Budget Review Committee approves $3.44 million CIP package, OKs related appropriations and beach fund change

The Budget Review Committee voted to approve a $3,441,327 capital and operating equipment package and to grant an appropriation of $2,899,577 at its March 4 meeting.

The package included a breakout of fire department capital items and multiple department requests. Brian, a Budget Review Committee member, presented the fire department breakout and the committee discussed line items including ballistic vests ($50), extrication and rescue equipment ($60), lifeguard AEDs ($18), a lifeguard EMS UTV ($45,425), and a six-wheeler for the Fire Department (approx. $44,400). Brian said the committee had reduced some ambulance funding from an original $1.75 million request to $50,000 this year to provide a down payment while staff examines leasing options.

Nut graf: The committee approved the block package after department-level clarifications and staff follow-ups, moving several capital replacements forward while shifting or deferring larger equipment purchases to later years when appropriate.

Committee discussion and details followed department presentations. Steve, a town staff member, described adjustments he and staff made after reviewing available reserve funds: a trailer costing $10,000 will be paid from an existing fund rather than added to the new appropriation; a planned communications upgrade remains at $40,000 (40,000 in, 40,000 out); and a previously anticipated draw from a reserve was reduced after staff discovered the reserve had already been partially used. Steve also described a reduction in the ambulance capital request because “Steve did find that he can lease” and recommended putting $50,000 in the CIP as a down payment “that way, they'll at least be something there for a down payment.”

The committee spent time on public works paving and drainage lines. Members reviewed a previously listed $1.3 million for paving/drainage and discussed breaking that into roughly $1 million for paving and $300,000 for drainage and smaller projects; committee members questioned whether the $300,000 bucket should remain without clearer project estimates. Steve explained that about $250,000 of the drainage funding had been notionally designated for Webb Hanna Drive, Bragman Road and Sanford Road and that some amounts in the reserve were intended for design work on projects that currently lack full engineering estimates.

Parks and recreation funding was also adjusted. Jody, a town staff member, reported that an $800,000 set‑aside originally identified in the infrastructure reserve for a Drakes Island project is no longer needed because the town has secured a separate Noah grant; Jody said the committee identified $300,000 from that set‑aside to fund a recreation field project for Tina, with the understanding the town will treat the money as an enterprise loan repaid to the reserve account.

After questions and a call for any items to be removed from the block, the committee took votes. A motion to approve the full package totaling $3,441,327 was made and seconded and approved; the committee then moved and seconded the appropriation of $2,899,577 and approved it. Committee members then confirmed a separate vote to adjust the Beach Enterprise Fund operating subtotal to $488,275 after a $75 CIP-related change to the lifeguard UTV line.

Ending: Committee members said they will continue reconciliation work with the select board and that staff will provide more detailed project-level estimates for drainage and paving items before final decisions. Jody and staff will continue to track reserve account usages and present updated balances to the committee during reconciliation and the next workshop.