RUSSELL — Approximately 50 people attended the Russell Annual Town Meeting on June 13, with Moderator Illtyd Fernandez-Sierra presiding. All items passed, with some discussion about the Gateway schools assessment and regional agreement. The longest discussion of the night was about a proposed fire pit regulation.

At the start of the meeting, Fernandez-Sierra acknowledged Gateway Regional Superintendent Kristen Smidy, who he said would be available if there were questions about the school district budget.

The total fiscal year 2023 budget request before the voters was $4,817,039, an amount endorsed by the Finance Committee.

Going through the budget, Susan Maxwell, co-chair of the Historical Commission, said the commission’s normal budget of $250 a year was increased to $3,750 to fund an audit of the town cemeteries, last done in 1960; and also birth and death certificates, in order to update information on the town website.

A question was asked why the assessors’ line item increased from $50,162 to $69,100. Newly re-elected Finance Committee member Nick Balboni said due to the difficulty in hiring, the town needed to increase the salary.

A motion was made to pass the $1,957,215 general budget, not including the Gateway and vocational school costs, which passed unanimously. Also passing unanimously were an appropriation of $2,500 from free cash for picnic tables in Veterans Park, and $2,500 from free cash for a new dishwasher for the Senior Center, which were listed under special appropriations.

The sum of $2,252,849 for Russell’s statutory assessment to the Gateway Regional School District was then discussed. New Selectboard member Gloria Farrell asked for an explanation of the difference between the statutory and alternate assessments to the towns.

Smidy said the statutory or traditional assessment is based on student enrollment from each town, whereas the alternative assessment, in the last year of a five-year pilot, applies an equal percentage increase to each of the six member towns. However, the alternative assessment requires approval by all six towns, and had already been voted down by Middlefield and Montgomery.

The statutory assessment passed, and the next article, which listed the alternative assessment to Russell of $2,184,428 was voted down.

The residents also approved an article to appropriate $326,975 and transfer $275,000 from free cash to pay for Russell’s vocational school tuition and transportation. The moderator said the vote would allow the Finance Committee to transfer the balance of the costs from free cash.

The only lengthy discussion of the night concerned a fire pit regulation proposed by Tree Warden and Electric Light Commissioner Louis Garlo, which had been endorsed by the former Fire Chief Stuart Eggleston. Selectboard Chair Wayne Precanico, who is serving as interim fire chief, did not weigh in on the discussion.

Garlo said currently fire pits are illegal according to town laws, and only open burning is legal. He said the proposed regulation, which permits recreational fires, fire pits and chimineas no greater than 3 feet in diameter and 25 feet away from a structure or combustible material, was taken word-for-word from bylaws in Southampton and Huntington, and conforms to state law.

Balboni said he didn’t think the regulation was enforceable.

“All we’re doing is adopting an already existing state law,” said Finance Committee member Ruth Kennedy.

Finance Committee member Derrick Mason, who was also re-elected for a term of one year in the June 6 municipal elections, said he thought a fire no greater than 3 feet in diameter was unduly restrictive.

“We are a rural community,” he said.

Garlo said without adopting the regulation, the only burning allowed in town is from January to April. Farrell asked whether it should go to committee. Bryan Young made a motion to table, which failed.

After more discussion, the fire pit regulation passed.

The last item to be discussed was the regional agreement among the towns of the Gateway Regional School District. Balboni said the agreement, which requires passage by all six towns, had already been voted down by Montgomery, and the work will have to continue after multiple meetings.

“My preference is to take no action,” Balboni said. That motion was made and passed.

After the business portion was complete, Precanico said he would like to thank Eggleston, who has retired, for his many years of service on the Fire Department and on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Precanico also thanked the cable commissioners for their many years of service to Russell Cable, which was sold to Comcast in the fall.

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved and helped to run this town. I appreciate all the work you have done,” Precanico said, adding, “We need more people.”

He also acknowledged the presence at the meeting of state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, who he then invited to speak.

“I think this is so cool — government at work,” Velis said. “I really, really enjoy representing this community and feel very fortunate to still have it,” he said, referring to recent redistricting.

Velis encouraged the town officials to reach out with any legal questions.

“We’re always happy to help,” he said.