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Selectboard reorders warrant articles, reduces paving article to $1 as fuel prices rise
Summary
After DPW Director Jim Morris warned that the 2026 budget lacks sufficient heating oil, gas and diesel funding following recent price increases, the Selectboard reordered the Town Meeting warrant, cut the paving article to $1, and increased funding for the Emergency Energy Expendable Trust.
DPW Director Jim Morris told the Greenfield Selectboard on March 11 that recent events in the Middle East have pushed up gas and diesel prices and that the 2026 budget, which was warned and printed in the Town Report, does not include enough funds for heating oil, gas or diesel.
"The 2026 budget has been warned and printed in the Town Report. Town Meeting is on Saturday. The budget does not have enough funds built in for Heating Oil, Gas, or Diesel fuel based on the recent increase to prices," the meeting record states, reflecting Morris's presentation to the board.
Following the discussion, the Selectboard determined to reorder the warrant articles for Town Meeting to prioritize energy-related items and to adjust allocations: the paving article was reduced to $1 and funding for the Emergency Energy Expendable Trust was increased. The board announced a new order for the articles: #2, #3, #12, #5, #13, #11, #14, #15, #4, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #16–#25.
Board members did not record a roll-call vote in the minutes on the specific funding adjustments; the minutes show the board "discussed and determined" to make the changes, and the board instructed staff to implement the article reordering and funding adjustments ahead of Town Meeting.
The board noted the timing: Town Meeting was scheduled for the coming Saturday, and the change was made to ensure the warrant and related materials reflect the revised priorities before voters consider the budget.
