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 Barre Select Board voted to let Town Administrator Melanie Jackson draft a stronger social media policy after a Finance Committee member's Facebook posts drew complaints, and previewed a new committee to review town finances.
The Barre Finance Committee recommended a borrowing-funded $450,000 dump truck and a divided plan to abolish the town's elected water and sewer commissions ahead of annual town meeting.
Barre Select Board approved the 26-article warrant for the May 19 annual town meeting after reading it into the record line by line.
Barre's Select Board adopted townwide 25 mph speed zones and then joined the Finance Committee to review a $16.1 million fiscal 2027 budget built on one-time money.
Barre's Select Board explored a plan to provide round-the-clock police coverage to neighboring Oakham while warning its draft FY27 budget still runs a $239,000 deficit.
Barre Select Board kept its leadership intact and approved a $114,000 road engineering contract. Dr.
Barre Planning Board accepted withdrawal of a subdivision plan tied to a proposed battery storage project after a state law change took permitting out of local hands.
Barre's Finance Committee pressed the town administrator for backup on a sewer and water services fee that jumped from $7,500 to $51,000 over several years.
Barre's Select Board voted to oppose a state bill eliminating vehicle registration holds for unpaid excise taxes. Treasurer and Collector Shelby told the board Barre issued 5,663 motor vehicle excise bills totaling $697,520 in fiscal year 2026, with 1,476 reaching demand status for nonpayment.