Jennifer Duquette

The meeting began with Town Administrator updates, including announcements for community events such as Breakfast with Santa, the progress of The Giving Tree and Elsie's Toy Drive, and the upcoming Christmas Tree Bonfire party. A public hearing was held regarding the 2026 Tax Factor recommendation, where the residential factor was set at 1.0, resulting in a tax rate of $11.73, which the Board unanimously approved. Warrants totaling $331,157.26 for Accounts Payable and $364,962.73 for Payroll were also approved.

The committee addressed an Open Meeting Law Complaint, discussing its nature and reviewing a draft reply. They considered modifying the minimum value for Capital Plan items, requesting a warrant to change it from $15,000 to $25,000. Options were discussed to modify the Capital Plan to accommodate a new roof at Meetinghouse School, including moving Police and Fire radios to FY2027 and splitting the funding for the MHS roof between FY2026 and 2027. The DPW road maintenance budget and the Road Improvement Plan's funding through landfill receipts were also discussed.

The committee reviewed the DPW Capital Plan, considering adjustments to the schedule for several items. Discussion included the potential conversion of a Sewer Jet Cleaner to a Hydro Truck and concerns about pump stations. The Route 2 water main project faces increased costs due to traffic lane shutdowns, and aeration THM systems for water tanks were discussed. The Cemetery's Capital Plan review involved the completion of the Hearse building's roof replacement and a discussion on future land acquisition. The Technology Capital Plan included updates on a new repeater, receiver, and radio site. A request for consideration to serve on the Capital Planning Committee was made.

The committee reviewed the capital plans for the Police and Fire Departments. The Police Department provided updated descriptions and pricing for capital items, including cruisers, portable radios, and software, also mentioning a potential new Public Safety Building. The Fire Department requested a shorter replacement schedule for engines due to corrosion issues and discussed transitioning to standard attack engines. They also provided price updates for various items and requested the reinstatement of Car 4 to the Capital Plan.

The meeting included a presentation by the Historical Commission regarding renovations to the Farmers' Cooperative Building, with discussions focusing on architectural drawings and estimated costs. The current Capital Plan was reviewed, including a change to the DPW water meters plan, moving it back to the 2026 Fiscal Year. A vacancy on the Capital Planning Committee was noted.