee changes were adopted; the meeting closed with scheduling confirmations and a plan to seek clarifying details from department heads ahead of joint sessions.

Next steps: Staff will circulate budgets when available; the committee plans internal review meetings before the Nov. 6 joint session, and members expect to form recommendations to present to the Board of Select at the December hearings.