Proposed Monson municipal budget down slightly

Report dedicated to former
town manager

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    MONSON — Residents of Monson will face a 24-article warrant at the March 16 annual town meeting with a slight decrease in the municipal budget.
    The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Monson Center for Community and Commerce.

    According to Town Manager Lucas Butler, the budget committee held five meetings and “all areas were examined in detail. The committee and selectboard recommended a municipal budget of $767,584 compared to last year’s $779,240.”
    Monson’s share of the Regional School Unit 68 budget is estimated to be about $545,000.
    Major articles on the warrant include $164,865 for general government, including salaries and municipal building upkeep; $75,347 for public safety, which includes $23,597 for the fire department; $483,409 for public works, which includes $106,427 for plowing and sanding and $145,332 for paving; and $73,305 for the transfer station.
    Monson finished its fiscal year with a surplus of nearly $320,000, Butler added.
    One challenge facing the town is maintaining the Center for Community and Commerce, the former elementary school that was turned back to the town after it was closed in 2009 due to declining enrollment.
    Utility costs have been troublesome, but Butler pointed out that a new pellet boiler has been installed in the building, thus cutting down heating oil usage.
    While there has been some turnover of businesses in recent years, the Appalachian Mountain Club opened an information center at the complex last year and Jemma Gascoine Pottery and Martini Customer Graphics recently opened to join existing tenants Eden Hill Essentials and the Monson Jammers.
    Monson’s municipal officers are elected from the floor, but must file their intentions prior to the meeting and all the incumbents have indicated that they’ll run for reelection.
    These include Selectmen Karl Martin and Brita Cronkite, Planning Board Chair Cynthia Turner, Town Clerk Susan DeLoia and RSU 68 Director Shirleen Vainio.
    Butler was hired as town manager in November, succeeding Julie Anderson who worked for the municipality for more than 25 years.
    This year’s town report is dedicated to Anderson who started as a part-time clerk with the Monson Utilities District and spent the last eight years as town manager. Although she’s officially retired, Anderson is still active in several community organizations and projects.