Town proposes keeping 38 full-time positions; building department reorganized as 'protective inspections'

Staff told the council the draft budget preserves all 38 full‑time positions and identified two vacancies: a communications/events manager paused by council previously and an administrative assistant position. Director Alves said the town will continue to budget for those positions as appropriate and that cost‑of‑living increases will follow the Southeast CPI when final figures are available.

Alves also explained a structural accounting change: the building department will move out of the comprehensive planning budget and be presented separately as "protective inspections," with its professional fees (building official) and operating costs shown in that new departmental budget. Staff explained that the building department is largely self‑funded by permit fees and that the building official contract is still in procurement and under a cone of silence until awarded.