SUGGESTIONS:

The ideas presented to raise revenue or seek efficiencies on town services and education provided the true substance for the evening – even if many of the notions suggested might have high political hurdles to jump.

The following are among the ideas suggested and are listed in no particular order:

• Regionalization of town services, including fire and purchasing.
• Enactment of the Community Preservation Act. 
•  User fees for services, such as flu shots the town provide.
• Enforce the overnight parking ban to increase income.
•  An override (the kind was not spelled out).
•  Sell buildings (no further specifics).
•  Enact local-option tax, such as 1% or 2% more on restaurant meals.
•  Increase vehicle-excise tax
•  Have town employees join the state pension fund.
•  401K for town employees.
•  Urge Legislature to provide more money to cover special-education costs.
•  Merge functions to try to have a nurse at each school.
•  Combine social studies and English in the schools' curriculum.
•  Tax commercial real estate at a rate higher than residential.
•  Enact Pay as You Throw as a measure to deal with trash.
•  Fire Department man and operate two rescues and start a paramedic program.
•  Close all public-safety operations and contract with other municipalities to provide those services (this suggestion drew sharp expressions of surprise).
• Remove special education from the school budget (more expressions of surprise).
•  Encourage commercial development (to which Town Meeting member Elsie Fiore shouted: “No, no!”)

Among those attending were Nancy Galkowski, deputy town manager, who wrote the suggestions on a flip chart; Selectmen Jack Hurd, Clarissa Rowe and LaCourt; School Committee Chairman Susan Lovelace and members Denise Burns and Ron Spangler; Finance Committee Chairman Alan Tosti and memer Dan Dunn; Capital Planning Chairman Charles Foskett; Town Meeting members Bryan French (also a town firefighter), Gordon Jamieson, Elizabeth and Paul McGaffigan, Alan Jones, Stuart Cleinman, Josh Lobel, Harry McCabe and Joe Curro; Transportation Advisory Committee member Elizabeth Carr-Jones and former School Committee member Michael Healy.

There were four town employees present.

A third summit is planned, but there is yet no date.