Select Board schedules special meeting on fire-department warrant article as members weigh use of donation account

The Select Board scheduled a special meeting on June 23 to prepare for a fire-department warrant article and to determine whether a $29,000 donation account can be expended without voter approval.

Jared, who presented the fire-department item, said the article required committee action and that the board is working under a 60-day timeline; with readings and advertising requirements the board discussed several possible special-meeting dates and settled on June 23 at 7:00 p.m. to allow time for the budget committee to meet.

Jared asked whether the donation account — which he said has roughly $29,000 — could be used to purchase needed equipment (the first-price estimate mentioned was about $18,000). Board members advised reviewing prior warrant language and town policy: one member read Article 11 from a town meeting warrant and referenced November 2022 language that authorizes the select board to accept fees, grants and donations for the new fire station and to expend such funds when appropriate. The board agreed to check the 2022 warrant text and any donor restrictions that might limit use of those funds; if donor terms require voter approval, the funds could not be used without a separate article.

Members discussed advertising and scheduling constraints for articles that require a two-week public notice and a budget-committee vote; they agreed to firm up details and return at the June 23 meeting prepared to act or to remove the article from the calendar if donation use is not permissible. No final policy decision was made at the May 26 meeting — the matter was set for further review by staff and counsel as needed.

The board also noted a plan to have a hearing on the warrant article prior to any vote and that the board would coordinate with the budget committee on timing.