Westborough AFC backs most FY27 warrant articles, defers a contested police command‑vehicle request

The Westborough Advisory Finance Committee on Feb. 12 reviewed version six of the FY27 warrant and recommended Town Meeting approve a host of budget and capital articles, while holding several items for more information ahead of the town vote.

The committee’s recommendations included routine and capital funding: revolving funds and Community Preservation Act reserving rules, a $250,000 AFC reserve refresh proposal, small appropriations for events and recreation (stocking Sander Pond, July 4th funding), ambulance and vehicle replacements, DPW equipment, election machines and grouped water and sewer capital items. Committee members recorded roll‑call recommendations for each item that passed the committee’s review.

Why it matters: The AFC’s recommendations appear in the warrant booklet and guide town meeting debate. The committee approved multiple items that, if adopted by Town Meeting, will affect FY27 appropriations and capital spending. Several larger and more contested proposals — notably a police mobile command vehicle and a public‑safety organizational study — were deferred pending additional data.

Key details: John Steinberg, the town’s finance director, told the committee the DPW has been authorized to deficit‑spend up to a threshold for snow and ice operations and that the AFC’s intent is to refresh the reserve prior to Town Meeting so funds are available through the end of the fiscal year. “I think the intention is that they will be deficit spending and so the goal would be to do a transfer prior to town meeting,” Steinberg said, explaining the timing for transfers and refreshes.

Votes at a glance (AFC recommendation to Town Meeting): - Article 2 (accept town reports): committee recommended approval (roll call recorded). - Article 8 (revolving funds): recommended approval; committee discussed statutory CPC reserving rules. - Articles 9A–9C (AFC reserve refresh; Sander Pond stocking $4,500; July 4th $5,000): recommended approval. - Article 11 series (ambulance replacement; fire and police vehicle purchases): recommendations recorded (ambulance: $75,000 free cash + $400,000 reserve; three police vehicles: $232,000 from free cash). - Article 12D (election equipment): recommended $63,600. - Articles 13B–13H (water/sewer/stormwater capital projects): recommended as a package. - Article 14A (sewer pump station improvements): committee recommended borrowing to fund the project ($2.3 million authorized amount in the warrant language as presented). - Article 18 (active transportation/crosswalks): recommended $75,000 for crosswalk and related improvements. - Article 21 (revolving fund for electric vehicle program): recommended creation of a $10,000 annual expenditure ceiling revolving fund. - Article 22 (transfer of 115 East Main Street to school department): recommended approval.

Deferred or held items: The committee asked for more information on the Memorial Hall audiovisual upgrade (training, audio coverage) and on the police mobile command vehicle (frequency of use, comparator towns, maintenance and shared‑use options). The mover of the command‑vehicle recommendation withdrew the motion after extended debate; members asked that police leadership return with quantitative utilization and cost data before the committee takes a formal stance.

What’s next: The AFC will circulate updated warrant worksheets and redline minutes; members will seek staff follow‑up (police chief, Mark/John for AV details, EDC for small business grant) and may revisit recommendations at a subsequent meeting before the Town Meeting booklet is finalized.