Committee staff presented a DSR‑5 warrant article proposal on Jan. 9 seeking a $500,000 appropriation to create a dedicated climate action fund to help match grants and seed projects identified in the climate roadmap.

Nut graf: Staff framed the request as a way to cover match requirements for competitive grants and to seed town climate projects. The finance committee’s feedback, heard at a prior presentation, recommended a smaller, more specific first request that lists one or two concrete projects, rather than a large unallocated balance.

Gabby said the $500,000 proposal was inspired by a similar dedicated fund used by the transportation safety committee. She described one near‑term project that could use the fund: design work for flood mitigation around Linden Chambers and High Rock as part of a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant expression of interest. Gabby estimated design work for that project at about $400,000 and said an MVP grant would typically require a 25% town match; at the estimated design cost that would imply a town match near $100,000.

Staff noted timing challenges: the MVP request for proposals is expected in March with applications due in May and award announcements in September–October; grant awards often require spending within the awarded fiscal year, which complicates town meeting timing for May. Finance committee members said town meeting voters prefer concrete, well‑scoped warrant articles and expressed reluctance to back a broadly unallocated “slush” balance. They suggested submitting a smaller, targeted article that lists one or two projects in the hopper and using the town’s existing reserve fund (about $2,000,000) for interim needs when appropriate.

Nut closing: Staff said they will return with refined language and a smaller, better‑scoped request or attach specific projects to justify the appropriation. Committee members expressed support for creating a recurring funding mechanism over time once the approach is proven.

Ending: Staff will follow finance committee guidance, refine the article and report back with a revised funding request and specific proposed projects.