Voters approved a $1.2 million Capital Improvements Budget under Article 8, though the article prompted a debate regarding the necessity of the Fire Department's equipment fleet. Capital Budget Committee Chair Susan Franklin noted that 55% of the requested funds were dedicated to school needs, while 44% supported multi-year rollout programs for vehicle and technology replacement.

Advisory Committee member Mike Barkley reminded residents that the town is still in catch-up mode due to a previous decade of static budgeting that allowed equipment to age. However, resident Leland Jenkins questioned the request for fire equipment, asking why the town maintains three fire pumpers when one has allegedly been sitting in the fire department garage, I believe, for seven years without being used.

Fire Chief John Dockray defended the fleet, explaining that national standards require a minimum response of two engines for a single-family house fire. Under the national standard, the typical response for any kind of fire in a single family home is two engines. When one of those two engines is out of service, we put the third engine in service, Dockray said, adding that the reserve engine was used extensively during recent blizzards and mutual aid calls. Despite the discussion, the 2/3rds majority required for the capital budget was met comfortably.

Motion: To approve the Capital Improvements Budget.

Vote: Passed Unanimously