WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 06/10/25

SELECT BOARD 

At its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board heard a presentation of proposed options for water and sewer rate increases by the town’s consultant ahead of the board’s June 17th vote. The town’s water budget is expected to triple over the next ten years from its current $2.8 million number. The three proposed options for water rate increases were: 1) a 25% increase for FY26, followed by 7% yearly increases through FY30; 2) a yearly increase of 10.5% for 10 years; and 3) an initial 5% increase for FY26 with higher increases in successive years, peaking at 15% for FY28-30, then falling to 7.5% for the remaining years. The three proposed sewer rate increase options were 1) a 7.5% increase for FY26-27, a 15% increase for FY28-20, then no increase; 2) a 5% increase for FY26, followed by an annual increase for three years, back to 5% for FY30, then flat for five years; and 3) a yearly 10% increase over FY26-31, then no increase for the remaining years. 

Select Board reviews proposed FY 26 water, sewer rates in preparation for June 17 vote (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 06/04/25)

In other business, the board approved: municipal bond financing for $90.4 million for the town’s capital projects, including the new Charleswood School; licenses for the new Rapscallion restaurant at 22 South Street; and underground conduit connection service on Blueberry Lane to provide electricity to 3 homes. The board also continued a hearing about relocating utility poles on Hayden Rowe Street near Chamberlain Street, and discussed vacant town positions. 

Select Board approves municipal bond financing for capital projects (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 06/04/25)