The Hudson Budget Committee met on May 1 with a formal welcome for new member Randy Brownrigg to his first meeting as a full member.
“He was elected back in March at the town election, welcome and we look forward to working with you,” said Budget Chair Bill Cole.
Former Chair Norman Martin sent in an email to announce he would be stepping down from the Budget Committee effective April 15.
“It is with deep regret that I have to submit my resignation,” wrote Martin. “My schedule with my new career is conflicting with my participation on the Committee, and I do not want to do a disservice to the taxpayers of Hudson.”
Members unanimously voted to accept the resignation and gave their thanks.
“All the years I’ve been on the Budget Committee, he’s served in various roles and really put the time and effort into working with the town and the school on various budgets,” said Shawn Murray. “I truly appreciate his work on the Committee for us and wish him luck.”
Murray was also in process of stepping down, making May his last meeting.
“There are a number of date and time conflicts which would not allow me to fully invest the time needed on the Hudson Budget Committee. I want to thank the members of the Budget Committee that I have worked with over these past years,” he said.
Members unanimously voted to accept Murray’s resignation and gave their thanks.
The most recent vacancy left the Budget Committee with three vacancies and three applicants to fill them: Richard Weissgarber, Donna Boucher, and Kim Rice. Cole asked to hear from the applicants before taking them onboard.
“I have a lot of experience on the federal side, budgetary side, and cost-estimating side. I’ve also been on the Budget Committee for almost five years, I was the Chairman for a year and I did my due diligence,” said Weissgarber. “I think I would be a valued and unbiased Budget Committee member, working with you folks and the residents.”
“I have served with the Library Board of Trustees for six years; I was in a role of Chair there and also as Treasurer. I have spent some time with Troop 21 when Troop 21 was around and I served as Treasurer with them,” said Boucher. “I feel that sometimes you have to look at problems and maybe look at it from several different perspectives.”
“I have recently retired from my job, so I have a lot of free time on my hands. I am a former state representative, I served four years in Concord. During that time, I was the Chair of Children and Family Law Committee, I was also the Republican policy leader, and the Speak pro temp, said Rice. “I look forward to sitting on the Budget Committee, it’s something I’ve never done before. I look forward to learning new things and diving in.”
Cole entertained a motion to appoint all three to the open spots on the Committee, with terms set to expire in March of 2025. The measure passed unanimously.
“Welcome to the Committee!” said Cole.
The Hudson Budget Committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, June 5, at 7 p.m. in the lower-level Buxton Community Development Meeting Room at Town Hall.