BROOKLINE – Voters approved all 13 articles to come before their annual Town Meeting on Wednesday night in just under three hours, though attendance was low with approximately 80 attendees.
The lengthiest of discussions centered around the operating budget, which was amended to be reduced by $60,000 for a final figure of $3,994,329 by town officials.
Selectman Darrell Philpot explained that in previous years, the town had spent under their allotted budget. Finance Committee members were originally opposed to the proposed article, not recommending it by a 2-0 vote, but they later said the amendment changed their view and they supported the new figure.
In a PowerPoint presentation, Philpot also pointed to some key drivers for the 3.4 percent increase, including plowing and sanding costs, a rise in transfer station costs due to a lack of recycling and health insurance.
A emphatic discussion was had on Article 7 when voters moved to appropriate $30,000 for road and bridge improvements.![]()
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