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Massachusetts

Leverett

Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Town Clerk: (413) 548-9150
Tax Collector: (413) 548-9666
Assessor: (413) 548-4945
Town Hall Fax: (413) 548-1035
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BUDGET HEARING Select Board/Finance Committee

Tuesday, March 25, 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm
Town Hall/remote
A meeting of the Selectboard

The Selectboard is meeting in person and making this meeting available via Zoom for the convenience of the public. Since we are meeting in person, we will not be responsible for any technical difficulties, so if you would like to be sure of participating, please attend in person.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94460276391?pwd=N294R3hyQzlyMUtsZ1ZkMTBjL3BPdz09

Meeting ID: 944 6027 6391; Passcode: 650146

Meeting Agenda:

Protocols for Public Address to the Board: During meetings, the Selectboard will attempt to find a balance between hearing from members of the community and conducting required business. All public address is at the discretion of the Chair.

When speaking, please identify yourself by name or the company/institution you represent. Please make your comments are concise (less than 2 minutes); avoid repeat statements made by others; address your comments to the Board Chair.

Audience members may not interrupt a recognized speaker nor the discussion of the Board. Please be cordial and respectful of others.

The Selectboard will generally listen to comments rather than respond immediately. If a topic comes up that is not on the agenda yet further action is required by the Board, the Chair will add the matter, as appropriate, to a forthcoming agenda. Depending on the comment, the Board may, if they are able within the confines of the Open Meeting Law, respond with information as opposed to needing to deliberate on the matter.

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law. The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Meeting of Selectboard

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Tom Hankinson, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Jed Proujansky, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Patricia Duffy, at 7:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Present: Tom H.
  • Pat D.
  • Jed P.
  • Margie M.
  • and Lisa S. for the Select Board. For the Finance Committee: Bethany S.
  • Isaiah R.
  • Nancy G.
  • Phil C.
  • and Liz K. Also present: Matt Boucher
  • Hannah Paessel
  • Scott Minckler
  • Brian Cook
  • Amy Rice
  • Will Stratford representing various departments. Several members of the School Committee and Finance Director for Union 28 Caitlin Sheridan were also present. Many members of the community were present in person and remotely and so was George Brace for the Montague Reporter.

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:00 PM

Meeting closed: 8:57 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Business

    • 7:00 : Budget Hearing

      General Discussion...
      Phil Carter, Chair for the Finance Committee opened and ran the hearing. Earlier in the budget season the Select Board and Finance Committee recommended an increase to budgets of 2.5%. The budget as of this hearing reflects an overall increase of 5.3%. Phil thought the increase was too much and suggested getting it down to 5% with the following adjustments: to reduce the Fire Dept. budget by $1,500 to bring their overall increase to 5.2%; to reduce the increase to Stabilization from $20,000 to $10,000; to ask the school to spend $7,500 from school choice to reduce their overall request. The referenced adjustments would bring the budget increase to 5%. As the budget was reviewed each department present was asked if there was any more, they could cut to which the answer was no. Isaiah Robison asked Matt Boucher if he would consider letting the co-op position go to further reduce the budget. Various scenarios were discussed like reducing his hours. Matt will look into the details.
      The Council on Aging (Judi F.; Linda H., and Tom W. were present) whose request was cut at the last meeting asked to have it restored to the original figure which would have allowed them to hire an event coordinator for 15 hours/week. While there was widespread support, it was agreed that this year, a reduced position would be more financially sound with the possibility of increasing hours next year.
      A huge unknown at this time is the Regional School amount. Tilman Wolff was present remotely, briefly and said that the current ask of Leverett is for a 14% increase. He also stated that there will be another 4-town meeting soon to discuss the budget again with DESE, who, due to the unusual nature of the agreement, would like to attend.

    • 8:15: Chapter 70 letter; Dudleyville Rd. surface process; police officer appointments; custodian appt.

      General Discussion...
      A letter of receipt was signed for the regional school for capital expenses.


      The process chosen for the resurfacing of Dudleyville Rd. will be to bring the question to ATM. Matt pointed out that our town code requires a process to pave an existing gravel road.
      The Chapter 70 letter was signed.
      A replacement custodian has not been chosen yet.

      MOTION, moved by Patricia Duffy, seconded by Tom Hankinson: Motion: To appoint Andrew Nepal as a part-time police officer. Vote 3-0 in favor.

      Pass: Aye: Patricia Duffy, Tom Hankinson, Jed Proujansky.

  3. Meeting Wrap-up

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes approved on Wednesday, May 14, 2025