Lunenburg Select Board Advances 25-Plus Town Meeting Warrant Articles, Eyes Override

LUNENBURG -- March 17, 2026, Lunenburg Select Board advances more than 25 town meeting articles and hears an urgent plea from the food pantry facing potential displacement. The board worked through the full draft warrant for the 2026 Annual Town Meeting on March 17, voting to include articles ranging from a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for town employees and a $335,437 appropriation to the OPEB trust fund to new revolving funds for the Economic Development Committee and the 300th Anniversary celebration. Town Manager reported free cash certified at $3,354,370, to be applied to the capital plan and a snow-and-ice deficit approaching $500,000. Nancy Beach, president of the Lunenburg Community Food Pantry, told the board the pantry serves more than 400 households monthly from 3,500 square feet at T.C. Passios, but has found no viable alternative, a modular temporary building was priced at $539,000 and retail space ran as high as $10,000 per month. The town manager stated flatly that the building's roof, boilers, asbestos, and active water infiltration mean "I do not see how I can advise this board that anybody can stay in this building for any long-term period," and warned the board of health could order a closure without notice. The board unanimously opted out of early voting by mail and waived its right of first refusal on 30.79 acres at 1083 Northfield Road, to be converted from Chapter 61 forestry land into five residential lots.