In an effort to curb meeting length, the Sylva Town Board is going to begin meeting twice a month.

Mayor Brenda Oliver brought the issue before board members last week.

“Our agendas seem to be getting longer and longer,” Oliver said.

Thursday’s meeting, with its nine new business items, four old business items and reports from the inspections, public works and police departments ran more than an hour and included in-depth discussion of only one issue — whether or not to buy a new track hoe.

Oliver recommended a second meeting to be held the third Thursday of the month, which mostly would serve as a chance for board members to receive updates and discuss projects.

“It keeps all of us better informed,” Oliver said.

Board member Maurice Moody cautioned that he would only be in favor of an additional meeting if it was a wise use of time.

“I would not want to meet just for meeting’s sake,” Moody said.

The motion for creation of the new meeting passed unanimously, with the schedule change set to go into effect in March. Town board meetings are held at 7 p.m. in Sylva’s Town Hall located at 83 Allen Street.