Rutland Residents: The More You Know

08/11/2025

Happy Monday! 😋

We’re checking in to share that, at their August 4th meeting, the Select Board chose to work with the Collins Center to assist with the search for our next Town Administrator. During the meeting, they interviewed 2 potential search firms and felt that the Collins Center (CC) was the best fit for Rutland.

❓So, what exactly does all of this mean? ❓

The Collins Center will now work with the Select Board to create a profile of the position. During the firm interviews, it was stated that the CC would meet individually with the Board members to better understand what they are looking for in the next TA as well as what they feel the Town needs. The CC recommended the applicants be narrowed down to a pool of a few candidates before a final set is brought before the Select Board for interviews. It was estimated, if all goes smoothly, that the process will take approximately 3 months.

07/28/2025

We’ve officially reached 500 followers and we couldn’t have done it without YOU! 🥳

We hope that you’ve found our page to be helpful, informative and a place where you can turn for important Town- related information. As we mentioned in a prior post, the summer months tend to be quieter in terms of Town business. However, we’re still here and happy to cover topics that are of interest to you!

…so, our question is…. what topics would you like to know more about?! 😎

07/28/2025

Some important information below for water & sewer users!

07/03/2025

Next Monday, at the July 7th Select Board meeting, the Select Board and Planning Board will be voting to appoint a member to the Planning Board to fill the vacancy left by a member who resigned after the May Town election. In this unique situation, per MGL, the vacancy is filled by joint appointment of the Select Board and the Planning Board, with the appointed member serving only until the next annual Town election, at which time the office will be filled, by election, for the remainder of the unexpired term. In this case that will be 3 remaining years with a term ending in 2029.

At the June 24th Planning Board meeting, it was stated that there are two candidates that have submitted letters of interest to fill the vacancy on the Planning Board. One was the incumbent Planning Board member who was recently not re-elected and another newcomer that is interested in serving. One seated member recused himself from voting due to a conflict of interest, but the remaining three members voted 2-1 in favor of appointing the incumbent Planning Board member. There was a great deal of discussion on the topic, so we recommend watching the recording to hear the comments from the sitting Board members. The discussion on this topic begins around the 27 minute mark.

https://youtu.be/YkqNHIrT2mo

For anyone that has comments they would like the Planning Board and/or Select Board to hear, we recommend coming to Monday's meeting and speaking at Public Comment to let your voices be heard!

06/25/2025

📣 We’re Checking In With An Update! 📣

The Select Board met this past Monday for a regular meeting. The board is already starting to discuss budget related matters and reviewed the posted multi year forecast. The board acknowledged a tough budget season to come and the importance of needing to reach out to the community to not only provide information, but get feedback from the residents.

The Board will be looking to update the forecast with new information, but looking at the most recent forecast, the Town is looking at an almost $3 million deficit for FY27, just to stay level funded from the approved FY26 budget (which includes about $1 million in cuts from FY25). The discussion centered around a desire for early education and outreach for the residents. The Board would like to share information on what the town is facing for a FY27 budget in an effort to engage residents in the budget discussion and get feedback on what direction they want the Town to go in. The options being an override of some kind or further cuts to the budget. Based on the discussion, the Board will be working to put together some material to share to convey what the budget is looking like for FY27. A survey and informational sessions were also discussed as options.

The Board also had a discussion with the Library Board of Trustees. This discussion was related to the FY26 budget cuts for the library and their impact. The trustees noted the reduction in their purchased services budget which is used for utilities and their supplies budget which is used for purchasing books. The library gets some grant money from the state and also has a gift account, and they use these to supplement the town's provided budget to cover all operational expenses. The trustees were considering avenues to cut back and account for the the reduced budget, including the possibility of reducing the number of library aides, or reducing hours to conserve on utilities. Reducing the building's open hours would potentially impact all town boards and committees that meet there as well as the library's certification status with the MA Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). If the library were to lose its certification, it would no longer be eligible for state aid or other grants, other certified libraries do not have to loan materials to the Rutland Library, nor would those libraries have to allow Rutland residents access to borrow their books. The Select Board recognized the importance of the library, not just for municipal operations but for the community as a whole, and has committed to working with the Library Board of Trustees to try to explore ways to supplement their FY26 budget to allow the library to remain open for everyone.

The FY26 budget cuts are already being felt and the next fiscal year is looking much worse than last. We implore residents to get involved and participate in educational offerings to understand what may be at stake this upcoming budget season. Reach out to the Select Board to share your feedback on what you would like to see for the budget, or what questions you have. As always, we will keep an eye on this topic and share any new information as it becomes available.

06/12/2025

The Planning Board now has TWO seats available, which presents a great opportunity for new members and fresh perspective! The post below explains the process for filling the seat left by the resignation. There is also an Associate member position, which is an appointed seat that would serve for 3 years (you would not have to run for an elected seat).

We urge residents to consider applying in an effort to bring about change and forward progress for our Town!

The Planning Board is seeking a member to fill a recent vacancy left by a resignation!

Since this is an elected Board, the new member must be jointly appointed by the Planning Board and Select Board. This individual will serve in the same capacity as an elected member until the May 2026 Annual Town Election. At that time, the seat will be placed on the ballot for the remainder of the original term.

The Planning Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 P.M. They are a 5-member Board that operates with the assistance of our Town Planner.

If you would like to submit your interest, please complete a volunteer application form: https://www.rutlandma.gov/FormCenter/Town-Administrator-11/Volunteer-Application-Form-65.

Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, June 24th.

📸 Photo Credit: Rutland 01543

06/03/2025

If you can make the time, we highly encourage you to attend the Charter Q&A Session on June 11th!

A Town Charter can certainly be confusing, especially when trying to distinguish between the role of the charter vs. our existing bylaws. The Committee members have worked with the Collins Center to draft the first few articles and this would be a great opportunity to ask questions.

Their survey is also still open if you’d like to read through the articles and provide your feedback. 😊
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14MfIom7NnEkiyPgnNQYqzht3eiKx5rg-Bp_O93cmWb4/edit?ts=681d4792

06/02/2025

As the summer months approach, Town business tends to quiet down a bit. So, we may be posting a bit more infrequently until things get moving again. However, we are still here and will be sure to share any important and timely information that would be of interest to residents! Are there any topics you’d like more information on that we can discuss?

In the meantime, please keep sharing our page and invite friends & family to join us. We’re SO close to 500 followers - can we get there by the end of the summer?! 😎

Thank you for sticking with us - we hope you’re finding the page to be helpful and informative!

05/30/2025

This news is certainly not good. Getting the Wood House and Wood Studio onto the State and National Register of Historic Places would have opened the door for grants and other funding opportunities to assist with restoring and preserving these two properties, making them safe and accessible for residents and generations to come. Our Master Plan, which is still in draft form, contains goals to preserve the Town's historic character and cultural resources, balancing this with growth. There are still numerous ways to support these efforts.

Volunteer for the Historical Commission
Be a voice for the protection and preservation of the assets we have left. As the Town post states, there is a vacancy on the Commission.

Consider Support for a Demolition Delay Bylaw
This is an avenue to implement a delay into the potential demolition of a site that may have historical significance for a site until review can occur.

Consider Support for a Local Historic District
This is a zoning option under MGL that is intended to prevent inappropriate changes to historically significant structures, preserving historic sites and architecture and preventing unwanted remodeling or demolition without a review.

Become a CPA Community!
CPA , or the Community Preservation Act, is near and dear to our hearts and the reason we started this page. CPA would allow the town to have a dedicated funding source for restoration and preservation of historic assets, among many other benefits and options.

And don't forget to visit our friends at the Rutland Historical Society, at the Wood House. Stop in to learn about Rutland's rich history, participate in one of the many educational opportunities they offer, and become a member today!

05/22/2025

This is a wonderful program for our local seniors who can’t easily leave their homes. It also gives them a friendly face to look forward to when their meals are delivered. Please share with anyone who may have the time and desire to volunteer! 💗

Our Council on Aging is looking for delivery drivers for the Meals on Wheels program!
This program provides meals to Rutland seniors and is an invaluable resource in our community. Additional details can be found in the photo below if you are interested in assisting with these services. 🚗

Friends of Rutland COA

05/21/2025

The Planning Board has an opening for an Associate Member! The former member was recently elected to the Board, so the seat is currently vacant.

This is a unique position in that it’s appointed rather than elected as the other members are. The member is appointed by both the Select Board & Planning Board and would serve for a 3-year term. This is a great opportunity for someone who is interested in learning the business of Planning Board and looking to gain experience before running in the future. According to the Town’s bylaw, this member would participate in all matters but would only have a vote if there weren’t enough members present.

There are FAQ’s on the Town’s website if you’d like to learn more about this position!

https://www.rutlandma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=171

05/15/2025

It’s the time of year when seats will soon expire on our appointed boards and committees! Now is when the Select Board solicits interest from new members so that appointments can be made prior to the start of the fiscal year on July 1st. This is a great opportunity to get involved, especially with such a wide variety of openings available.

If you’d like to express interest, or learn more about a Board/committee, please visit: https://www.rutlandma.gov/761/Board-Committee-Commission-Vacancies.

If you have any questions, comment below and we’ll be happy to answer them! 😊