06/11/08

Councilors set morning meeting for fitness center, collective bargaining review on June 26

The Town Council has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, June 26, at 7 a.m. to consider a possible lease agreement for the Fitness Center located next to the Donald L. Richards community pool, and to consider the status of collective bargaining.

The morning meeting time is unusual, said Town Council members, but necessary due to personal schedules.

"Because of summer vacations and commitments, this was literally the only time that all seven of us could meet in a room," said Chairman Mary Ann Lynch, at the council's regular meeting June 9.

The meeting will be held in the Town Hall chamber. Councilors may move to a conference room to discuss matters in executive session if needed, but will return to the chamber for public discussion and votes.

Currently the only agenda items are review of a proposed lease agreement for the Fitness Center, part of the Town's move to privatize that service; and, a review of collective bargaining status.

No agenda has been published yet. The meeting will not be televised.

Councilors at their June 9 meeting did not know the outcome of Tuesday's school budget validation vote, but said they doubted that the school budget would be a part of that June 26 agenda.

Following citizen rejection of the $19.7 million school budget at the polls June 10, the School Board will need to meet to propose a new budget to the Town Council. The council will also need to meet to set a new budget out for another validation vote.

"The School Board will need to take action first," Lynch said, responding to questions from other councilors about a possible school budget defeat. Because of required notification time and personal schedules, Lynch said the council will not likely consider the school budget until its next regular meeting July 14.