Analysis: Town and Schools

What the town is deciding now

19 things still open, 3 settled. Each one tracked across every board that touched it.

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lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The document this page renders: /notes/process/THREADS-MODEL.md The data this page is computed from: /data/threads.json

Top threads

  • a project — a study, a design, a build · town land or a buildingThe track and turf fieldTop Hot · 7 meetings, 3 boards, 30 dayspicking up
    Open — last discussed at the Finance Committee, Oct 22, 2 days ago
    Last vote: passed unanimously — Place Article 5, middle high school track and field engineering, on the warrant
    Does the town pay for engineering of the track and turf field, and what would rebuilding them cost?
    4 boards · 12 meetings · 2 votes · voted on, not decided · Schools and my kids, Town land and buildings
    discussed by 4 boards over 12 meetings and settled by none

Newly raised

These first came up in the last two months, and are still open.

  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policyThe veterans property tax exemptionNew Hot · 7 meetings, 6 boards, 30 daysmoving
    Open — last discussed at the Parks Commission, Oct 21, 3 days ago
    Last vote: not audible — Put the warrant article for clause 22J (doubling veterans exemptions) on the town warrant.
    Does the veterans property tax exemption increase, and what does it shift onto other taxpayers?
    6 boards · 7 meetings · 8 votes · voted on, not decided · What I pay
  • a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policy · an office — a post that decides things, vacant or contestedTrust fund administration during a vacancyNew Hot · 4 meetings, 3 boards, 30 daysslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Oct 20, 4 days ago
    Last vote: failed 0-5 — Include Article 11, continuity of trust fund administration during vacancy
    Who administers the town trust funds when the commission has a vacancy?
    3 boards · 5 meetings · 2 votes · voted on, not decided · How the town runs
    those boards have met 2 times since without returning to it
  • a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a lease · a project — a study, a design, a buildThe sewer pump station contractNewmoving
    Open — last discussed at the Sewer Commission, Oct 13, 11 days ago
    Last vote: passed 3-0 — To accept the warrant article wording authorizing a Comprehensive Procurement for Sewer Pump St…
    Does one multi-year contract cover sewer pump operations, maintenance and capital repair?
    1 board · 2 meetings · 1 vote · voted on, not decided · Water, sewer, roads and trash
  • a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a leaseThe paraprofessional contractNewmoving
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Oct 7, 17 days ago
    Last vote: passed unanimously (roll call) — Accept the new terms of the paraprofessional contract
    When is the paraprofessional contract ratified, and what is in it?
    1 board · 2 meetings · 2 votes · voted on, not decided · Schools and my kids, How the town runs
  • a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policy · money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe Salary Administration Plan rewriteNewslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Oct 6, 18 days ago
    Which bylaw changes to the town's pay plan pass, and what does the comp study cost?
    3 boards · 3 meetings · 0 votes · a date is set · How the town runs
    those boards have met 4 times since without returning to it
  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe FY26 school surplusNewslowing
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Sep 9, 2 months ago
    How much of the FY26 school budget went unspent, and where does it go?
    3 boards · 3 meetings · 0 votes · talked about only · Schools and my kids, What I pay
    those boards have met 7 times since without returning to it

Everything else still open

  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policyThe stormwater fee Hot · 11 meetings, 5 boards, 30 dayspicking up
    Open — last discussed at the Finance Committee, Oct 22, 2 days ago
    On the agenda: Tuesday, Oct 27, Select Board
    Last vote: passed 4-1 — Include Article 10, advisory on stormwater funding mechanisms
    Will every property pay a new stormwater charge, how much, and billed how?
    9 boards · 59 meetings · 5 votes · voted on, not decided · What I pay
    discussed by 9 boards over 59 meetings and settled by none
  • a project — a study, a design, a build · money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payTown offices: the municipal building plan Hot · 4 meetings, 3 boards, 30 daysslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Oct 20, 4 days ago
    On the agenda: Monday, Oct 26, Lunenburg Municipal Building Design Committee
    Last vote: passed — That the Ritter Building's current square footage is insufficient for all town functions
    Where do the town's offices go, and what will voters be asked to pay for it?
    20 boards · 132 meetings · 14 votes · voted on, not decided · Town land and buildings
    those boards have met 3 times since without returning to it
    discussed by 20 boards over 132 meetings and settled by none
  • town land or a buildingBrooks House: what becomes of it Hot · 3 meetings, 3 boards, 30 daysmoving
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Oct 20, 4 days ago
    Last vote: passed (roll call, yes votes heard) — School department has no need for the Brooks House
    Is Brooks House sold, leased, reused or demolished?
    5 boards · 12 meetings · 3 votes · voted on, not decided · Town land and buildings
  • a project — a study, a design, a build · town land or a buildingTC Passios: the site's futureslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Finance Committee, Oct 8, 16 days ago
    On the agenda: Monday, Oct 26, Lunenburg Municipal Building Design Committee
    Last vote: passed 5-0-0 — Include the nonbinding article on the demolition of TC Passios in the Special Town Meeting warr…
    What happens to the TC Passios site -- senior housing, a community centre, both, or demolition?
    7 boards · 25 meetings · 7 votes · voted on, not decided · Town land and buildings
    those boards have met 3 times since without returning to it
    discussed by 7 boards over 25 meetings and settled by none
  • a project — a study, a design, a buildTurkey Hill: rebuild or renovateslowing
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Sep 16, 1 months ago
    Does the town rebuild Turkey Hill, renovate it, or neither -- and with what MSBA help?
    8 boards · 30 meetings · 0 votes · a date is set · Schools and my kids, Town land and buildings
    those boards have met 13 times since without returning to it
    discussed by 8 boards over 30 meetings and settled by none
  • town land or a building925 Mass Ave: the RFPslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Sep 15, 1 months ago
    What happens to the town land at 925 Massachusetts Avenue?
    2 boards · 4 meetings · 0 votes · a date is set · Town land and buildings
    those boards have met 5 times since without returning to it
  • a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a leaseThe DPW union contractslowing
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Aug 18, 2 months ago
    Last vote: passed 3-0 — Ratify the Teamsters Union Local 170 (DPW) Collective Bargaining Agreement
    What is in the DPW contract, and what were the discrepancies labour counsel was asked to resolve?
    1 board · 3 meetings · 1 vote · voted on, not decided · How the town runs
    that board has met 5 times since without returning to it
  • a project — a study, a design, a buildTurkey Hill: the ADA bathroomsslowing
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Jul 29, 3 months ago
    Last vote: passed with one abstention — Motion to give the superintendent permission to discuss redirecting the $195,000 earmark (passe…
    Do the accessible bathrooms at Turkey Hill get funded, and from where?
    5 boards · 11 meetings · 1 vote · voted on, not decided · Schools and my kids, Town land and buildings
    those boards have met 25 times since without returning to it
    discussed by 5 boards over 11 meetings and settled by none
  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe FY25 school surplusstale
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Jun 24, 4 months ago
    How did a surplus that size arise in the school budget, and does the explanation hold?
    4 boards · 8 meetings · 0 votes · plans being drawn · Schools and my kids, What I pay
    those boards have met 30 times since without returning to it
    discussed by 4 boards over 8 meetings and settled by none
  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe extended day programme feestale
    Open — last discussed at the School Committee, Jun 24, 4 months ago
    Does the extended day programme fee go up, and by how much?
    1 board · 2 meetings · 0 votes · talked about only · Schools and my kids, What I pay
    that board has met 8 times since without returning to it
  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe Monty Tech assessmentstale
    Open — last discussed at the Town Meeting, May 2, 6 months ago
    Why does Lunenburg's Monty Tech assessment rise faster than Monty Tech's own budget?
    5 boards · 10 meetings · 0 votes · plans being drawn · Schools and my kids, What I pay
    those boards have met 53 times since without returning to it
  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payTrash and recycling: the enterprise fundstale
    Open — last discussed at the Select Board, Apr 7, 7 months ago
    Last vote: passed 4-0 — Recommend approval of Article Y, Solid Waste Disposal Enterprise Fund
    Does trash and recycling move to an enterprise fund, and does that change what residents pay?
    3 boards · 11 meetings · 3 votes · voted on, not decided · Water, sewer, roads and trash, What I pay
    those boards have met 46 times since without returning to it

Ordered by when each last came up, newest first.

Town Meetings

Every article on each warrant, and where it stands. Each meeting gets its page as soon as the record shows it is coming.

Settled

FY2027

  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a service — hours, staffing, a programmeThe petition to restore middle school sportssettledstatedour minutes — figures as heard
    Settled at Town Meeting, Sep 3 — passed
    Are the cut middle school sports and their transportation restored, and paid from what?
    4 boards · 12 meetings · 4 votes · decided · Schools and my kids

FY2026

  • town land or a buildingKids Kingdom: custody to the townsettledstatedour minutes — figures as heard
    Settled at Town Meeting, May 2 — passed 100-9
    Does care and custody of the Kids Kingdom playground move from the schools to the town?
    5 boards · 21 meetings · 10 votes · decided · Town land and buildings, Schools and my kids
  • a service — hours, staffing, a programmeThe fourth fire shiftsettledstatedour minutes — figures as heard
    Settled at Town Meeting, May 2 — passed 340-68
    Does the town fund a fourth fire shift, and out of the override or the regular budget?
    4 boards · 14 meetings · 0 votes · decided · How the town runs

What we looked at and did not open

A candidate rejected is recorded with its reason, so we looked and said no stays distinguishable from nobody looked.

  • #budget — a FACET, not a matter — in 87 of 108 recent meetings
  • Adult Activity Center — a VENUE, not a matter — fails the one-question test · revisit if a matter about the building itself arises
  • Green Communities — routine appointments — the narrowed `office` kind excludes these · revisit if the Wallace Park lighting funding becomes its own matter
  • the citizens petitioner (a person) — A PERSON IS NEVER A THREAD — rule 8
  • the Pleasant Street no-trespass order — an INDIVIDUAL'S business — excluded by rule, not by threshold
  • the dangerous/nuisance dog complaint — an INDIVIDUAL'S business — excluded by rule
  • football helmets / fundraising policy review — low reach on the §2 bar · revisit if ANY further mention — see note
  • the Eagle Scout loafing shed — died on reach
  • the Town Hall / Ritter tour — scheduling, not a matter
  • 49 excise tax abatements moved to the next agenda — routine administration
  • the rec department library-space MOU — low reach; an internal booking arrangement · revisit if it becomes a paid or contested arrangement

The glyphs

  • money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents paymoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay
  • a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policya rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policy
  • a service — hours, staffing, a programmea service — hours, staffing, a programme
  • a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a leasea contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a lease
  • a project — a study, a design, a builda project — a study, a design, a build
  • town land or a buildingtown land or a building
  • an office — a post that decides things, vacant or contestedan office — a post that decides things, vacant or contested

All 22, across time

20252026a project — a study, a design, a build · town land or a buildingThe track and turf fieldmoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policyThe stormwater feemoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a service — hours, staffing, a programmeThe petition to restore…money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents pay · a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policyThe veterans property t…a project — a study, a design, a build · money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payTown offices: the munic…town land or a buildingBrooks House: what beco…a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policy · an office — a post that decides things, vacant or contestedTrust fund administrati…a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a lease · a project — a study, a design, a buildThe sewer pump station …a project — a study, a design, a build · town land or a buildingTC Passios: the site's …a contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a leaseThe paraprofessional co…a rule — a bylaw, a regulation, a policy · money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe Salary Administrati…a project — a study, a design, a buildTurkey Hill: rebuild or…town land or a building925 Mass Ave: the RFPmoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe FY26 school surplusa contract — a union agreement, a vendor, a leaseThe DPW union contracta project — a study, a design, a buildTurkey Hill: the ADA ba…money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe FY25 school surplusmoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe extended day progra…town land or a buildingKids Kingdom: custody t…money — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payThe Monty Tech assessme…a service — hours, staffing, a programmeThe fourth fire shiftmoney — a fee, a rate, a cost residents payTrash and recycling: th…
still opensettledcolour is the group · each dot is a meeting that discussed it

Tracked through 4829 meetings across 51 boards that left a record we can read, including 11 Town Meetings. The Town Clerk’s printed record of what Town Meeting voted is held for FY2011–FY2025; more recent votes are ours, from machine captions, until that year’s annual report is published.

What changed

Version 15 — updated September 20, 2026