On Oct. 9, 2025, the Lakeville Conservation Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Selectmen place a warrant article on the town meeting warrant to create a Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 revolving fund for conservation and site-plan fees, with a proposed $15,000 annual spending limit.

Mike Ellis, the town finance director, told the commission that "by establishing the 53 and a half revolving fund, you would segregate those conservation fees and site plan fees to a separate fund outside of the general fund operating budget," and that the fund would not take effect until the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.

The measure would move amounts now recorded as general-fund receipts into a separate special-revenue account that carries forward year to year unless the town votes to rescind it. Ellis also explained that the commission must vote each year at annual town meeting to set a spending limit for the fund and that the commission cannot legally spend more than the amount collected in the fund or the voted spending cap.

Commission members discussed practical effects and timing. Commissioners noted past annual receipts from conservation-related fees have been modest — commission remarks cited about $6,000 in 2024 and a single site plan intake of roughly $1,500 — and that the proposed $15,000 cap was intended to be conservative. Commissioners also asked about coordination with the Finance Committee and the Select Board; Ellis confirmed the Finance Committee typically issues a recommendation at warrant review and the Select Board had discussed the idea at a prior meeting at a high level.

Commissioners were told the warrant and articles are posted after an October 14 meeting that accepts articles and posts the warrant; after the warrant is posted the only way to remove an article is for town meeting members to move to withdraw it at town meeting and for that motion to be voted on. The commission asked for and was offered monthly financial reports showing special-revenue balances and general-fund operating figures.

After discussion, a motion to recommend placing the revolving-fund article on the town meeting warrant passed on a roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded in the roll call as voting "aye" were Mark Knox, John LeBlanc, Michelle Bouchard, Nancy Yates, Leroux and Ma'am Ferrell. The motion passed.

The article would require a town meeting vote to take effect and may be affected by any Finance Committee recommendation or Select Board action during warrant review. If approved, the fund would be available for allowable conservation-related expenses up to the annual spending limit the commission votes at town meeting.