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Henniker Select Board agrees to hybrid budget work sessions, schedules Nov. 16 half-day
Summary
After debate over all-day Saturday workshops versus multiple work sessions, the board agreed to a hybrid approach: department-head sessions between Oct. 8 and Dec. 17 and a Saturday work session on Nov. 16 starting at 8:30 a.m. to focus on major budgets.
The Henniker Select Board debated formats for 2025 budget review on Sept. 17 and settled on a hybrid approach that blends scheduled work sessions with one Saturday morning session.
Town Administrator Diane explained staff and the budget-advisory committee prefer department-head meetings that allow roundtable discussion and detailed line-by-line review. Several selectmen said a single all-day Saturday can be fatiguing and reduce attention to later items, while others said a contained Saturday is more transparent for residents who want a single consolidated session.
After discussion the board agreed to schedule department-head work sessions between Oct. 8 and Dec. 17 by appointment and to hold a focused Saturday session on Nov. 16 starting at 8:30 a.m. for larger budgets (highway, solid waste, buildings and properties, police and fire). Diane and staff will prepare a schedule and appointments for department heads and committees.
Board members said hybrid scheduling should reduce fatigue, allow more productive discussions with department heads and preserve public access to deliberations. The board did not vote on budget figures at the meeting; the adopted scheduling is procedural to guide the upcoming budget cycle.
