Town Administrator Tim Bragan reviewed administrative budget highlights, including cutting back on the number of town reports printed, eliminating the audit (not required every year, he said), and yet another year with no salary increase for himself. The 5 percent reduced budget, if needed, would be achieved with furlough days (unpaid days off) for himself and several town employees. Selectmen thanked Bragan for meeting the budget targets, but both Lucy Wallace and Ron Ricci said they did not think it should be necessary for Bragan to forego a salary increase again, and Marie Sobalvarro said she thought the 5 percent reduced budget would be “extremely onerous.” Wallace also said that she thought the budget should not be called “level funded,” when in fact it is significantly reduced by the requirement to absorb benefits increases. Wallace also said, “We’re not being honest with the community saying this is what we need to run the town. We’re going to be at the Reserve Fund table within half a year,” she said [to cover the actual costs].

— Joe Hutchinson