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Select Board approves consent items, senior tax work‑off changes and declares housing trust property surplus
Summary
At its summer informational session the board approved the consent agenda (with item 6g pulled and passed separately), approved changes to the 2026 senior tax work-off guidelines, declared 22 Old Tote Road surplus for transfer to a housing nonprofit and approved FY26 year‑end budget transfers including funding for police body-worn cameras.
The Orleans Select Board took several formal actions at the meeting, approving the bulk consent agenda, adopting amendments to the senior tax work‑off program, declaring an affordable‑housing trust property surplus for disposition, setting a special town‑meeting date and approving FY26 year‑end transfers.
Consent agenda: The board moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda but pulled item 6g for separate discussion so the remainder of the consent items were approved by voice vote.
Senior tax work-off (6g): The board discussed the program's limited participation and barriers, including a tax‑reporting trigger that had discouraged applicants. Judy Wilson, director of the Council on Aging, said the town will revise the trigger so participants will not receive a 1099 unless benefits meet or exceed $2,000 (previously $599), and the board voted to accept the amendments to the 2026 senior tax work-off guidelines.
Affordable Housing Trust property: Elizabeth Jenkins, assistant director of planning and community development, said the Orleans Affordable Housing Trust acquired 22 Old Tote Road and has agreed to transfer it to Housing Assistance Corporation pending legal and procurement steps. Jenkins said town legal counsel advised that, to comply with the Uniform Procurement Act, the trust must vote and the select board must declare the property surplus and post it in the state central register. The board voted to declare the property surplus and authorize staff to post the central‑register notice; the transcript records the vote as 4‑0‑1 (one member did not vote).
Special town meeting and warrant: Board members debated possible dates and then voted to call a special town meeting for Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, and set dates for opening and closing the warrant consistent with state rules.
Year‑end transfers: The board approved FY26 year‑end budget transfers, including an $82,000 transfer to cover fire‑department salary adjustments and a stand‑alone transfer for first‑year body‑worn camera funding for the police department; the police chief will present more detail to the public in a future meeting.
Adjournment and executive session: The board entered executive session to discuss real‑property negotiations and returned with no report, then adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
