Oakham Select Board Approves Assessor Contract, Sets Town Meeting Warrant Deadline

Select Board · Meeting of May 11, 2026

Oakham Select Board approves three-year assessor contract and fields police merger questions at May 11 meeting. The board unanimously authorized the Board of Assessors to sign a three-year deal with Regional Resource Group Incorporated valued at $22,200 in FY27, $23,300 in FY28, and $24,400 in FY29, and set the annual town meeting warrant to close May 22 at 3 p.m. Resident Barbara Pucci, 259 East Hill Road, pressed members on preliminary discussions to merge Oakham's police department with Barre or Rutland, with a board member confirming both towns had responded in writing indicating savings of roughly $50,000 per year and 24-7 coverage, though stressing "this whole process is, it's about as preliminary as can be." Multiple board members called a recent Telegram and Gazette article covering the merger talks "offensive" and "jarring," particularly its disclosure that Oakham has no police coverage between midnight and 8 a.m.

The board also reported a potential FY27 budget surplus of roughly $17,000 after a revised Quabbin Regional District assessment of $2,880,562.79 and level-funded dispatch costs of $72,640 partially offset a rise in insurance to approximately $85,000.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of May 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.