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Board agrees to hold public hearing to accept tanker sale proceeds and restrict portion for ambulance repair
Summary
After debate over whether auction proceeds should return to the general fund or be restricted for departmental maintenance, the board agreed to hold a public hearing to accept $25,006.50 from the sale of a tanker and to restrict about $9,367.39 for an ambulance repair; the remainder would return to the general fund.
Members of the Belmont Board of Selectmen discussed how to treat unanticipated proceeds from the sale of a town tanker and reached consensus to hold a public hearing at the next meeting to accept the funds and to restrict a portion for fire department repairs.
Staff explained options for allocating auction revenue: accept the full amount as unanticipated revenue into the general fund, or accept the funds and restrict a portion for a specific departmental expense. The fire chief (speaker 9) said the ambulance had an unexpected repair bill and asked the board to consider offsetting the cost with proceeds from the tanker sale.
After discussion about precedent and the legal difference between special revenue and the general fund, the board agreed to place the item on the next meeting's public hearing agenda. Staff said the sale amount was $25,006.50 and suggested restricting approximately $9,367.39 to reimburse the fire department for the ambulance repair; the remainder would be returned to the town's general fund.
Several members said they supported restricting funds when the expense is demonstrably unexpected and tied to public safety. The board directed staff to prepare public-hearing language that would (1) accept the unanticipated revenue from the tanker sale and (2) restrict the identified portion to the fire department ambulance repair if the public hearing approves the action.
Chair confirmed that the board will revisit the matter at the next meeting with the exact figures and public-hearing notice; no final acceptance occurred during the current meeting because state law requires a public hearing before restricting unanticipated revenue.
