NORTHFIELD — Voters will consider a roughly $9.58 million budget for fiscal year 2024, a series of elementary school upgrades and special legislation to allow the fire chief to serve in the role longer during Monday’s Annual Town Meeting.

The meeting, during which residents will consider 27 articles, will start at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

Article 4 details the operating budget. At $9.58 million, the proposed budget represents an increase of $554,657, or 6.14%.

“The overall town budget and the potential burdens it puts on our taxpayers is always up for discussion and usually this invites great conversation every Town Meeting,” commented Selectboard member Alex Meisner.

The Highway Department seeks a smaller truck that would be more economical to use than the large municipal dump truck, at a cost of $60,000, which Article 13 proposes funding using free cash. In other equipment-related expenses, Article 6 proposes transferring $15,000 from the Emergency Medical Services Enterprise Fund for ambulance equipment.

“Typical Town Meeting business such as ... some basic equipment purchases is standard,” Meisner said.

In Article 24, voters will consider purchasing a recreational storage shed and propane grill for the Senior Center in the amount of $2,825. Of that figure, $2,000 would be allocated from the Community Preservation Fund balance for Open Space/Recreation and the remaining $825 would come from the Community Preservation Fund for Undesignated Funds.

Voters will be asked in Article 17 if they agree to authorize the Selectboard to petition the Legislature to pass a bill allowing Fire Chief Floyd “Skip” Dunnell III to continue serving in his position until either Dec. 31, 2026, or until the date of his retirement or non-reappointment, whichever comes first. Public safety employees are required by state law to retire by age 65, but an act of the state Legislature can allow an individual more time in their field.

Three consecutive votes involve Northfield Elementary School upgrades. Article 14 entails a vote to buy a key card access system for the school’s doors; Article 15 asks for approval to purchase and/or repair blackout roller shades on the windows; and Article 16 ask voters to approve funding to refurbish the existing bathrooms in the south building. The $83,000 in funding for Article 16, which is expected to come from free cash, would go toward paying for engineering, bidding, renovating and any other expenses related to the bathroom upgrades.

Another two votes focus on historical preservation. Article 25 entails using $2,000 from the Community Preservation Fund balance for Historical Preservation and/or the Undesignated Fund balance to replace the sign on the Field Library, while Article 26 involves a vote to appropriate $3,000 from the same pool of money to repair the historic fireplace located outside at 88 Main St.

Other articles include a vote on transferring $150,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund to pay for a new water line to the Sewer Treatment Plant, and a vote to create an Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund. All money to be included in the fund comes from the town’s participation in national litigation against three of the nation’s largest opioid distributors.

To view the full warrant, visit bit.ly/3LD31En.

]]>