John Sanguinet's "all morning" meeting with town unions lasted less than an hour.

Interim Town Administrator Sanguinet announced he expects town employees to absorb $240,000, or that part of the town's $900,000 budget shortfall resulting from state aid cuts. Other budget cuts will cover the $660,000 balance resulting from less than anticipated local receipts, he said. Mr. Sanguinet would not specify how he plans to reconcile those losses.

Sanguinet insisted he hopes to restructure insurance coverage, not change it, but again, would offer no specifics. He said he expects to meet unions individually to discuss wage cuts and furloughs.

Pressed to estimate layoffs if unions balk and vote down the cuts, Sanguinet said the number could total 20 employees town-wide, adding he will restore all layoffs and wage cuts on July 1st of this year.

With the Town Administrator and the Financial Committee seriously at odds over next year's deficit estimates - Sanguinet says it'll balance, FinComm pegs it 1.5 million in the hole - the foreseeable future looks grim.