Selectmen set tax rate, authorize a TAN and approve CARES spending and transfer‑station work

Selectmen reviewed the town’s finances as the pandemic continued to create uncertainty and voted on several budget and cash‑management items.

On the tax and cash side, the board set the 2020 mil rate at 1.157 and voted to apply $150,000 in surplus to offset taxpayer bills. The minutes show the board opened multiple Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) bids and later authorized issuance of a TAN in an amount up to $550,000 to bridge cashflow while taxes are collected; the board directed the Treasurer and Chair to finalize terms with the winning bidder.

Selectmen also authorized CARES Act–funded spending for local outreach and pandemic response; TM Billings outlined an $8,500 outreach plan for signage, PPE and messaging to support local compliance efforts. The board approved the transfer‑station compactor project as complete and accepted final bills; the record shows the town installed a new compactor and had outstanding final invoices under review.

Other budget‑adjacent items included approvals of salt and snow‑removal bids and a limited, focused capital approval: a $2,500 expenditure to address a hoist issue at the Pier (recorded separately), and authorization to accept low bids for sand/salt supplies to prepare for winter.

What happens next: The Treasurer and Chair will execute TAN paperwork; TM will manage CARES spending and finalize transfer‑station invoices with the contractor.