Townsend Board of Health defies level-fund order, backs its own FY2027 budget

Board of Health · Meeting of February 23, 2026

Townsend's Board of Health unanimously backed its own FY2027 operating budget and rejected a joint Finance Committee and Select Board directive to hold spending flat at last year's reduced levels. Chair Dr. Christian Roman-Ramirez argued the department could not sustain another freeze after absorbing a 20 percent budget cut the prior year, and Health Administrator Carla Walter warned that basic operations — including propane supply — were at risk.

Select Board Chair Laurie Schifrin joined the virtual meeting to explain the Finance Committee voted first to level-fund all departments, with the Select Board ratifying the motion, saying "there just is no money." The board then voted unanimously to delegate to Roman-Ramirez full authority to negotiate and defend the budget before the Select Board and Finance Committee. Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved septic upgrades with local upgrade approvals at 249-251 Main Street and 10 West Elm Street, continued the 41 Brookline Street upgrade to March 9, and granted a natural-light variance at 16 Christopher Lane for a basement renovation creating recreational space for a homeowner's autistic daughter.

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Source: the Board of Health meeting of February 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.