Uxbridge Select Board sets capital-planning calendar, asks departments to update requests

The Town of Uxbridge Select Board met to organize the capital-planning process for the coming fiscal cycle and set follow-up meetings for department presentations. Speaker 1 opened the discussion, saying departments had been asked in August and September to identify capital needs and to update prior requests, and that the board would reschedule the school department, which could not attend this meeting.

The board focused on timing: Speaker 3 recommended starting the process in January so departments could prepare updated five-year capital plans ahead of March submissions. "My suggestion would be starting it, you know, in probably beginning of the new calendar year in January," Speaker 3 said. Speaker 1 and others agreed that the select board typically compiles requests into packages and that materials are helpful before the finance committee and budget hearings in February.

Members discussed funds earmarked for ambulances and related equipment. Speaker 3 said account changes are underway to ensure purchases can proceed once free cash is certified and that the town expects to allocate two years of funding into the ambulance account. The board noted that some transfers from prior town meetings have already been completed and that additional transfers will increase the capital trust balance.

The board scheduled follow-up meetings to gather outstanding material: October 23 was chosen for an initial follow-up, and the board planned a session on November 6 to hear updates from fire and police. Speaker 1 said they will also invite Bruce (maintenance) and the school department to ensure all capital needs — pumps, boilers and other projects — are captured early enough for budgeting.

The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn passed.