Selectmen and Budget Committee press for clearer budget justifications, agree on request process

Budget Committee member Larry Gladhill told the joint meeting that he had seen "significant changes in department budget" items that previously had gone to the Selectboard and then to the Budget Committee, prompting members to ask for clearer explanations of increases. Selectman Tyler Schorman and others questioned whether the budget format should show more detail to aid review.

Town counsel Eric Maher, Esq. advised members to focus on the justification for increases and told the group the statutory pathway is department head to Selectboard to Budget Committee (citing RSA 32:4). Maher also recommended using subaccounts where helpful and noted Plaistow already uses more subaccounts than the DRA minimum: "we use more sub accounts than DRA requirement." The minutes record that the town will work through the Budget Committee chair on information requests and that individual members should not bypass the committee to contact department heads directly.

The group briefly reviewed public-records practice, including that requests apply to existing documents (not to force creation), that RSA 33-A's five-business-day timing was discussed, and that paper copies are recorded at $1.00 per 8x11 page in the minutes. No formal change to budget presentation or a specific follow-up deadline was adopted during the meeting; counsel and staff agreed to continue reviewing materials.