NORTH ATTLEBORO - A very tight town budget and reducing the size of the town's legislature will be topics on the agenda when town meeting convenes on Monday.

The annual town meeting and a special town meeting will both begin on Monday at 7 p.m. at the North Attleboro Middle School.

Representative Town Meeting members are the only people who can vote on issues, but any town resident is welcome to come and speak on issues on the agenda.

The biggest issue on the agenda is the $71.9 million town budget, but discussion about the budget is not expected to be about the financial figures, but on whether a vote on the document should be delayed.

Town Administrator Mark Fisher said that what happens is up to RTM members; however, he expects that only non-financial articles will be discussed when town meeting opens Monday. At the close of Monday's session, it is likely that RTM members will postpone the remainder of the meeting for a week or two, to allow for the most updated budget figures to be considered.

Town meeting must conclude by June 17 at the latest, because there is a 10-day appeals period that must expire before items approved at town meeting go into effect.

Many of the non-financial issues are routine matters such as the establishment of revolving funds for several departments, which the RTM must set up each year.

One of the non-financial issues expected to generate the most discussion is a proposal from Town Clerk Maxwell Gould to reduce the size of the RTM from 135 members to 108 members.

If approved, the reduction, which would be phased in over three years to allow all current RTM members to serve the balance of their terms, would mean that each precinct would be represented by 12 individuals rather than 15.

The RTM completed a similar three-year reduction from 18 members per precinct to 15 members in April.

Proponents of reducing the size of the RTM point out that some precincts have a high number of vacancies and there is usually no competition for seats at town elections.

Opponents say having a large number of seats available helps provide opportunities for residents to participate in town government.

AMY DeMELIA covers North Attleboro for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.