Warwick, MA

2026-03-23 Selectboard Minutes

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Town of Warwick
Minutes of Hybrid Meeting of the Warwick Selectboard
Warwick Community School
Monday, March 23rd, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Selectboard Members Present: Brian Snell, Chair; Alan Genovese, Vice-Chair; Keith Ross, Clerk
Others Present: David Young, Town Coordinator; Diana Noble, Assistant to the Town Coordinator; Tracey Styles, Highway Commission Clerk (left before meeting ended); Laurette Crane, Finance Committee; Andrea Woods; Todd Dexter, Highway Commission (joined after meeting had begun)
Others Present via Zoom: Jill DeLisle, Finance Committee; Janice Kurkoski, Buildings and Energy Committee (left before meeting ended); Claudia Lewis (joined after meeting had begun)

  1. Call To Order – Snell called the meeting to order at 6:04pm
  2. Appearances
    1. Tracey Styles, Highway Commission Clerk – Chapter 90 signatories and procedures – The Board discussed a need for clarification on Highway signatory and authorization procedures. The Board approved three entities (Tracey Styles as Highway Commission Clerk, the Highway Commission Chair, and a Coordinator Representative) to be eligible signatories for Chapter 90 projects. The Board also urged Styles and the Highway Commission to create a written policy outlining signatory and approval procedures. In addition to a vote on a particular project, and a report given to the Commission after signing, there needs to be proof or a certificate that the Commission voted to give signatory authorization. Genovese and Snell requested that the Highway Commission’s written policy be provided to the Board prior to the next meeting.
    2. Highway discussion continued…Styles requested the Board’s signatures for the completion of three Highway Commission projects, including street paving, 2025 paving, and the backhoe bucket.
      • Ross MOVED to authorize the chair to sign the aforementioned documents when they’re ready. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
  3. Chapter 268 Section 20C and 20D Ethics disclosures or exemptions – none
  4. Minutes of previous meeting – none
  5. Citizens’ concerns and suggestions for future agenda items – none
  6. Discussions and reports
    1. Town Coordinator Report – The Board reviewed the report, including discussion of a proposed mural installation at the school.
    2. Assistant Coordinator Report
      1. Budget including funding Building and Energy Manager – Noble summarized the 2027 Draft Town Budget, which at the time of the meeting, projected a 17% tax increase of over $360,000, requiring an override of approximately $35,000. There was significant discussion around expense increases and revenue adjustments. Key points included a $65,000 assessment for Franklin County Tech (down from $118,000), an increase in general government expenses to $31,791 including a planned $80,000 town coordinator salary, and a decision to discontinue the summer program while maintaining funding for the after-school program. The budget also includes a $25,000 increase for the transfer station deficit due to rising waste management costs and compliance requirements. The Finance Committee will meet on Thursday to further discuss these numbers and make final decisions. The town deficit increased from $9,000 to $19,000 in 2025 despite a $15,000 subsidy. The Board discussed the use of free cash, with Noble and Crane expressing concerns about appropriating it to reduce the levy while facing significant budget challenges, opining that this gives a confusing picture of our financial picture. Noble reminded the Board that energy savings will be pulled out of individual department budgets, and instead, used to pay for the Buildings and Energy Manager salary, and the remainder into town savings.
    3. Selectboard Reports
      1. Town Coordinator Search Committee – Ross shared they are still looking for members for the Committee. He made changes to the job description that were recommended and plan to post it.
      2. Snell reports that he submitted a letter intending to seek reelection. He met with WBUR representing the town’s green energy efforts and discussing town history and difficulty of rural funding.
        • Ross MOVED to appoint Snell to be the Selectboard liaison to the transfer station. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
      3. Six Town Regionalization Planning Board Update – Genovese reported that 6-town plan is complete, and 5-town is almost complete.
  7. Actions
    1. Confirming Town Hall continues to be Warwick School Evacuation site.
      • Genovese MOVED to continue to use the Town Hall as the Warwick School evacuation site and to provide some lockable space. Snell SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
    2. Proposed School Mural – The Board looked at the designated location in the school’s front entry, and asked that the school get back to the Board if there are any changes to the mural’s format or location.
      • Snell MOVED to allow the school to install a mural. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
    3. Review and vote to advance FY27 Enterprise Fund budgets to Annual Town Meeting for a vote
      1. Warwick Broadband Enterprise Fund Budget – Young reports that it is expected that revenues will equal expenditures in 2027.
        • Genovese MOVED to approve the Broadband Enterprise Fund in the amount of $80,000. Ross SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
      2. Transfer Station Enterprise Fund Budget – Young reports that budget is $48,525. This fund is not in balance and requires a $25,000 subsidy.
        • Snell MOVED to accept the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund Budget. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0. 
  8. Approval of administrative actions taken – none
  9. Items unanticipated at time of posting – none

Snell MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm. Genovese SECONDED. Motion CARRIED. 3-0-0.

The next meeting will be Monday, April 6th, 2026.

Respectfully submitted by Heather Berlin, Town Secretary

Documents consulted at this meeting:

*Meeting agenda dated March 23, 2026
*fy27 WBS Enterprise Fund Budget.pdf
*Coordinator Report March 19, 2026
*fy27 Transfer station budget.pdf
*20260323 budget increase explanation dn 3.23.26.xlsx

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