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Wednesday, November 4, 2026 New Salem, Massachusetts · Change town
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Morning Brief

Every edition of the morning brief: everything local in New Salem, each day.

62 stories

Government · Board of Assessors

Board requests $4,000 transfer to cover FY26 shortfall

Assessors seek $4,000 for FY26 budget shortfall. New Salem's Board of Assessors voted unanimously April 7 to request a $4,000 transfer from the Finance Committee to cover an operating account shortfall. Chair Bill Lafley and Member Eric Hamm, with Adam Hemingway of RRG in attendance, also

Townbrief news summary ·
Government · Board of Selectmen

Selectmen appoint police chief, back $185,500 budget override

Selectmen narrowly appoint police chief, back $185,500 budget override. The Board voted 2 to 1 with one abstention to appoint Sergeant Brooks as Police Chief following the Chief of Police Selection Committee's unanimous recommendation. The Board unanimously approved a $185,500 operating override

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Government · Finance Committee

Finance Committee charts override strategy for May ballot vote

Finance Committee charts two-column FY27 budget strategy tied to May override vote. Chair Gabriele Voelker and the committee reviewed FY27 requests against available resources, proposing to use $100,000 from free cash for the general budget, $65,000 for a steeple capital project, and debt for

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Government · Council on Aging

Council on Aging approves routine matters, declines flu clinic

New Salem Council on Aging approves routine business and rejects flu clinic bid. The board, led by Chair Sue Arnold, with Clerk Betsy Pelz and Treasurer Tim White, approved prior minutes and the treasurer's report from a meeting of seven voting members. The council voted by consensus to decline a

Townbrief news summary ·
Government · Board of Selectmen

Selectboard approves 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment

New Salem approves 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase for fiscal 2027. Chair Susan Cloutier and members Richard Taupier and Mailande DeWitt voted unanimously on the Finance Committee recommendation while residents pressed for a tax override to maintain school staffing. The board also unanimously

Townbrief news summary ·
Government · Finance Committee

Finance Committee backs 3.5 percent COLA as budget review begins

New Salem Finance Committee backs 3.5 percent COLA, approves reserve fund transfer. The committee unanimously recommended the cost-of-living adjustment to the Select Board and Annual Town Meeting while beginning review of fiscal 2027 budget requests. Members voted unanimously to approve a $19,100

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Government · Board of Health

Board seeks inspector action on deteriorating Wendell Road property

Board of Health votes to request inspector action on deteriorating Wendell Road property. Chair Jenny Potee's motion, seconded by member Lynn Layton, passed unanimously, directing the Building Inspector to board the vacant structure at 210 Wendell Road, which Health Agent Matthew Fortier described

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Government · Board of Selectmen

Board approves office relocation and security upgrades

New Salem Board of Selectmen unanimously approves office relocation and enhanced security measures. The board voted to move the Town Coordinator's office to the Annex and relocate the Town Clerk into the current Coordinator's office, implementing video surveillance and panic buttons for staff

Townbrief news summary ·

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