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Finance Committee presses administration for contract transparency as audits lag and ARPA funds are designated
Summary
Committee members raised concerns that some union contracts were approved by selectmen and sent to town meeting without Finance Committee review, requested contract comparisons and legal review of unclear signatures, received an update that auditors are prioritizing the FY23 audit, and were told there is no unencumbered ARPA balance to allocate.
Town of Blackstone finance committee members spent a substantial portion of the meeting pressing for greater transparency around recently approved union contracts and seeking clarity on related funding, while also receiving audit and ARPA updates.
S3 reported the Department of Public Works (DPW) contract was approved by the Board of Selectmen and that a special town meeting is expected to appropriate funding. S3 said clerical and dispatch union contracts remain unsettled. Several committee members expressed frustration that fire and police contracts had been approved by selectmen and taken to town meeting without a prior committee review; the chair requested that the administration supply comparative materials showing differences between prior contracts and the new ones that took effect July 1.
One committee member raised a legal concern and complained that signatures on the police contract appeared illegible: 'There was not 1 even remotely possible legible signature on the police contract.' The chair advised members to bring any legal questions to the town administrator so the town attorney can review them; no legal determination was made during the meeting.
On auditing, Ms. Taylor (town accountant) and the treasurer reported auditors are focused on the FY23 audit and that the FY22 management letter is expected around the same time. Committee members noted the audits are late and urged the administration to expedite completion.
On federal relief funds, staff reported that there is currently no unencumbered ARPA balance for FY25 and that the Board of Selectmen will review ARPA allocations at its Sept. 10 meeting. The chair said remaining ARPA funds must be designated for specific purposes before December to preserve certain encumbrance/designation timelines.
Committee members also discussed procurement timing for vehicle purchases, warning that state rules that take effect in December (aligning certain diesel vehicle registration/standards with stricter requirements) could increase costs or change specs for fire, DPW and ambulance purchases; members suggested the upcoming special town meeting might be the avenue to address any immediate funding needs.
No formal votes altered contract approvals during the meeting; committee members requested follow-up materials and legal review from administration and the town attorney.
