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Orange Selectboard reviews Town Meeting warning and budget, enters executive session on personnel
Summary
At a Jan. 21 special meeting the Town of Orange Selectboard approved its agenda with additions, reviewed the Town Meeting warning and budget (noting a FEMA reimbursement still due and that grant funds cannot be counted as operating revenue), and held an executive session on personnel with no action taken.
The Town of Orange Selectboard on Jan. 21 approved a special meeting agenda and spent the session reviewing the Town Meeting warning and key budget issues, then entered and exited an executive session on personnel without taking action.
David Childs, a Selectboard member, reviewed the upcoming Town Meeting warning and said the board plans to consolidate appropriations and place two differing articles at the end of the warning so the remainder of items can be consolidated. Board members discussed designating someone to explain budget line items at Town Meeting — possibly Selectboard member Kristin Paya — because anticipated tax increases may generate significant questions.
Selectboard member Steve Simpson said the town is still owed more than $200,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that weekly meetings on the reimbursement are ongoing. The board also noted that last year’s budget should have been approximately $100,000 higher and emphasized that grant funding cannot be treated as operating-budget revenue.
The board discussed including a list and graph of delinquent taxpayers and amounts in the Town Report; Bill Crowther will correct the budget worksheet to reflect the board’s discussion. Members also agreed to consider an informational meeting one week before Town Meeting to review line items with residents.
The Selectboard approved the agenda at the start of the meeting, adding (as recorded in the minutes) an executive session following the meeting, the signing of an MPG Grant, and an addition to payroll. A motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously.
Later the board voted to enter executive session for personnel matters pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3). The board entered executive session at 8:02 p.m. and exited at 8:18 p.m.; the minutes record that no action was taken while in executive session.
Next steps noted by the board include correcting the budget worksheet (assigned to Bill Crowther), scheduling an informational meeting approximately one week before Town Meeting, and completing the paperwork to sign the referenced MPG Grant. The Selectboard did not take formal, public action on personnel matters during the session.
