Southborough capital committee backs FY26 warrant but urges buying, not leasing, of utility dump

The Town of Southborough Capital Improvement and Planning Committee voted unanimously March 10 to support the general-fund appropriations, waterfront items and bonded projects proposed for the fiscal 2026 capital warrant, but also approved a second motion urging the Select Board to avoid lease financing for certain vehicles and to purchase a utility dump truck outright.

The committee’s support motion passed on a roll call of three: Tony (aye), Steve (aye) and Mark (aye). A subsequent motion — recorded and approved by the same roll call — “strongly discourages the use of lease funding” for some equipment and calls for the utility dump truck to be purchased outright, with strong consideration given to buying the front-end loader outright as well.

Why it matters: The warrant includes multiple capital projects and two bond proposals that would represent the largest single items on the capital list: $3,075,000 for Willow Street culverts and sinkhole work and $900,000 for John and Mitchell Street sinkhole repairs. The committee’s recommendations and the Select Board’s choices on funding (lease vs. purchase, free cash vs. bond) will affect FY26 appropriations and future operating budgets.

What the committee reviewed: Committee members walked through the town’s capital list and proposed FY26 warrant. Key items discussed included: - Capital maintenance funds (recreation and facilities) remaining at proposed levels. - The Department of Public Works roof project being pushed back a year and other building items (overhead doors, townhouse HVAC) delayed again after multiple deferrals. - Fire medical equipment and a deputy chief vehicle remaining on the list; the deputy chief vehicle was noted as contingent on the funding of the deputy chief position, which would be addressed separately at town meeting. - Several DPW pieces of equipment — an asphalt hot box trailer, double-drum roller, hydraulic aerator, an 8‑foot-wide tailgate spreader and roadway maintenance funding — retained largely as presented, many to be funded with free cash. - Central Street sinkhole work: committee members said better quotes were available and discussed refining that estimate. - Stormwater management: committee members agreed stormwater projects are not capital warrant items and should be moved into a separate article. - Rectangular pedestrian beacons: committee members said the devices were available from the state at no unit cost; installation costs remain and conversations are under way with private schools to cover installation in requested locations. Public school installations are expected to be handled through Chapter 90 funding. - Several school and town building items: Finn School classroom floor replacement and technology infrastructure at Woodward remain as presented; Woodward air conditioning and certain Tradier (stage/AC) items were taken out; Triadier stage curtain stayed. - Police cruisers: committee members reported at least one cruiser has been committed by a private school and a second is expected; committee members said they did not know the contingency plan if private funding did not materialize. - Trotter School roof: the committee agreed to approve feasibility funding only this year so the district can refine the final construction cost. Committee members said an approved state grant would cover roughly 35–40% of construction costs; the construction funding would come later at a subsequent town meeting once a final number is available.

Leasing debate: The Select Board is proposing that two pieces of equipment — a front-end loader and a utility dump truck — be acquired under lease arrangements rather than paid in full in FY26. Committee members described existing town leases for other vehicles and acknowledged leasing can spread costs over years but also can complicate procurement for customized equipment. After discussion the CIPC approved the formal recommendation that the Select Board pursue outright purchase of the utility dump truck and give strong consideration to buying the front-end loader instead of leasing.

Bonds and water-fund items: The committee reviewed FY26 bond projects shown on the packet, naming the Willow Street culverts and sinkhole ($3,075,000) and John and Mitchell Street sinkhole ($900,000) as bond candidates. Water-fund work remains split between general-fund and water-fund portions; the Limbrook Road main item was removed from the list while other water projects remained.

Votes at a glance: - Approve December meeting minutes (specific meeting version noted): passed, roll call: Tony (aye), Steve (aye), Mark (aye). - Approve Select Board portion of Jan. 7, 2025 meeting minutes as CIPC minutes: passed, roll call: Tony (aye), Steve (aye), Mark (aye). - Motion that the CIPC support the general-fund appropriations, items proposed to be purchased through lease, waterfront items, and the bonded items for inclusion on the FY26 warrant: approved, roll call: Tony (aye), Steve (aye), Mark (aye). - Motion that the CIPC strongly discourages the use of lease funding and advocates that the utility dump be purchased outright, with strong consideration given to purchasing the front-end loader outright: approved, roll call: Tony (aye), Steve (aye), Mark (aye). - Motion to adjourn: passed.

Next steps and context: Committee members asked that the Capital committee’s position on leasing be communicated to the Select Board and to the Advisory Committee; members expected Advisory to discuss these items in its upcoming meeting. Committee members also requested that stormwater projects be moved out of the capital article and handled separately. The committee thanked departing member Joe Palmer for his service; no final dollar votes on construction items were taken at this meeting beyond the committee’s formal recommendations to the Select Board and Advisory.

Sources: Proceedings of the Town of Southborough Capital Improvement and Planning Committee meeting, March 10, 2025 (virtual).