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Select Board proposal for Economic Development Director faces questions at deliberative session; will go to ballot
Summary
The Select Board proposed a full‑time Economic Development Director starting April 1, 2026 with a partial‑year appropriation of $121,578; residents debated whether the role should be part‑time or zero‑funded and whether duties duplicate existing work. An amendment to make the article zero‑funded failed; Article 22 will appear on the ballot as written.
Select Board member Jeff Grip presented Article 22 seeking $121,578 to employ an Economic Development Director beginning April 1, 2026 (full year cost estimated at $162,018 in 2027). Supporters said a dedicated director would coordinate grants, attract investment, and help shift tax burden toward commercial development. Opponents questioned whether the work duplicates existing staff responsibilities and urged consideration of part‑time or unfunded pilot approaches.
An amendment by Nathan Page to remove funding and make the article zero‑funded (effectively asking the town to create the position without current funding) was offered and failed in voice vote. Supporters of the original article cited examples of neighboring towns where similar positions had helped expand commercial tax base. The article will appear on the March 10 ballot as proposed by the Select Board.
