Town Meeting, May 2, 2026

The town has published neither minutes nor an agenda for this meeting. The recording is the only record, and what follows is a guide to it.

athleticsbudgetbudget fy27capitalchapter 70contracts and unionscurriculumeconomic developmentenrollmentfacilitiesfree cashhealth insurancehigh schoolhiringlegallibrarymiddle schoolout of districtoverridepersonnelpolicyprimary schoolpublic commentpublic safetyrecreationretirementroads and dpwseniorsspecial educationstaffingstate aidtax ratetechnologytown departmentstown meetingtransferstransportationwarrant article

Present: the moderator (town moderator); Jennifer Ryan Simon (also heard as "Ms. Warren"/"Ms. Ward") (town manager); Dr. Jodie Fortuna (superintendent of schools); Mr. Costa (town counsel); Rob Bowen (deputy moderator (appointed at this meeting)); John Bowen (chairman, board of trust fund commissioners); Richard Howard (vice chairman, board of trust fund commissioners (named, not confirmed present)); Anthony Scalabbrini (chair, school committee); Ms. Moore (select board member, moved several articles); Mr. Leighton (select board member, moved several articles); Mr. Nulo (also heard "Missoula"/"Mloud") (select board member, moved several articles); Bill Bernard (DPW director); Karen Barrett (town finance director); Julie Bello (Belau) (HR director / assistant town manager position); Mary Foil (employee committee (PEC) representative); Cara McCarthy (communications/IT staff); Mike, Anna, Jay, Tom, Jean (finance committee members (roll-call voters)). 1 of 17 matched to the board’s posted roster; the rest, in italics, are the caption model’s hearing and may be wrong.

Votes

1. ▶ 26:23Approve the consent calendar (articles 2, 3, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19; article 7 removed) — moved by select board (moderator read), as heardpassed 232-17
2. ▶ 37:26Article 4: create an economic development revolving fund with an FY2027 spending limit of $10,000 — moved by Mr. Nulo, as heardpassed 259-27
3. ▶ 39:58Article 5: amend the technology revolving fund to authorize spending by the town manager or designee — moved by Mr. Missoula/Mloud, as heardpassed 231-836 (as heard)
4. ▶ 45:53Article 7: raise and appropriate for prior-year bills owed to Aeroseptic and for a school department bill (required 4/5 vote) — moved by Ms. Moore, as heardpassed 267-26
5. ▶ 48:48Article 8: pass over the article — moved by Ms. Emparks (unclear), as heardpassed 264-15
6. ▶ 53:38Article 9: transfer $520,000 from free cash to the FY2026 snow removal expense line to cover an operating deficit — moved by Mr. Leighton, as heardpassed 265-29
7. ▶ 3:37:40Article 10: raise and appropriate the FY2027 balanced town/school budget of $49,963,990.19 — moved by Mr. Nulo, as heardpassed 340-68
8. ▶ 4:20:15Article 11, Tier 1: appropriate approximately $2.4 million contingent on voter approval of a Tier 1 Proposition 2½ override — moved by Ms. Moore, as heardpassed 331-105
9. ▶ 4:24:05Article 11, Tier 2: appropriate approximately $3.3 million contingent on voter approval of a Tier 2 Proposition 2½ override — moved by Ms. Moore, as heardpassed 302-122
10. ▶ 4:29:07Article 12: rescind and reauthorize a $325,000 transfer between capital-project votes (cleanup of a bookkeeping error) — moved by Ms. Emparks, as heardpassed 191-6
11. ▶ 4:32:19Article 13: fund the FY2027 capital plan via transfers from free cash, the vehicle/equipment stabilization fund, and a raise-and-appropriate — moved by select board member, as heardpassed 165-10
12. ▶ 4:34:46Article 14: fund the PEG access/cable enterprise fund's FY2027 operating budget — moved by Mr. Missoula/Mloud, as heardpassed 163-8
13. ▶ 4:37:23Article 15: transfer $77,000 from PEG retained earnings to buy a replacement Castus system — moved by Mr. Missoula/Mloud, as heardpassed 160-111 (as heard)
14. ▶ 4:40:33Article 20: adopt the FY2027 salary schedule (3% COLA) and fund it from the salary reserve line — moved by Mr. Nulo, as heardpassed 39-16
15. ▶ 4:44:07Article 21: fund the first year of the firefighters' union (PFFM, later corrected to Local 5369) collective bargaining agreement — moved by Mr. Nulo, as heardpassed 132-5
16. ▶ 4:46:53Article 22: fund the first year of the municipal employees' union (AFSCME Council 93) collective bargaining agreement — moved by Ms. Emparks, as heardpassed 133-12 (2 abstentions)
17. ▶ 4:50:27Article 23: fund the first two years of the Teamsters Local 170 (DPW) collective bargaining agreement — moved by Mr. Leighton/Mr. Nulo, as heardpassed 136-13 (3 abstentions)
18. ▶ 4:50:52Article 24: transfer $121,800 from free cash for TCP building operating/decommissioning costs and $27,500 from assessor's overlay surplus for a special assistant to the assessor — moved by Mr. Missoula/Mloud, as heardnot audible (recording ends during discussion)

Transfers

The money

1. ▶ 55:46FY2027 balanced town/school budget (Article 10)

   Town manager moved to raise and appropriate the balanced budget with several enterprise-fund transfers to defray town charges for FY2027.

   as heard:$49,557,97.80$49,963,990.19$288,9669$37,36.80$20,972$58,837.50

2. ▶ 1:01:46Tier 1 override budget total

   Town manager said the tier one budget adds about an additional amount above the balance budget.

   as heard:52,321,64180

3. ▶ 1:05:28Tier 2 override budget total and non-stacking of tiers

   Town manager clarified the tier two override total does not add on top of tier one; if tier two passes, the total override is the tier two figure.

   as heard:53,212,53622,353.3 million

4. ▶ 1:06:29Average tax bill impact of proposition 2.5 growth and each override tier

   Town manager gave estimated tax impacts for the average single-family home from natural levy growth, the tier one override, and the tier two override.

   as heard:$517,296$7,444$175.88$56.95$689.35

5. ▶ 1:08:36FY26 certified free cash

   Town manager said certified free cash this year was higher than usual but within DLS recommended range.

   as heard:3,354,370

6. ▶ 1:28:44Health insurance rate increase and PEC agreement

   Town manager said the town faced a 20% health insurance increase, reduced to 8.8% after the insurer dropped GLP-1 coverage, and further reduced overall to about 5.38% after PEC agreed to less favorable plan design.

   as heard:20%8.8%5.38%

7. ▶ 1:31:53General government unclassified budget line

   Town manager described this line, covering town hall functions, as increasing over FY26.

   as heard:3,134,798645.82%

8. ▶ 1:35:21Assistant town manager position

   Town manager proposed funding a new assistant town manager position, offset partly by eliminating the communications/IT manager position in the balance budget.

   as heard:$120,000

9. ▶ 1:40:09Public safety category total (police, fire, dispatch, animal control)

   Town manager attributed most of the balance-budget increase to adding a fourth fire shift, offset by cuts elsewhere in the department.

   as heard:$262,73055.78%$158,73047$343,19.92

10. ▶ 1:44:09DPW operating budget

    Town manager said the balance budget cuts stormwater, drainage, roadway supply and pavement management funding, largely restored in tier one.

    as heard:2,188,52718$288,426$366,150$77,724

11. ▶ 1:46:35Facilities and buildings budget

    Town manager linked the facilities budget change to TCP coming offline and cuts to the recreation/parks program restored across tiers.

    as heard:$50,22184$66,319$110,400

12. ▶ 1:48:39Human services budget (Council on Aging, veterans, board of health)

    Town manager said Council on Aging dietary aide positions are cut in the balance budget and restored in tier one.

    as heard:$452,565$25,000$23,400

13. ▶ 1:50:03Culture and recreation budget (library, band, historic commission)

    Town manager said the young adult librarian, library materials, band concerts and historic commission funding are cut in the balance budget and restored in tier one.

    as heard:$598,960.20$40,76$62,284$22,131

14. ▶ 1:52:14Worcester County Regional Retirement assessment

    Town manager called this a major year-over-year cost driver expected to keep rising about 10% annually.

    as heard:$238,289.959.94%10%

15. ▶ 1:49:42Monty Tech assessment

    Town manager said the town's Monty Tech assessment does not vary between budget tiers and has trended 7-8% growth annually.

    as heard:1,452,4268.85%

16. ▶ 2:03:26School budget: balance vs. restoration gap

    Superintendent said the strict balance budget forces a cut from the restoration budget ideal, made up mostly by cutting teaching staff.

    as heard:26.57 million28.52 million1.95 million

17. ▶ 31:41Town charitable trust funds

    Trust fund commission chair reported combined trust fund balances, the pooled portfolio's first-year return, and a proposed (not advanced) appropriation for legal/administrative work.

    as heard:$88,756313,700$63,70015.82%$14,250

18. ▶ 40:18Article 7 prior-year bills

    Select board member moved payment of outstanding cemetery-department portable toilet invoices and an old school-department bill from FY22.

    as heard:$1,895$1,317.50$577.50$5,1966

19. ▶ 4:41:34Article 21: firefighters' union first-year contract

    Select board member moved to fund the first year of the firefighters' collective bargaining agreement with no further appropriation required.

20. ▶ 1:15:35Total state aid revenue

    Town manager broke down total state aid receipts, with the largest share coming from education-related aid.

    as heard:11,44,9179,726,03

21. ▶ 1:18:01Local receipts estimate

    Town manager described local receipts, including small upward adjustments to motor vehicle excise and investment income estimates.

    as heard:$3,58,02475,000100,000200,000

Settled without a vote

• ▶ 19:43Moderator appointed Rob Bowen as his deputy for the year, absent objection from the floor.
• ▶ 2:58:37Moderator declined a floor motion to limit each speaker to two minutes.
• ▶ 3:43:44Moderator declined a floor motion to cut off debate and move directly to a vote on the override articles.
• ▶ 3:27:09Moderator ruled that any alternative budget proposal (Ms. Lockwood's) could only be taken up if article 10 failed and the body voted to reconsider it.
• ▶ 28:52Moderator declared the annual reports of town officers and committees accepted.

Public comment

1. ▶ 2:14:55asked to move directly to a vote before categories were discussed (declined by moderator) — Matt Gilman, as heard
2. ▶ 2:22:23asked about a handout titled "FY27 proposed budget revisions" that had not been discussed — Ken Chennis, as heard
3. ▶ 2:23:18opposed the balance budget, argued the town should use stabilization/reserve funds instead of cutting services — Michael Jeff, as heard
4. ▶ 2:27:49urged yes votes on articles 10 and 11 despite disliking the balance budget — Nilman, as heard, school committee member speaking as a resident
5. ▶ 2:30:05drew an analogy to 1970s gas shortages and urged more commercial development to ease tax burden — John Tina (Tada), as heard
6. ▶ 2:32:22questioned the cost and structure of the new assistant town manager position — Bob Martin, as heard
7. ▶ 2:41:31supported police/fire funding but opposed the overrides; criticized the district's social-emotional learning program — Daryl Plant, as heard
8. ▶ 2:45:08distinguished crisis budgeting from strategic budgeting; defended the tri-board budget process — Peter Beardmore, as heard
9. ▶ 2:49:59thanked the tri-board process and urged support for the budget — Paul, as heard
10. ▶ 2:54:06said she trusts the select board, finance committee and school committee and urged voting their budget — Carol Shambo, as heard
11. ▶ 2:55:48expressed concern the balance budget risks the high school's NEASC accreditation — Northwood, as heard
12. ▶ 2:57:34moved to limit each speaker to two minutes (motion not accepted by moderator) — Clarkson, as heard
13. ▶ 2:58:57asked procedural questions about the order of voting on articles 10 and 11 — Bill Hugh, as heard
14. ▶ 3:01:27criticized the balance budget for not offering a level-services option; proposed voting no on article 10 to bring an alternative — Ms. Lockwood, as heard
15. ▶ 3:05:37proposed a home rule petition to create a permanent investment trust as an alternative to recurring overrides — John Bowen, as heard
16. ▶ 3:09:25decided to support the tier 2 override after hearing the presentation — Carol Hatch, as heard
17. ▶ 3:10:50supported the assistant town manager position and school reading investment; raised concern about the food bank — John Rabbit, as heard
18. ▶ 3:13:34supported the tier 2 override, citing library and community value — Sammy Trudeell, as heard
19. ▶ 3:40:53gave history of past override votes and argued incremental overrides were needed sooner — Matt Slater, as heard
20. ▶ 3:43:23moved to cut off debate and vote (moderator declined) — Andy Gilman, as heard
21. ▶ 3:45:27argued overrides are a normal function of Proposition 2½ given inflation; supported tier 2 — Adam Bernie, as heard
22. ▶ 3:48:13described the importance of the high school bridge program for high-needs special education students — Julia Turner, as heard
23. ▶ 3:51:00urged a yes vote so all registered voters get to decide the override at the ballot — Hall, as heard
24. ▶ 3:51:44warned that larger class sizes would increase need for remedial and special education services — Tomorrow visit (name garbled), as heard, special education teacher
25. ▶ 3:52:26supported tier 2, citing the library's young-adult librarian and a "virtuous cycle" argument for school investment — Joe Mule, as heard
26. ▶ 3:56:38argued town meeting should "democratize" the override question by sending it to a townwide ballot — Lou Franco, as heard
27. ▶ 3:59:23disputed that new families are a net tax gain; noted the school committee can reallocate its budget after town meeting — Ken Chennis (garbled as "Can 2657"), as heard
28. ▶ 4:00:46supported letting the town vote on the override; spoke about returning to advocate as a recent LHS graduate — Quinn Lane, as heard
29. ▶ 4:06:40asked for legal clarification on how the 2.5% levy limit is calculated — Bob Martin, as heard
30. ▶ 4:11:33closed with a personal story about his son, a special-needs student, to argue for the override — Peter Beardmore, as heard

Where the time went

Minutes of recording by subject, from the topic spans below. A topic with two subjects counts toward both.

• budget fy27206 min · 70%
• override106 min · 36%
• free cash63 min · 22%
• public comment60 min · 20%
• state aid59 min · 20%
• tax rate51 min · 17%
• warrant article32 min · 11%
• town meeting24 min · 8%
• legal17 min · 6%
• transfers15 min · 5%

The whole meeting, in order

1. ▶ 0:09Call to order, quorum declared, pledge of allegiance, volunteer thanks, Hank the dog's retirement, May Basket and Lucky Ducky fundraisersinformational · 2:46 long
2. ▶ 2:55Explanation of electronic clicker voting and two practice/history-trivia sample votesinformational · 5:58 long · town meeting
3. ▶ 8:53Ground rules for debate, decorum, and procedure at town meetinginformational · 4:11 long · town meeting
4. ▶ 13:25Recognition of town and school employees for years of service and of retireesinformational · 5:58 long · personnel, staffing
5. ▶ 19:23Attendance count, deputy moderator appointment, and tribute to the Boucher family ("Hope for Hattie")decided without a vote (deputy appointed) · 2:25 long
6. ▶ 21:26Consent calendar of routine warrant articles (2, 3, 6, 7 removed, 16, 17, 18, 19)voted · 6:04 long · warrant article, town meeting
7. ▶ 27:30Article 1: acceptance of town officer/committee reports, including the board of trust fund commissioners' report on trust modernization and a compliance dispute with the towninformational / accepted without recorded vote · 7:55 long · legal, town meeting
8. ▶ 35:25Article 4: new economic development revolving fundvoted · 2:01 long · economic development, warrant article
9. ▶ 37:26Article 5: amend technology revolving fund authorizationvoted · 2:52 long · technology, warrant article
10. ▶ 40:18Article 7: payment of prior-year bills requiring a 4/5 votevoted · 5:59 long · transfers, warrant article
11. ▶ 46:17Article 8: passed overvoted · 2:53 long · warrant article
12. ▶ 49:10Article 9: free cash transfer to cover FY2026 snow and ice removal deficitvoted · 4:48 long · free cash, transfers, roads and dpw
13. ▶ 53:58Article 10: town manager's presentation of the FY2027 balance, tier-1 and tier-2 town budgets, free cash policy, and revenue sourcesinformational · 58:37 long · budget fy27, free cash, state aid
14. ▶ 1:52:35Superintendent's presentation of the FY2027 school budget, cuts, class-size projections, literacy data and FY25 surplus explanationinformational · 14:43 long · budget fy27, special education, curriculum
15. ▶ 2:07:18Town manager's multi-year financial forecast under each budget scenarioinformational · 5:10 long · budget fy27, tax rate
16. ▶ 2:12:28Moderator reads the balance budget category by category and takes holdsinformational · 5:49 long · budget fy27, warrant article
17. ▶ 2:18:17Hold on human services line: question of whether the board of health approved reducing an administrative assistant positionno resolution given (board of health not present) · 4:11 long · town departments, personnel
18. ▶ 2:22:28General debate on the FY2027 town/school budget and the proposed overrides, including the assistant town manager position, trust vs. process, and alternative budget proposalsdebated, no vote yet · 1:00:09 long · budget fy27, override, public comment
19. ▶ 3:22:37Procedural dispute over whether an alternative budget could be offered and the scope of any amendment to article 10moderator ruled reconsideration would be required if article 10 failed · 9:22 long · budget fy27, legal
20. ▶ 3:31:59Vote on Article 10, the FY2027 balanced town/school budgetvoted, passed 340-68 · 6:06 long · budget fy27, warrant article
21. ▶ 3:38:05Article 11: debate and votes on the tier-1 and tier-2 Proposition 2½ override questionsvoted, both passed · 46:00 long · override, budget fy27, tax rate
22. ▶ 4:24:05Article 12: cleanup article reauthorizing a capital transfer between TCP roof repair and the FY26 capital planvoted · 5:02 long · capital, facilities
23. ▶ 4:29:07Article 13: FY2027 capital projects programvoted · 3:12 long · capital
24. ▶ 4:32:19Article 14: PEG access/cable enterprise operating budgetvoted · 2:27 long · technology
25. ▶ 4:34:46Article 15: PEG capital purchase of replacement Castus broadcasting systemvoted · 2:37 long · technology, capital
26. ▶ 4:37:43Article 20: FY2027 non-union salary schedule (3% COLA)voted · 2:50 long · personnel, contracts and unions
27. ▶ 4:40:33Article 21: firefighters' union first-year collective bargaining agreementvoted · 3:34 long · contracts and unions, public safety
28. ▶ 4:44:07Article 22: municipal employees' union (AFSCME Council 93) first-year contractvoted · 2:46 long · contracts and unions
29. ▶ 4:46:53Article 23: Teamsters Local 170 (DPW) two-year contract, catching up from an expired agreementvoted · 3:34 long · contracts and unions, roads and dpw
30. ▶ 4:50:27Article 24: TCP (Chief Cassia) building decommissioning funding and a special assistant to the assessordiscussed; vote not captured in this recording · 4:35 long · facilities, transfers

What the captions could not carry

• The vote outcome for Article 24 (TCP building decommissioning and assessor's special assistant) is not in the captions; the recording ends mid-discussion.
• Several dollar figures read aloud during the budget category walkthrough are garbled or missing digits/commas in the captions (e.g., the initial Article 10 motion figure differs from the total stated moments later).
• A stretch of overlapping audience noise/cross-talk around 12091-12157 is unintelligible.
• Several public commenters' names are only partially audible or garbled (e.g., "Hall," "Tomorrow visit," "Can 2657").
• The exact vote counts read for consent-calendar sub-articles and some smaller warrant articles rely on the moderator's spoken tallies, which are sometimes read quickly and may not be fully accurate.

Written 2026-09-19 by scripts/write_recording_minutes.py (sonnet) from sources/data/youtube-transcripts/town-meeting/2026-05-02-XPu6b2OxSAE.json — 6,540 caption segments, sha256 c1d9094c5c3c…. All recorded meetings.