Limerick Select Board Holds Hearings on Budget Committee Size and Live Streaming

The Limerick Select Board held public hearings on two November ballot articles, one to shrink the Budget Committee from five members to three and one to exempt select board workshops from live streaming requirements. Residents questioned the budget committee change, noting the town currently has a full five-member committee. The board also appointed Brian Austin to the Board of Appeals, signed a regional letter on school polling places, and accepted the state General Assistance maximums.

Key points

• Public hearing held on Article 2, which would reduce the Budget Committee from five members to three, with terms phased out as they expire; a resident and a board member debated the change, and a board member said the article was placed on the ballot when the committee had only two members and cannot now be removed.
• Public hearing held on Article 3, which would exempt select board workshops from the live streaming and cablecast ordinance; board members said the change would save money on videotaping and allow site visits as a full board, and a resident noted workshops would still be posted and open to the public.
• The board voted to sign a six-town letter requesting use of local elementary schools as polling locations for the November and June elections.
• The board voted to appoint Brian J. Austin to the Board of Appeals after a board member said she found no negative information about him.
• The board tabled the SSC TV contract for review and a vote at a future meeting.
• The board accepted the state General Assistance maximums after a public hearing, which a town official described as a routine yearly update.

Next steps

• Executive session scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. to review applications for the video and bookkeeper positions.
• Town clerk asked the board to set up interviews for the deputy town clerk, and a board member will check whether she wants to meet in executive session.
• Budget workshop scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m.
• The SSC TV contract will return to new business next week for a vote.
• The board is awaiting a retention letter and hourly rates from the law firm Pretty Flaherty for ZBA counsel, expected on next week's agenda.

Read the full transcript