Listening to last advisory committee meeting, I heard stated that the reserve fund is not to be used for salaries. This evening, I receive email from the MA division of local services (DLS) which discussed a few topics, one was on municipal workforce and in part, stated "Vacancies disrupt routines and can potentially derail important projects. The search for replacements diverts time and effort away from other objectives, and, in the case of a prolonged vacancy, a community may need to expend additional, unanticipated funds on contract services to fill the gap."

So, a town reserve fund is for unanticipated expenditures and due to any number of things, a town could find itself in need of a position because of a long time, experienced employee leaving employment of town and suddenly the town finds itself in need of additional funds for salary or contract expenses to fill that unexpected gap. If I understand the point of the advisory committee member, the committee should not approve a transfer from the town reserve fund for salary expense per the DLS, but yet in the latest message from DLS, in their "staying informed with DLS" through the latest edition of City and Town, it is stated a town may have to expend funds for an un-anticipated use, which is one of the reasons for a town to have a reserve fund in the first place. Well, that is clear as mud.