Barre Town Meeting Votes to Abolish DPW Commission, Pursue New Truck Debt Exclusion

BARRE -- May 19, 2026, Barre Town Meeting votes 100-36 to abolish the DPW Commission and approves a $450,000 truck borrowing contingent on a debt exclusion election. The May 19 annual meeting passed an $8,818,000 school budget reflecting a $82,359 reduction in the Quabbin Regional School District assessment, and approved a $7,180,460 general government budget that Town Administrator Melanie Jackson described as holding essentially level. The DPW Commission abolition article, which would direct the Select Board to petition the state legislature to repeal Chapter 56 of the Acts of 1988, passed by secret ballot after opponents including Matt Urban argued the town lacked the internal financial policies needed to responsibly absorb the change; DPW Director Richard Stevens countered that the commission structure "has failed" and cited a 1979 Mack truck still in active service. The local option meals tax failed 79 to 73 for the third consecutive year, while a 6 percent local option rooms tax passed easily. The moderator also announced Finance Committee appointments including Matt Urban and Sarah Gehlen.