===PAGE 1=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 1 of 12 Town of Lunenburg Select Board Meeting Minutes Town Hall, 17 Main Street and via Zoom Tuesday, February 10, 2026 Members Present: Chair Caesar Nuzzolo, Vice-Chair Amanda Moore, Clerk Renee Emkey, Member Brian Lehtinen, and Member Glenn McLeod Members Absent: None Also Present: Jennifer Warren-Dyment, Town Manager Public Comment Participants are listed in the minutes I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Caesar Nuzzolo called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Nuzzolo advised those present that the meeting was being recorded and broadcast live over the Lunenburg Public Access Channel, on Facebook Live, and would be uploaded to the Lunenburg Access YouTube Channel following the meeting. He explained that the agenda listed topics that may be discussed, but not all items may be addressed and other items not listed could be brought up as permitted by open meeting law. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Nuzzolo offered two announcements. First, he reminded residents that dog licenses are due by April 1 and will be available at the Town Clerk's office and online in the coming weeks. Second, he announced a public presentation and Q&A session by the Fire Chief regarding a proposed fourth shift for the Fire Department, to be held at the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:00 PM. The event will be recorded by PACC and made available for viewing afterward. III. PUBLIC COMMENT Public Comment Rhonda Lisio, 181 Reservoir Road, addressed the Select Board regarding the proposed stormwater utility, stating her opposition to the creation of a separate utility to fund a federal mandate. She argued that all mandates should be funded through the general budget as a matter of policy, and expressed concern about the creation of a new administrative position, an inequitable fee structure for businesses, and the likelihood of future cost increases. George Burden, 39 Courtland Circle, addressed the Select Board via Zoom, raising concerns about a public records request related to a payment made by the Town to the Village at Flat Hill homeowners association, for which he alleged insufficient documentation had been produced. He contended the Town had subjected his family to what he characterized as retaliatory civil and criminal actions. ===PAGE 2=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 2 of 12 Board Comment No public comment made by Select Board members. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SCHEDULED MEETINGS 1. Boot Drive Permit Application For The Club: Lunenburg Teen Center For Saturday, May 30, 2026 Andrew Woods, a staff member of the Club Lunenburg Teen Center, presented the annual boot drive permit application. He stated that in the summer of 2025, the Teen Center awarded over $25,000 in financial aid to 25 children—60% more than the prior year—funded largely through voluntary toll events. Mr. Woods confirmed that the event has the approval of Police Chief Thibodeau and DPW Director Bill Bernard, that traffic cones and safety vests will be used, all volunteers will be over 18, and that no rain date is planned. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to approve the Boot Drive Permit Application for the Club Lunenburg Teen Center for Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, was made by Chair Nuzzolo. Seconded by Vice-Chair Amanda Moore. Call for the vote: Four-Aye, One- Abstain.The motion passed (4-0-1), with Member Glenn McLeod abstaining. 2. Request To Dedicate The Pavilion At The Adult Activity Center In Honor Of Peter And Deborah Lincoln By Debra Goodsell, Director of the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center In the absence of Director Debra Goodsell, Chair Nuzzolo read her written request to the Select Board, asking that the pavilion at the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center be dedicated in honor of Peter and Deborah Lincoln in recognition of their significant financial contribution toward its construction. Peter Lincoln explained that the pavilion project originated out of necessity, as a prior grant had covered grading and bocce courts but ran out of funds before the pavilion could be constructed. He and his wife stepped in to fund the remaining work. Mr. Lincoln also suggested the space could serve as a venue for the Town band's summer concerts, noting it offers better acoustics, parking, and sight lines than the current location. All Select Board members expressed gratitude for the Lincolns' generosity and longstanding public service to the community. Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to approve the request from the Director of the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center to dedicate the pavilion in honor of Peter and Deborah Lincoln. Seconded by Vice-Chair Moore. Call for Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). 3. Joint Meeting of the Select Board, Planning Board, and Stormwater Task Force — Presentation on Stormwater Utility Bylaw by William Bernard, DPW Director Department of Public Works (DPW) Director William Bernard introduced Jaurice Schwartz of Weston & Sampson, the engineering firm assisting the Town with stormwater utility planning. Planning Board Chair Matthew Brenner was present as the Planning Board's representative. Two members of the Stormwater Task Force also participated. Ms. Schwartz presented an overview of the proposed stormwater utility bylaw. She noted that the ===PAGE 3=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 3 of 12 MS4 permit—a federally mandated stormwater permit administered by the EPA in Massachusetts— has been in place since 2003 and has grown from approximately 16 requirements to more than 200 with the 2018 permit update. She explained that a new, more stringent permit is anticipated, and that communities face potential fines or administrative consent orders for noncompliance. Director Bernard confirmed that the Town's two primary areas of noncompliance are catch basin cleaning and street sweeping, both of which are required within the urbanized area. He estimated that approximately $340,000 in additional annual expenditure—above the $110,000 currently in the DPW budget—would be needed to achieve substantial compliance. He acknowledged that in the best year since his tenure, the Town has completed roughly 1% of the required maintenance. Ms. Schwartz outlined the phased approach being proposed. The first phase would bring the enabling legislation and a stormwater utility bylaw to the Annual Town Meeting for adoption. No fees would be collected at that stage. A stormwater budget would then be brought before a subsequent Town Meeting—likely in the fall—for approval, at which point fee collection would commence. She clarified that communities that have adopted such legislation without yet approving a budget exist, and that no fees are collected until a budget is affirmatively approved by voters. Ms. Schwartz described the key elements of the draft Bylaw, including: the establishment of a dedicated Enterprise Fund; the potential formation of a Stormwater Commission to administer the utility; a fee structure based on impervious surface area, with a flat fee for single-family residential properties and a tiered structure for commercial and industrial properties; a credit policy allowing up to 50% fee reduction for property owners who manage stormwater on their own property; an annual billing cycle; and a formal appeals process. Director Bernard and Stormwater Task Force Member John Beale noted that single-family residential fees are expected to be under $100 annually, while commercial and industrial properties with large impervious surface areas—such as the Walmart plaza—would bear a proportionally greater share of the cost. Chair Nuzzolo asked whether the Town has ever been in full compliance with the permit and what the consequences of continued noncompliance would be. Ms. Schwartz confirmed the Town has not been fully compliant, and that the EPA conducts periodic audits and has issued administrative consent orders and fines to other communities. She noted that annual MS4 reports submitted by the Town are reviewed by the EPA, which has been reaching out to communities where deficiencies are identified. Member McLeod raised several concerns: that a utility effectively bypasses Proposition 2½ protections in a way that should be clearly disclosed to voters; that the fee structure should be reviewed for its impact on businesses, given the Town's single tax rate; and that he would prefer the enabling legislation and budget be presented to voters at the same time rather than in separate Town Meeting cycles. He also noted that newer commercial properties already bear significant costs to comply with the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Policy and questioned whether an additional utility fee was equitable for those properties. Member Lehtinen acknowledged the clear need for funding, noting that competing budget pressures including the School and Fire Department budgets make the mechanism of funding a central challenge. He expressed support for bringing the question to the public for a decision. Vice-Chair Moore expressed concern about the administrative capacity needed to stand up a new ===PAGE 4=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 4 of 12 commission, given current difficulties filling vacancies on existing boards, and suggested consideration of consolidating the proposed Stormwater Commission with an existing body. Planning Board Chair Brenner stated that a stormwater utility is the appropriate long-term funding mechanism for the Town and expressed support for the general direction of the proposal. However, he cautioned that timing and public communication are critical. He expressed concern that if the item is brought forward to the Annual Town Meeting before the public has been thoroughly informed, the Town may lose its best opportunity to secure voter approval. Greg Roy, a professional civil engineer and commercial property owner in Town, spoke during public comment. He endorsed the need for a stormwater utility, stating that the consequences of continued noncompliance including a potential consent order from the EPA would be more costly than proactive compliance. He commended the credit provisions in the draft Bylaw for incentivizing private stormwater management and asked how the rate-setting process would work and what public recourse would exist. Stormwater Task Force member John Beale noted that Section 5C of the draft Bylaw vests rate-change authority in the Select Board, with required publication in a newspaper of general circulation before any rate change takes effect. Rhonda Lisio reiterated her opposition to the utility, arguing that it creates unnecessary bureaucracy and that the Town does not have a strong track record of keeping positions filled or maintaining accurate financial records. The Select Board was informed that a public information session on the stormwater utility is scheduled for Thursday, March 5 at the Lunenburg Public Library from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. No formal action was taken on this item. 4. Presentation On Direct Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Funding Requests By Stephen Wallace, Director Of Planning And Economic Development Director of Planning and Economic Development Stephen Wallace presented two project proposals for submission to the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) under the state's District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) grant program. The program passes state funds through regional planning commissions to support local planning initiatives at no direct cost to municipalities, with the Town's in-kind contribution being Director Wallace's time overseeing the projects. The first project is an update to the Town's development constraints map, which was last prepared in 2001 as part of a statewide build-out analysis. Director Wallace noted that this map would be updated to reflect 25 years of change in the Town's commercial and industrial districts and would incorporate overlays showing the extent of water and sewer service. He stated that to his knowledge, very few communities have undertaken such an update. The second project is an update to the Town's expired Housing Production Plan (HPP), which is currently five years out of date. Director Wallace explained that an updated, state-approved HPP is particularly valuable because it can provide the Town with a "safe harbor" from unwanted Chapter 40B comprehensive permit projects, provided the Town is actively working toward housing production goals. The plan would involve a community survey, a public presentation following the Annual Town Meeting, and would aim for state approval by the end of the calendar year. He estimated the combined value of both projects at approximately $20,000 to $30,000. ===PAGE 5=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 5 of 12 Director Wallace noted that applications submitted in the first round, which this would be, are viewed more favorably and he expressed confidence that at least one, if not both, projects would be funded. The Select Board expressed unanimous support, with Chair Nuzzolo noting the particular value of having water and sewer infrastructure overlaid on a development constraints map. Chair Nuzzolo also raised the Housing Choice Initiative designation and asked Director Wallace to investigate whether Lunenburg qualifies, as it could serve as a funding source for a potential program to assist senior citizens with home accessibility improvements. Director Wallace agreed to follow up. Motion by Vice-Chair Moore to authorize Chair Nuzzolo to sign the DLTA funding request letter on behalf of the Select Board. Seconded by Select Member Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Five- Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). V. APPOINTMENTS, RATIFICATIONS, AND RESIGNATIONS • Ratification of the Town Manager’s Appointment of Christopher Bergeron to the position of Sergeant of the Lunenburg Police Department, effective February 10, 2026 • Ratification of the Town Manager’s Appointment of Anthony Cappucci to the position of Sergeant of the Lunenburg Police Department, effective February 10, 2026 Police Chief Jeffrey Thibodeau presented both candidates for ratification. He described Officer Anthony Capucci, who has been with the Lunenburg Police Department since 2019, as hardworking, self-motivated, and compassionate, noting his roles as a field training officer, sexual assault investigator, and officer in charge of the 3-to-11 shift. Chief Thibodeau described Officer Christopher Bergeron, who joined the department in 2025 after 10 years with the Hubbardston Police Department including service as an acting sergeant as equally dedicated, highlighting his roles as a taser instructor, armorer, and field training officer. Both Officers addressed the Select Board briefly, expressing gratitude to their families, colleagues, and the community. All Select Board members congratulated both Officers. Vice-Chair Moore noted that Officer Capucci is her cousin, and expressed pride in his career progression. The Town Manager commended Chief Thibodeau for promoting strong internal candidates. Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to ratify the appointments of Christopher Bergeron and Anthony Capucci to the position of Sergeant of the Lunenburg Police Department, effective February 10, 2026. Seconded by Select Board Member Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). • Ratification of the Town Manager’s Appointment of Mark Riccardi to the position of Council on Aging Van Driver Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to ratify the Town Manager's appointment of Mark Riccardi to the position of Council on Aging Van Driver. Seconded by Member Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Five- Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). VI. TOWN MANAGER REPORT ===PAGE 6=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 6 of 12 The Town Manager provided updates on several operational matters. TC Passios Building (TCP): Following the Facilities Director’s memo on TCP operating costs presented at the prior meeting, the Town Manager initiated meetings with the building's key user groups. Meetings have been held with the Lunenburg Community Food Pantry, PACC, and the Town Clerk. The Food Pantry is exploring the possibility of leasing Town-owned land on which to construct a new facility, which it would fund through fundraising. PACC is exploring the potential use of space in neighboring communities. The Town Clerk will likely relocate elections to a school building and will require storage solutions. The Town Manager noted that the goal is to wind down occupancy before the next heating season, with July 1 as a soft target, though she acknowledged the building could be closed immediately if a major system failure occurred. Fourth Shift Fire Department Proposal: A public presentation by the Fire Chief is scheduled for Monday, February 23 at 5:00 PM at the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center. FY27 Budget Preparation: The Town Manager reported that Department Heads have been meeting with her and Finance Director Karen Barrett on FY27 budget elements. She noted that the preliminary budget presentation before the Finance Committee, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, may need to be continued given the volume of moving parts. FY25 Close: The Town Manager reported receipt of an extension through the end of February from the Division of Local Services and expressed optimism about progress being made by the finance team. Plowing Incident: On Saturday, February 7, a six-wheel DPW plow truck toppled onto its side after the wheel went off the road edge during plowing operations. The 2017 vehicle sustained heavy damage and has been submitted to MIIA. The driver, although transported to Leominster Hospital, did not sustain significant injuries. ClearGov Software Cancellation: The Town Manager reported that the ClearGov software subscription, approximately $21,000 annually, has been cancelled due to low utilization and budgetary pressures, with the possibility of resubscribing in the future. Staffing: The Town Manager recognized Assistant Library Director Lydia for her seamless coverage during the Library Director's paternity leave, and noted she will soon take her own leave. Active recruitments include a Staff Librarian, payroll and benefits position (offer accepted, diligence underway), Outreach Coordinator (diligence underway), Recreation Director (interviews ongoing), special Assistant to the Assessors (advertised), and a Dietary Aide. Marlborough Hospital Response: The Town Manager noted, as an addendum, that Lunenburg fire personnel responded to a code black at Marlborough Hospital following flooding and a boiler failure, transporting patients to nearby facilities from approximately 9:00 PM until 4:00 AM. Community Compact IT Grant: The Town Manager reported submitting a grant application for approximately $20,000 to upgrade network infrastructure at the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center, including access points to enable use of the pavilion. FY26 Goals And Objectives Update The Town Manager provided a status update on the Select Board's FY26 goals and objectives. Key ===PAGE 7=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 7 of 12 highlights included: ● Budgeting and Finance: FY27 budget preparation is actively underway; a five-year staffing plan is unlikely to be completed this fiscal year; collaboration with the School on efficiencies is ongoing but has not yet produced concrete results; ClearGov will not be used for the FY27 budget process; financial policy updates are tabled until after Annual Town Meeting. ● Employee Experience: Personnel policy (SAP) modifications brought to Town Meeting have passed; implementation work on merit policy, vacation accrual changes, and the sick leave bank committee is ongoing. Onboarding improvements have been tabled pending capacity. ● Municipal Property: TCP decommissioning is complete; post-decommissioning planning is active. The 925 Mass Ave working group is being stood up. Tax title property review is unlikely to commence prior to fiscal year end. Chair Nuzzolo acknowledged that the transition in the Finance Department had introduced significant unexpected demands on the Town Manager's time, and the Select Board expressed appreciation for her ongoing efforts. VII. NEW BUSINESS 1) Form And Charge A Cable Advisory Committee PACC member and presenter explained that the Town's cable license agreement with Comcast expires on March 1, 2028, and that the renewal process typically takes approximately three years. The Town is already one year into that window. The cable ascertainment process in which the committee gathers public input, surveys community needs, and makes recommendations to the Select Board as the licensing authority must now be initiated. The Town Manager clarified for the public that the committee's work pertains to the terms of the cable franchise agreement itself such as the percentage of franchise fees, public access channel resources, and capital funding for PACC and does not extend to cable pricing, channel selection, internet speeds, or subscription costs, which are not regulated through this process. The Select Board agreed on a committee composition of two members from PACC, one member from the Select Board, and two at-large community members. The committee's charge would be to initiate the cable ascertainment process for the renewal of the Comcast cable license expiring February 29, 2028, and to bring recommendations back to the Select Board. Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to form a Cable Advisory Committee consisting of two PACC members, one Select Board member, and two at-large community members, with the charge of initiating the cable ascertainment process for the renewal of the Comcast cable contract expiring February 29, 2028, and bringing that work back to the Select Board. Seconded by Member Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). Select Board Member Moore volunteered to serve as the Select Board's representative. ===PAGE 8=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 8 of 12 Motion by Chair Nuzzolo to designate Vice-Chair Moore as the Select Board's representative to the Cable Advisory Committee. Seconded by Clerk Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). The next steps include formal PAC votes to designate their two representatives, and public advertisement for the two at-large community seats. VIII. OLD BUSINESS 1) Discuss Warrant Articles To Be Sponsored By The Select Board Chair Nuzzolo reported that no new Warrant Articles had been added since the prior meeting. He noted a scheduled meeting with Mr. Franco on Friday to work through concerns raised at the Special Town Meeting regarding Council on Aging related Articles, with the intent to bring updated language to the next meeting. He also confirmed that two Articles related to the Town's 300th Anniversary a multi-year allocation of $15,000 and the creation of a gift fund account have been added to the Warrant. The Town Manager raised the question of whether to bring an Article to the Annual Town Meeting regarding withdrawal from the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control District, given the Town's annual assessment of approximately $91,562. She noted that membership requires a Town Meeting vote to join or leave, and that the Town has been in the program since approximately 1981 or 1982. She presented the assessment for context, noting that the City of Marlborough, a substantially larger community, pays only slightly more at approximately $100,560. Select Board members expressed mixed views. Chair Nuzzolo stated he was not yet certain of his position but was open to putting the question before Town Meeting voters. Member McLeod expressed interest in having the mosquito control district present to the Select Board, as well as hearing from advocates on both sides, and suggested reviewing opt-out data and per-property spray request numbers. Member Lehtinen agreed that additional data on communities not participating in the program would be useful. Vice-Chair Moore and Clerk Emkey expressed appreciation for the program's public health and personal benefits, while acknowledging the cost concerns given the current budget environment. The Select Board agreed to have the Town Manager engage the Board of Health and gather additional information before any further action is taken. The Warrant Article deadline is March 16. 2) Discussion And Approval Of Appointment Policy The Select Board reviewed a revised clean draft of the Appointment Policy. Clerk Emkey identified several items requiring correction: ● A sentence in Section 3 stating that the Select Board "shall provide in writing to the applicants the reason the interviews were requested" was discussed. Following deliberation, the Select Board agreed to remove this sentence, noting that the policy's new requirement of a majority vote of the Select Board to request an interview rather than a single member sufficiently addresses the underlying concern by ensuring the rationale is discussed in a public meeting. ===PAGE 9=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 9 of 12 ● A section numbering formatting error (a spurious bold "Section 4" heading) was identified and flagged for correction. ● In the reappointment section, the phrase "will forward the reappointment application" was flagged as ambiguous; the Select Board agreed to clarify it as "will forward the completed reappointment application." The Select Board agreed to have the policy cleaned up with these corrections incorporated for approval at a future meeting. The Select Board also briefly noted that Vice-Chair Moore is working on a first draft of a special event policy, with no firm timeline provided. 3) Request For Legislative Earmarks In The FY27 State Budget Chair Nuzzolo presented three proposed legislative earmark requests for submission to the Town's state delegation: ● Fire Department equipment: to supplement the loss of grant funding previously used to purchase equipment such as hoses. Chair Nuzzolo committed to obtaining a specific equipment list from Chief Thibodeau before submission. ● Accessibility ramp at the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center: to support Director Goodsell's proposed telehealth center by providing a dedicated, accessible side entrance that would also reduce exposure risk for ill individuals. The Town Manager agreed to contact DPW Director Bernard to obtain a cost estimate. ● Playground design work at the Primary School: estimated at approximately $30,000, representing design-phase funding for a project that has not yet been funded in the capital plan. Select Board members expressed support for all three requests, noting that Fire Departments, seniors, and schools are priority funding areas for the legislature. Clerk Emkey suggested the Fire Department request be made more specific by identifying particular equipment. The Town Manager noted that the public safety building boilers, a high-priority capital item, may be too costly to be a viable earmark. The Select Board agreed to continue refining the list, noting that the typical submission deadline is in April. IX. MINUTES*/WARRANTS/ACTION ITEMS 1) June 4, 2024 2) July 9, 2024 3) July 16, 2024 4) July 23, 2024 5) January 13, 2026 Minutes The Select Board considered approval of meeting minutes from June 4, July 9, July 16, and July 23, 2024. The January 13, 2026 minutes remain under review. Clerk Emkey noted that additional sets of 2024 minutes continue to be produced by external minute writers and require editorial review for accuracy of names and context. The Town Manager acknowledged the backlog and thanked Clerk Emkey for her extensive review work. ===PAGE 10=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 10 of 12 Motion by Vice-Chair Moore to approve the meeting minutes of June 4, July 9, July 16, and July 23, 2024. Seconded by Member Lehtinen. Call for Vote: Four-Aye, One-Abstain. The motion passed (4-0-1) with Member McCleod abstaining. Warrants No warrants were presented. Action Items None. X. COMMITTEE REPORTS Planning Board (reported by Member McLeod): The Planning Board met on February 9. The One Main Street (Dunkin' Donuts) plan was withdrawn. The Public Hearing for a storage facility at 30 Summer Street was continued. The Planning Department is now fully staffed. A Tree Warden Public Hearing was held regarding 1083 Northfield Road, where removal of a stone wall and two trees was approved. Minor changes to a common driveway permit at 1083 Northfield Road were approved, as was an approval-not-required lot line adjustment. A Public Hearing for 301 Mass Ave (Walmart) regarding reconfiguration of the parking lot striping and relocation of the online pickup area was approved. A Pubic Hearing for 0 Reservoir Road regarding stormwater and a common driveway special permit was continued. Planning Board Chair Brenner was assigned to the 925 Mass Ave RFP working group. Board of Assessors (reported by Member Lehtinen): The Board of Assessors met on February 4. Finance Director Karen Barrett was welcomed; she brings prior assessing and MUNIS experience. Discussion focused on overlay status, senior means-tested tax relief, exemptions and abatements, and FY26 motor vehicle excise commitment preparation. The Board of Assessors is undertaking a neighborhood reclassification project to improve assessment equity and is addressing parcel numbering and system integration issues. The Board of Assessors adopted a code of conduct and set the senior means-tested tax relief application deadline as the first Wednesday in September. The FY26 motor vehicle excise commitment totaling approximately $1,820,000 was signed. School Committee (reported by Member Lehtinen): The School Committee met on February 4. A high-impact tutoring grant through Ignite Reading was received, serving approximately 117 primary students beginning in March. The committee expressed concern about special education capacity following prior budget cuts, with approximately 13 students currently placed out of District. The committee approved the 2026–2027 high school program of studies and authorized limited school choice at the high school only. The Superintendent was authorized to explore repurposing $195,000 earmarked for vans toward ADA bathroom upgrades at Turkey Hill Elementary School. FY27 level- service budget is estimated at approximately $28,200,000—representing approximately a $2,000,000 increase over the FY26 budget of $26,200,000—with a 14% health insurance increase as a significant driver. Finance Committee (reported by Clerk Emkey): The Finance Committee met on February 5. In addition to the stormwater utility budget presentation, Montachusett Regional Technical School presented its preliminary budget, with an anticipated assessment increase of approximately 8%. Clerk Emkey encouraged residents to watch both presentations. ===PAGE 11=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 11 of 12 Council on Aging (reported by Chair Nuzzolo): The Council on Aging met the morning of February 10 with the state delegation. Discussion centered on Representative Kushmerek's caregiver support legislation, home care reform following a facility fire in Fall River, the declining human services workforce, and resources available to seniors for in-home accessibility improvements such as elevator installations. Representative Scarsdale shared information on funding pathways including Medicare waivers, VA benefits, and FSA reimbursements, and committed to sharing research with the Council on Aging for wider distribution. The Council is developing criteria for honorary board member designation and is expanding evening programming and meal service. Upcoming events include a Valentine's lunch on Thursday, a Mardi Gras luncheon on February 17, a wellness clinic on February 26, a meet John Adams event on March 9 at 1:00 PM, and a memory café in March featuring animals from Good Pickin' Farms. Chair Nuzzolo also noted that Capital Planning Committee is meeting the following day and the bylaw review committee meets Thursday. XI. UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS SCHEDULE There was no discussion under this agenda item. XII. PUBLIC COMMENT** PUBLIC George Burden, 39 Cortland Circle, addressed the Select Board via Zoom, reiterating concerns about the mosquito control program, the Town's use of road salt and sand in private HOA settings, the promotion of Officer Capucci, and alleged improper expenditure of public funds to a private HOA. Chair Nuzzolo thanked Mr. Burden for his comment and noted public comment was closed. TOWN MANAGER Town Manager Warren-Dyment had no additional comment. BOARD Vice-Chair Moore affirmed the Select Board's full support for the promotions of both newly appointed Sergeants, stating that their qualifications and records speak for themselves. Member Lehtinen also noted he will not be in attendance at the February 17 meeting. XIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Member Lehtinen to adjourn at 10:12 PM. Seconded by Vice-Chair Moore. Call for Vote: Five-Aye. The motion passed (5-0-0). Respectfully Submitted, Renee Emkey These Minutes were reviewed and approved by the Select Board on: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 ===PAGE 12=== Select Board Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 12 of 12