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Selectmen review cemetery, highway budgets and DRA concerns about wage transparency
Summary
Board members discussed cemetery staffing and stone-repair costs, highway paving and overtime linked to heavy rain, a proposed 3% COLA for 2026, and the DRAflagging wage disclosures in a highway warrant article; the Board agreed to shift wages back to operating budget and move maintenance to the warrant article.
The Board of Selectmen reviewed proposed cemetery and highway budgets and addressed a state agency concern about how wages were presented in a warrant article.
Gardner Yenawine reviewed the cemetery budget and said the town needs to include room and board for stone repairer Joe Ferrannini going forward (previously provided informally) and to increase casual labor so a local worker can learn stone cleaning and care. Chair Steve Dzubak recommended keeping the cemetery budget flat except for increases in stone cleaning and equipment; Selectman Jen Roberts said she preferred accepting the proposed budget as presented.
Neal Huntoon reviewed the highway budget, discussing paving priorities such as finishing Sanborn Hill and noting that overtime this year was high, which he attributed in part to about 14 weeks of rain and deferred maintenance; he expects an improvement in 2026. The Board said paving and the non-lapsing warrant article will be discussed further with the budget committee on Dec. 15.
On wages, the Board discussed a 3% cost-of-living increase for 2026. Janet Roberts reported that the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) objected to the process of including wages in a highway warrant article and questioned transparency; the Board agreed to shift highway wages back to the operating budget and transfer maintenance expenses to the warrant article while Janet confirms notice and posting requirements with the auditor.
Why it matters: The budget decisions will affect cemetery maintenance capacity and highway repair funding; the DRAcomment underscores state oversight of warrant article language and local transparency obligations.
Next steps: The Board will review changes with the budget committee on Dec. 15 and Janet will follow up with the auditor about required notices.
