Select Board reviews 2026 goals

The Select Board reviewed the goals they set for themselves in Nov. 2025, and found they have completed or worked toward many of them. 

The goals surrounded financial health, economic development, long range planning, internal operations, communication and transparency. 

Toward the goal of financial health, the town had studies of their finances, implemented benefits enhancement, finishing contract negotiations and working on improving the budget advisory group. The town is looking into the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to decide where finances should go, especially when it comes to working with the school department. 

The town was also able to lower the spikes of the enterprise fund by moving the requests around to different retained earning areas. 

“There’s a lot in here that we got done, there’s some things we probably won’t get done but there’s things that we got done that weren’t on here,” said Town Administrator Cody Haddad. 

For the goal of economic development, the Board created an Economic Development Committee Task Force but does not yet have the staff to run it. 

Long range capital planning had three sub-goals, support the Long Range Capital Planning Committee in identifying projects, prepare a plan for review and endorsement by the Select Board and include comprehensive funding opportunities. 

The town has worked on borrowing for projects like the sewer aeration plan, and worked with state organizations for ways to work on these projects and apply for grants. They have also appointed people such as an office assistant for Conservation to ensure the office works well. 

The town has begun conducting operational studies for key departments like Public Works toward the goal of internal operations. This pillar has had issues with staffing turnover. Haddad stated they hope to work toward this goal with ideas such as training sessions and implementing AI for data analysis and meetings. 

The goal of communication and transparency was the one that Haddad felt was well completed, with Communication Manager Jessica Dastous posting information online and the Citizens Academy being well attended. The Town plans to run another Citizens Academy over the winter.