This meeting is definitely stretching out, but I’m glad that I’ve remained because I’ve witnessed a notable moment. To paraphrase Councilor Hannibal Costa (who has previously railed against unfunded mandates from the state), on a discussion about advertising to fill administrative jobs:

If you look around the town, you’ll see that we have a lot of properties for sale. We have reached the point that any further taxes will force people to leave. We’re not talking elderly people, here. With each new tax and assessment people are deciding that it’s just not worth it to stay.

I’ve had a very difficult time figuring out councilors’ party affiliations, but I hope that Mr. Costa is Republican, and if he is, let me offer a keep-‘im-in-mind to the state party.