Millis Finance Committee re-elects chair, names vice chair and clerk; approves $220,449.77 in year-end transfers

The Millis Finance Committee on July 9 elected John Lohr as chair, named Mike Crone vice chair and Jen (last name not provided) as clerk, and approved $220,449.77 in interdepartmental transfers to reconcile fiscal year 2025 departmental budgets.

Lohr, who has chaired the committee for about a year and a half, told the committee he wants to keep “information flowing between members as well as departments.” The committee’s officer terms were adjusted this year to align with the town’s fiscal year after a May 5 town meeting vote to change the finance committee’s policies and procedures.

The transfers are a routine, year-end mechanism under state law to rebalance departmental line items before the fiscal-year closeout. Jody Kersey, Millis finance director, told the committee the transfers move existing money within the FY25 operating budget rather than adding new funds. “We’re not looking for $220,000. We have it. We’re just moving it within the budget,” Kersey said, noting the transfers reduce the number of deficit line items so the Department of Revenue will accept the town’s accounts for the closed year.

Why the transfers: Kersey and other members explained transfers are commonly needed for predictable reasons — retirements and cash-outs of accrued time, on-the-job injuries that require temporary backfills, unfilled positions that reduce health-plan costs, or consulting costs that replace vacant staff. The committee was told the town’s FY25 operating budget on the town side began at $24,051,723; the transfers represent $220,449.77, or about 0.9% of that total.

The committee approved the interdepartmental transfers by voice vote. The agenda materials list the total transfer amount as $220,449.77; the finance director and town staff said the transfers were previously approved by the Select Board at its meeting earlier the same day.

Elections, process and votes: Committee members followed a nominated-and-second process for officer appointments. John Lohr was nominated and seconded and approved by voice vote. Mike Crone’s nomination for vice chair was made, seconded and approved; the committee recorded “9 yeses” during that vote. Jen, joining by Zoom, was nominated and elected clerk by voice vote.

Other business and scheduling: Town staff informed the committee that the Select Board changed the date of the fall annual town meeting from Nov. 3 to Nov. 10. Members were also notified that the town expects a fall special election — likely late November or early December — to decide a borrowing question related to the ongoing school building project; that ballot vote would follow a two-thirds vote at town meeting and is timed to meet Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) deadlines. Town staff said the MSBA-related deadline is roughly mid-December.

Liaison reports and community items: The committee’s school-building liaison said the school building project is progressing through state approval phases and that considerable activity will occur in the coming months. A senior-center survey run by UMass for Millis and Medway drew roughly 1,700 responses; staff said results are being compiled. The committee also noted the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA/MIAA) finance conference is Oct. 18, 2025, in Sharon and recommended members consider attending.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded four formal, committee-level actions that were moved, seconded (when a second was voiced) and approved by the committee: - Election of John Lohr as Finance Committee chair — nominated and approved by voice vote (tally not recorded in the transcript). - Election of Mike Crone as vice chair — nominated and approved by voice vote; committee recorded 9 yeses. - Election of Jen (surname not specified) as clerk — nominated, seconded and approved by voice vote. - Approval of interdepartmental transfers for FY25 totaling $220,449.77 to balance departmental line items — motion made and approved by voice vote; amount and supporting documents were provided to the committee and had been approved earlier that day by the Select Board.

The committee adjourned after a brief round of liaison updates and scheduling reminders. Members were reminded the transfers are fiscal-year 2025 funds being rearranged inside the budget rather than new appropriations; any remaining unspent FY25 funds would later be certified as free cash after closeout.