Votes at a glance: Lincoln council approves event licenses, auditors, equipment purchases and schedules affordable-housing hearing

The Lincoln Town Council on March 18 approved multiple routine and committee items by voice vote, including special-event licenses, holiday sales and mobile food/vendor licenses, purchase awards for library equipment and lights at a municipal athletic field, and a motion to schedule a public hearing on an affordable-housing fund request.

Why it matters: these votes implement annual events, vendor operations and small capital purchases and set up a public hearing on a developer’s request to access the municipal Affordable Housing Fund. Several items were handled on a consent or committee recommendation and passed without extended debate.

Key outcomes

- Farmers Market special-event license (Chase Farm): Council approved the Town of Lincoln Farmers Market license with an absolute rain date of Aug. 9; council members noted the first market date will be June 28 because produce is not yet available for an earlier June date. Motion by Councilman Russo; seconded by Councilman Oney; adopted by voice vote.

- Lincoln Senior Center Class F (bingo fundraiser): Council granted the Class F application and waived the application fee for the April 26 adult (18+) bingo fundraiser at the Lincoln Senior Center. Organizers said beer and wine will be sold and that ticket prices will be $20, $25 or $30 depending on packet options; tickets go on sale next Monday at Town Hall and the senior center. Motion to grant and waive the fee by Councilman Pischette; seconded by Councilman Oney; adopted by voice vote.

- Holiday sales and mobile food/vendor licenses: The council approved multiple holiday sales and mobile food establishment licenses (vendors listed in the application record). Motions came from the purchasing/consent process and were adopted by voice vote; approvals were granted pending any town tax or fire-department clearances where noted.

- Audit engagement letter/CliftonLarsonAllen: The council received a communication from the town’s selected auditing firm (CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP) about the FY24–FY26 audits and the firm’s planned scope. The administration said fieldwork is targeted for mid-May and the auditors offered to meet with councilors about the engagement. Motion to accept the communication by Councilor Russo; seconded by Councilor Buschette; adopted by voice vote.

- Purchasing committee awards: The council approved committee recommendations to waive bidding and award: a copier/printer for the library to Bay Business Machines (procured via the state MPA); four Dell computers for the library ($3,439.96) through Ocean State Libraries/NASPO; and exterior lighting replacement at Sullivan Softball Field (16 bulbs and installation by Musco Sports Lighting, $10,338) charged to DPW/Parks & Rec, Capital Fund 50. Motions from the purchasing committee were carried by voice vote.

- Resolution supporting restoration of general revenue sharing: Council adopted a resolution urging the state to restore general revenue sharing to cities and towns in the FY25 budget, modeled on language from Portsmouth. Motion by Councilman Peschett; seconded by Councilman Russo; adopted by voice vote.

- Cancellation of certain taxes: Council adopted a monthly resolution authorizing cancellation of uncollectible taxes as recommended by the town’s collection counsel (Rossi Law Office); the amount cited in the meeting was $393.39 and was described as deemed uncollectable by the collection law firm. Motion by Councilor Russo; seconded by Councilor Oney; adopted by voice vote.

- Ordinance referral and scheduling: Ordinance 2025-8 was referred to the Ordinance Committee. The council also scheduled a public hearing on a request from Seminole Development LLC for municipal Affordable Housing Fund assistance (public hearing to be set at the financial town meeting schedule). Motions to refer and to schedule were adopted by voice vote.

Other business: several appointments (tenant board, zoning board) were deferred by motion; claims committee withdrew one claim after highway department staff provided repairs/replacement. Capital and school construction updates were provided by councilors and staff: ongoing school projects, a recent ground-breaking for the centralized rescue/learning center and continued perimeter cleanup on that site. Councilors noted use of the revolving fund and previously approved bonds to fund school-related projects and asked taxpayers to follow upcoming financial town meeting items.

Ending: Most items passed by voice vote and were recorded as “ayes” in the meeting minutes; the clerk will provide the formal minutes, and staff will follow up on required administrative steps such as issuing vendor licenses pending fire/tax clearances and scheduling the affordable-housing public hearing.