Budget Committee: February 2008 Archives

http://www.meredithnhnews.com/
 
by Sarah Schmidt
Staff Reporter write the author
 
January 10, 2008
MOULTONBORO — The Board of Selectmen voted to create an Advisory Budget Committee to serve until Town Meeting of 2009, anticipating the possibility that the town could vote for an elected committee this March.

The motion, however, was greeted with skepticism from several residents in attendance at the meeting, who wondered aloud if the approval of the Advisory Budget Committee by both boards made the budget committee a "done deal." Board of Selectmen Chair Karel Crawford asserted that the board had not yet discussed the matter and that she had no idea what the other selectmen thought of the idea.

"There's a certain segment of the population that feels you're out to get them," said Selectman Ed Charest. "We're not, we're very open. It's time to get away from the 'gotcha' attitude."

Amid fervent questioning from residents in attendance, the board voted to create the committee in order to "set in place the infrastructure" for such a committee. If residents vote in favor of a different board wherein members are elected, the advisory board appointed to work during the next fiscal year would have to run for election in 2009. This action follows the unanimous vote of the School Board last month to establish an Advisory Budget Committee. The hearing last week was attended jointly by the Board of Selectmen and the School Board.