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Before residents were settled into the Kirshner Auditorium for Annual Town Meeting, the Select Board was in a conference room on the administrative side of the building for one more Select Board meeting before Town Meeting. Here’s what they discussed:
Article 34 – Atkinson Pool
Vice Chair Dan Carty moved to support the article, it was seconded by Lisa Kouchakdjian. Discussion ensued about in-levy debt—the Town is using it to fund this project, but is using less in-levy debt than it has capacity to take on overall. Further discussion led to a vote. The Select Board voted 5-0 to support Article 34.
School Roof Articles to be Indefinitely Postponed By SPS Committee Chair
Chair Roberts then informed the board that she spoke with the chair of the Sudbury Public Schools School Committee (SPSSC) about two school roof articles that are expected to be indefinitely postponed. She confirmed that the chair would be making a motion on the floor of Annual Town Meeting.
CPC Indefinitely Postpones Housing Authority Article
Vice-Chair Dan Carty confirmed that the Community Preservation Committee had voted to indefinitely postpone a Sudbury Housing Authority (SHA) article minutes earlier. That article would have provided funding for an SHA scattered-site duplex project. The SHA had previously voted to indefinitely postpone.
Budget Amendment
From there the board discussed an amendment that had been submitted to the Town Moderator for Article 3, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The amendment proposed to moved $200,000 out of the Reserve Fund, and add it to the vocational education line item. The full board quickly coalesced around strong opposition to the amendment. Member Janie Dretler pointed out that the amendment presentation had inaccurate information—it claimed the Reserve Fund isn’t being used. Dretler corrected that claim, stating it has been used.
Chair Jennifer Roberts went on to point out that American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) had provided a buffer in recent years, helping the town avoid using the reserve fund. But with the ARPA funds fully allocated and uncertainty about future federal funding, the Reserve Fund because even more important. Ultimately, the members simply agreed that the amendment was not the right way of going about getting back into a vocational education district.
Member Dretler motioned to oppose the amendment and authorize the chair to read a statement at Town Meeting. The vote voted the motion 5-0.
