West Newbury Select Board Member Resigns, Triggering Spring Ballot Vacancy

WEST NEWBURY -- February 12, 2026, A West Newbury Select Board member resigned effective March 1, opening a spring ballot vacancy alongside an already-scheduled seat, as the town manager unveiled a proposed FY2027 budget holding the non-education increase to exactly the board's 2.5 percent target. Board Member Ross read aloud a resignation letter during public comment, citing personal circumstances, and praised Chair Wendy Reed and Member Christopher Wile as "models for calm, thoughtful, deliberative, and collaborative leadership." Town Manager Angus presented a proposed operating budget with a 3.6 percent overall increase of roughly $680,000, reduced from a raw department-head submission that would have hit 5.4 percent; he achieved the target partly by incorporating a projected $825,000 district-wide cut recommended by Pentucket Regional's superintendent, which West Newbury's share materially reduces the education assessment. The board unanimously endorsed a series of fund-transfer warrant articles totaling more than $390,000, including $165,000 from school stabilization, $131,596 and $53,775 in pension-related transfers, $25,000 to an OPEB fund, and $16,021 to a new PFAS special revenue fund, and approved $10,000 from the Finance Committee reserve to fund a municipal organizational assessment. Nomination papers for the now-vacant seat are due back by March 16.