ELECTIONS
New re truck, rec path paving coming up in Fairfax, 6 candidates vie for 2 selectboard seats
Written by Bridget Higdon Published on Feb 27, 2024
Fairfax town offices
Courtesy Photo
FAIRFAX — On the ballot next week in Fairfax is a $4.5 million budget and six candidates vying for two seats on the selectboard.
The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget includes increased fuel, salt and supply costs as well as dollars for a new fire truck and recreation improvements. This past fall, the Town of Fairfax livestreamed its budget-building sessions for the first time in an effort to draw more public participation.
“Unfortunately, there was minimal public participation,” Town Manager Sarah Hadd told the Messenger. “But that’s true for most budget years.”
Municipal department leaders pitched their needs to the selectboard conservatively, Hadd said, as all are aware of the inflationary factors outside of their control.
“I think we have great staff who really care about the community here and realized what they asked for had to be very reasonable,” she said.
Fire Engine One, a 20-year-old truck, is set to be replaced in 2024. Fairfax previously created a reserve fund to serve as a savings account for fire department-related purchases. Hadd said a portion of the new $700,000 fire truck will be paid from the reserve fund and the rest from the FY25 budget.
The proposed budget also includes dollars for two recreation improvements. The town was gifted Garland Park in 2023 and will spend a bit of money fixing its pedestrian bridge. The Fairfax Recreation Path will also get a resurfacing this year.
“We’ll put down a top layer of new pavement on the rec path; it’s one of our very- well-used amenities down at the park,” Hadd said.
In 2024, Fairfax is also looking to stabilize its Highway Department after a year of retirements and resignations rocked the boat. So far, Hadd said there’s been no interruption to road maintenance, but new hires need to be made.
“I don't think that we're unique,” Hadd said. “I think that there are a lot of other towns and workplaces that are looking at employee retention and cultivation.”
Over the last two years, Hadd and the selectboard have adjusted salaries and benefits for town staff and have updated Fairfax’s personnel policy and employee handbook. Most recently, the town hosted a listening session with the highway crew. Following that discussion, Fairfax implemented compensation for employees who are on-call.
“There's support from myself and the board to do what we need to do to better support them,” Hadd said.
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