[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6602323,"mediaKeyId","3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d","parentId",3002954,"title","Select Board reviews capital plan and looming budget constraints; debt, sidewalk equipment and ladder truck lease discussed","audioSeconds",1800,"startMs",870000,"endMs",2670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d&start=870&end=2670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d/thumbnail_870000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602323/Massachusetts/Select-Board-reviews-capital-plan-and-looming-budget-constraints-debt-sidewalk-equipment-and-ladder-truck-lease-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602323-9538456f0e984a6928ef92967631a929/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450636&Signature=hbjbo9ZLLGFTynsGvkmLXtlG5hCbILj9Dp5eTAACrVHBdpG6vyjD~7vQ3-Sk15-zupEDKNriBS9A99zmQKMXLTOSHd46c5Tw6nmTWglHYx-mgGEgpKx0kyBeNWHK53-Rk-K1wSEspJ4fuRwMpdAGsbtzxX2pPfR0IntH4pl7EfZhEehU~HyUjq5gGf71OkH1sCt2I3yGxovXChcDvjcJKSWyTzSadMSLyEcR1k07WWC3MRB6XPB73vPzPEDmaFw07xM2wHGbk9GMUEEzLjiVEx1fK-T0gu4V0ifvsQYYDdtzu6-C2vD2JV02LC1p10ef52wPbHtFhE6Gi05zJSnIRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakeville","date","2025-04-16T05:40:23.92Z","article","The Select Board and finance committee spent a large portion of their April 15 session reviewing the FY26 capital improvement plan, several high‑cost equipment requests and the town’s overall fiscal position heading into the next budget year.

Town staff presented a five‑year capital plan that lists planned projects and funding sources, including Chapter 90 road funds, retained earnings, free cash and $2.5 million in ARPA allocations the town used for prior capital work. Staff said FY26 town debt totals roughly $1,000,002.48 and that about $805,000 of the town’s debt is excluded debt (raised on the property tax recap). The meeting recap noted the town still has short‑term temporary borrowing for Route 79 land takings and easements and an outstanding permanent borrowing for the police station once state approvals are complete.

Committee members pressed several individual capital requests. Public Works sought a sidewalk plow and attachments at about $200,000 to address repeated resident complaints about unplowed sidewalks, especially on Main Street and in recently accepted subdivisions. The director of public works said crews currently clear sidewalks by hand in some areas and that the new equipment would create a townwide capability; board members questioned ongoing manpower and operating‑cost implications if the town bought and operated new equipment.

The board also discussed a long‑running “contaminated pile” of material at the DPW yard that the state has required the town to remove. Staff said current annual appropriations are small and that removing the pile would require much larger funds or a targeted grant; members suggested exploring brownfields or similar state remediation grants.

Fire department capital drew particular scrutiny. The town previously approved a lease‑purchase for a ladder truck (approved at town meeting as a lease‑purchase in 2022, amount referenced in discussion about $1.4 million). Some board members questioned the appearance of a multi‑year lease on the capital plan and sought clarity about the accounting treatment; staff said the vehicle is treated as a capital lease and appears on depreciation schedules but that the financing structure had been chosen to reduce upfront borrowing at the time.

Members repeatedly returned to the town’s constrained one‑time funding sources. Officials said the capital stabilization balance stood at roughly $2.0 million (March 31 balance shown), and cautioned that planned uses would draw that balance down; several speakers warned that fiscal 2027 and beyond could be difficult without new revenue sources or significant reductions in services. “We are getting to a point where we're gonna have to have some hard discussions,” one official said, urging early public outreach before town meeting.

Why this matters: the capital plan and debt schedule shape what the town can afford at town meeting and affect operating budgets for years. The board asked staff to refine cost estimates and prioritize near‑term projects ahead of a recap meeting scheduled in late April.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lakeville Select Board - Dept. Heads 3 of 3, 4-15-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Select Board and finance committee reviewed the town’s FY26 capital improvement plan on April 15, focusing on equipment requests, debt levels and the strain on one‑time funds such as free cash and capital stabilization.","taxTitle","Town of Lakeville, Plymouth County, Massachusetts","taxId",58187,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602328,"Select Board asks treasurer to locate trust‑fund documents after inquiries about cemetery wall repair",355,1631000,1986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d&start=1631&end=1986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d/thumbnail_1631000.jpg","/articles/6602328/Massachusetts/Select-Board-asks-treasurer-to-locate-trustfund-documents-after-inquiries-about-cemetery-wall-repair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602328-8e7850fd95719c574c9835fdef522f93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450636&Signature=oFoAX-HpENgWsnFSrZerSbp7~c7-7Alr-E6js4d8cQ5OJCGdrTOwK16cNQKH0UN8TAwm7Pk0D~9IssENVKGm3jRSMgJ2JgyAjHQWVfZrQ29gGFrhcXZLwUsY7i8TbdleZi-E~wZZaxsWYzabdqIDrXMWmL-6zhyqtGIxU-0igfHVtjLqA62GB8igdV8HE6LgZ-9fyOQlzxYrDu01nR64Ld0OtKNcEF8NrxmW7K4~8wKGlCN9D2-DpQKXfIeqHmAnWQrWPxjXp06PCwk-xO3QqctZ1Cf4Yq4xQf~aG9kJ1aDdfuhW37IyZZX~imzEIpTKS7iWbfEs7BBG~JMbiPeXlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the April 15 meeting, the Town of Lakeville’s treasurer/collector told the Select Board that the town holds roughly a dozen trust accounts in varying amounts and that the department has not yet located the underlying trust documents for many of them.

The issue arose during a separate conversation about a damaged cemetery retaining wall and whether a municipal trust could be used to fund repairs. The treasurer/collector said she can list current balances in Munis and search town document retention but that the legal terms of many trusts — including whether principal or only interest may be spent and whether a surviving trustee exists — will require review. “I have not found any trust documents. But I'd be curious to see how it was set up and, like, what and not just that 1, but any of them,” she said.

Select Board members asked the treasurer to assemble a list of trust fund balances and identify any documents and restrictions. The board discussed the prospect of seeking guidance from the Department of Local Services or the town’s auditors on whether small or missing‑document trusts can be transferred under a defined threshold into a special revenue or general fund; the treasurer/collector said she would research the practice and report back.

On timing, the treasurer/collector agreed to compile a list of balances and to attempt to locate trust documents within 30 days; she cautioned that in some cases legal review and possible town‑counsel involvement may be necessary to determine whether funds are expendable. “This might require town council to review the trust documents themselves to make a determination on who is authorized to say, yes, you can be — we’ll probably just like to see you live first,” she said.

Why this matters: small, sometimes decades‑old trust funds can include money dedicated to specific uses (for example, flowers for public islands or cemetery maintenance) but may carry spending restrictions. The board’s request is a step toward identifying whether any of those monies can be applied to urgent repairs or if legal constraints require alternate funding.","The Select Board and finance committee asked the treasurer/collector to inventory roughly a dozen small trust funds, identify authorizing documents and balances, and report back within 30 days so the town can determine whether any funds could be used for specific repairs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602334,"Lakeville treasurer reports tax‑title backlog, plans auctions as foreclosure process advances",242,1208000,1450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d&start=1208&end=1450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d/thumbnail_1208000.jpg","/articles/6602334/Massachusetts/Lakeville-treasurer-reports-taxtitle-backlog-plans-auctions-as-foreclosure-process-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602334-2f515d1f31158d5d3fcace3d8d259d9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450636&Signature=X0xO77FmaZKM~tc1edwzahbU-8VGXnukjtoliEBfaXoUXEe4X4K~dOojKwhrXAaBrSM-hpkIq6XxCzNmCBjgQ1mbZDW1~XuurBD47msghB2OYV2YZ1ZhQhKJOeAk74b20JPQVEm15HbqxR~VbIS541hh5U2O7cNCIa14fKbVeLq9~z8s~Np9LN9tk~qlzEkeTjYnzBSuyphsjpmdYxu4rzPamE0Ynwr3r~ZWBr18zLNZHZlpUSu8KP8mffPZwK0xlvreupuRj-jOCst~Qd9Su0pA6dzbN-hwv0~~FWhV41pxH6-4hcbN4NORtYqfB~S3i7YSvcZlW0WOdgw5am~aBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Lakeville treasurer/collector told the Select Board on April 15 that the office has been working through a backlog of tax‑title properties created over the last decade and that two parcels will be brought to auction within the next month or two.

The treasurer/collector said salaries for the office increased in the FY26 request because of contractual obligations and that line‑item increases include tax‑title legal fees and postage. “Tax title went up 2,000 and the postage,” the treasurer/collector said, noting the office is trying to “chip away” at parcels as the land‑court process unfolds.

Board members asked whether the town had recouped fees through auctions and when foreclosed properties previously were sold; the treasurer/collector said auctions have not been held since she took office but that two parcels will be prepared for sale shortly. She described the multi‑year backlog: “Back in 2018 and 2019, it was the first time in 10 years that anyone had touched them. And then it takes about 5 years to go through the land court process. So that's where we are now.”

The board discussed the effect of a statutory change in the rate assessed on tax titles. The treasurer/collector said the annual percentage allowed on certain delinquent sums changed from 16% to 8% effective Nov. 1, 2024, and that the new lower rate applies to tax titles initiated after that date. “The new ones that go into tax bridal, those will be new at the 8%,” she said, adding that amounts entered prior to the cutoff remain at the prior rate.

On revenue expectations, the treasurer/collector said proceeds from any auction go to the general fund. She also noted that the office is encouraging payment plans and early outreach so that residents can avoid escalation to tax title. “Some money coming into the town is better than no money,” she said, and noted several recent payoffs since she began in office.

Why this matters: foreclosed properties and tax‑title collections can provide occasional one‑time revenue to support town operations or capital needs, and the treasurer’s work to clear the backlog could affect FY26 available funds. The Select Board and finance committee asked for a list of trust and tax‑title balances and for follow‑up on auction timing before town meeting.","The town treasurer/collector told the Select Board the office is working through a backlog of tax‑title properties that began before 2019; two parcels are nearing auction and the town is pursuing payment plans and outreach to recover delinquent taxes.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602339,"Lakeville IT director outlines leveled FY26 budget, temporary Windows 10 support and disaster‑recovery upgrades",668,142000,810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d&start=142&end=810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3002954-78a7a23eef367f2fac9b4cf02a8e053d/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6602339/Massachusetts/Lakeville-IT-director-outlines-leveled-FY26-budget-temporary-Windows-10-support-and-disasterrecovery-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602339-044429c5ecb1e20a55a342352444f8d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450636&Signature=lAxDURD60cx~Wxpa-g-mSMLRifYdyZIhtr0g-pF2DF-Uy7To-sUUdsS~T6RXrggV4-vwxTIh4WtbQ1lSOkBygi8XhhFcNhcQ5OMFdsUGDimDIHIz-pEyAQeqOPhdmlM6doiF1qHbBBt9AHVZpn2gEfZWS65AjnAMhwDgvJKbN2XT8HxNvhgK6-bUZFCq7tZvXsTvDCRi2lrLkBdVpvaA5aT6bXy1uVQ19W2QO2ItggoZZWvfdNdNRr-5VessNB4v3kyhGsvbT4AY112usqxc0vGl66GXHaYHNgwK~3o-eLh4RflTi9OVWke-6pkKRfMH9Ec~lmpQOFnr0MRX2kQ~eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bob McNally, Lakeville’s information technology director, told the Select Board on April 15 that his proposed FY26 budget is essentially level and that he expects to absorb some contract and licensing increases without a significant capital request.

McNally said an error on the printed budget first page overstated an increase; the corrected figure shows a 1.13% reduction from the prior year. “It actually shows an increase of 22. That is actually a typing mistake. It's actually causing a decrease of 1.13%,” McNally said.

McNally described several programmatic and infrastructure items that the board should expect in the coming year. He said the town negotiated an interim approach to endpoints that cannot upgrade to Windows 11: Microsoft is offering extended support for Windows 10 for one year, and the town will buy that option for machines that otherwise would require replacement. “Microsoft is offering a, relatively inexpensive solution where you can buy extended maintenance, for 1 year on, Windows, 10,” McNally said. He added the extended support will include security patches beginning November 2025 but warned it is not a long‑term solution: “There are some risks though staying, obviously, with Windows 10.”

McNally also reviewed recent and planned projects. The town has established a small server room at the new TBW Administrative Building and moved some systems there; the plan is to build out that location as a disaster‑recovery site that will work in concert with mirrors at the police station and a future site at the highway department. He said the town is arranging redundant internet connections — primary TMLP with Fios as backup — and will relocate the town’s primary internet termination to the police station for improved infrastructure.

On operational systems, McNally reported the police department’s upgraded CAD/RMS dispatch and records system went live last month. He said legacy servers needed only occasionally for older applications are being powered down and will be kept offline except when required.

Board members asked about security and continuity. McNally said extended Windows 10 support will provide patches for the coming year and that the town layers endpoint protection (Cylance, Huntress) on top of operating‑system updates. On redundancy he warned that, until the highway department site is fully equipped, a severed cable at a single center could render town systems unavailable: “If somebody cuts a cable on something, a TMLP and town loses the Internet, you you're basically — we're dead in the water,” he said.

The Select Board and finance committee also noted available capital balances that could be tapped for future IT replacements; McNally said about $9,000 in old capital account funds for IT could be reallocated if the board chose to do so.

Why this matters: the town is prioritizing continuity and cyber visibility while delaying expensive hardware replacements by a year where possible and absorbing modest contract inflation. The board did not take a formal vote on IT funding during the meeting and directed staff to continue refining the FY26 requests ahead of town meeting.","Information Technology director told the Select Board the FY26 IT budget is essentially level and described near‑term steps: one‑year extended Windows 10 support for older machines, contract inflation for vendor services, a new server room at the new administrative building and plans for redundant internet and disaster‑recovery sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board reviews capital plan and looming budget constraints; debt, sidewalk equipment and ladder truck lease discussed

Select Board asks treasurer to locate trust‑fund documents after inquiries about cemetery wall repair

Lakeville treasurer reports tax‑title backlog, plans auctions as foreclosure process advances

Lakeville IT director outlines leveled FY26 budget, temporary Windows 10 support and disaster‑recovery upgrades