Lunenburg Officials Push Back on Budget Criticism Before May 2 Town Meeting

LUNENBURG -- April 14, 2026, Lunenburg's Select Board became a public forum for budget disputes as town meeting approaches May 2. Fire Chief Patrick Sullivan appeared in person to refute accusations of "bait and switch" in the fire department's fourth-shift staffing plan, saying the proposal has been unchanged since a July 8, 2025 tri-board presentation. Brad McNamara, president of NEPBA Local 353, said a Finance Committee member incorrectly claimed the department is losing a sergeant-ranked SRO to a reassignment, noting neither he nor SRO Monroe hold the rank of sergeant and that the department sits at 18 officers against a staffing plan calling for 21. Christos Locaditas, president of Lunenburg Professional Firefighters Local 5369, described two incidents this year in which a second ambulance could not be staffed, forcing solo CPR and solo airway management while waiting for mutual aid. Town Manager Jen Gove disputed a series of factual errors she said appeared in an April 10 Lunenburg Ledger budget article, including the suggestion that $3.3 million in free cash should fund recurring operations, contrary to Massachusetts Division of Local Services guidance, and a claim that the public safety lobby would close five days a week when the budget calls for three. The board unanimously approved a Class 2 license name change for 360 Auto Group Inc., a Lions Club cruise night special event license for May 20, and a manager change on the Hannaford Supermarket liquor license, and deferred a decision on two Hollis Road tax-title parcels to allow site visits.