Shutesbury Finance Committee reviews police and library budgets ahead of town meeting

Finance Committee · Meeting of January 27, 2026

Shutesbury's Finance Committee reviewed FY27 budgets for the police department and public library and heard a preliminary briefing on a possible bid to absorb Pelham Elementary students. Police Chief Devin Pelletier presented a $274,618 proposed budget — roughly 3 percent below FY26 — including a contractual chief salary of $84,412, flat officer wages enabled by his move to a salaried position, and a plan to reduce the fleet from four cruisers to three while posting for a third full-time officer. Library Director Marianne walked the committee through a $23,256 operating allocation request and a detailed memo outlining new recurring costs at the recently opened building, including $4,000 annually for well-water testing, $5,500 for HVAC maintenance, and $420 for panic-button monitoring, with the committee directing her to map each cost to specific town buildings budget lines.

Recycling and Solid Waste Committee chair Meryl reported that Casella has signaled willingness to extend the town's hauling contract one year at the existing 5 percent increase rate, buying time to develop a new RFP — but warned the company will likely require a switch from pay-as-you-throw bags to automated toters after the extension. The meeting closed with the committee chair reporting that Pelham is exploring closing its elementary school and potentially sending 61 resident students to Shutesbury, with a follow-up meeting involving town administrators and school officials scheduled for the next day.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of January 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.