Select Board sends moratorium to town counsel

Select Board · Meeting of January 20, 2026

Barre Select Board forwarded a three-year development moratorium to town counsel and capped an overspent town job. The board voted unanimously to send the draft zoning moratorium, which would bar large industrial, energy and waste facilities while the town searches for a new water well, to town counsel for review. Select Board member Dr. Maureen Marshall warned the town is "not going to balance that budget without us making some cuts," and Town Administrator Melanie Jackson said the assistant accountant position was already 92 percent expended after working unauthorized extra hours, prompting a vote to limit it back to 10 hours a week.

The board also authorized an $8,000 to $20,000 contract with CBIZ Advisors to close the fiscal 2025 books before the state withholds local aid, and said Hardwick is dropping Barre as its ambulance provider in favor of West Brookfield, owing Barre $20,416.69 for prior service.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Barre's community access TV: Select Board meeting, January 20, 2026
• The complete report: 1,229 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of January 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.