Board debates cutting elected officials’ health benefits, safety‑coordinator proposal put on hold

Elected officials and finance staff discussed proposals affecting personnel and benefits at the Oct. 22 budget workshop, including a plan to remove health insurance coverage for elected officials and proposed staffing changes in human resources.

The controller noted that removing health insurance for elected officials and replacing it with the standard $2,000 buyout would save roughly $65,000 in the budget. Several board members argued such a change requires a formal resolution to ensure a consistent policy rather than a line‑item omission that might be reversed year‑to‑year.

Separately, a proposed elimination of the town’s standalone safety coordinator position generated a substantive exchange. The supervisor said the role might be redundant with the emergency manager, fire marshal and code safety functions and suggested reallocating half of an assistant position to pay for armed courthouse security; other members pushed back and asked for alternatives that would preserve safety coordination or have public‑safety offices assume the duties.

"I think keeping the safety coordinator is the best practice right now," one board member said, asking for more information from department heads. The board agreed to put both proposals on hold for additional discussion and asked the controller and HR staff to provide costed options and a recommended path forward. The board’s special meeting Oct. 27 was noted as the date to adopt the preliminary budget; members were instructed to submit requested revisions by Saturday midday so changes can be incorporated.