Council approves one-year stipends for volunteer board members in 5-3 vote

A majority of the council voted to approve a one-year appropriation to pay stipends to volunteer board members, arguing the temporary measure could lower financial barriers and broaden participation in local boards. Opponents said some roles — notably the board of assessors — require certifications and should not be equated with volunteer stipends.

A council member in favor said the stipend is explicitly temporary, "This is a one-year appropriation," and framed the payment as a way to diversify who feels able to serve on town boards. Another council member added that the stipend is a "small thank you" and said appointment panels and the town manager’s interview process would prevent people from serving only for pay.

Opponents raised several objections. One council member said they would vote no, arguing assessors’ duties "go way above anything else" and that offering a stipend for some volunteer roles but not others could be insulting. That member also warned that creating an expectation of payment and then removing it could damage volunteer morale, noting prior removal of stipends had caused "a ton of angst." Another council member questioned whether the town currently lacks volunteers and suggested testing a one-year pilot only if a demonstrable need exists.

At the meeting the chair called the vote. After members responded, the chair announced, "That motion passes 5 to three." The transcript records a brief procedural exchange immediately afterward in which at least one participant suggested the motion failed because it was a two-thirds motion, leaving a procedural question recorded in the meeting that was not resolved in the provided transcript.

One council member who supported approval said they would ask Town Manager Borg to consider including the stipend in next year’s regular budget rather than treating it as a one-off. The appropriation approved by the council is for one year; whether the town will continue stipends beyond that period will be decided by the council at a later date.

The council did not specify the exact stipend amounts or the total dollar appropriation in the provided transcript; those details were not given and are not specified in this account.