Advisory Commission on Capital Expenditures recommends $6.17 million plan, removes two Spaulding projects from bond consideration

The Advisory Commission on Capital Expenditures finalized a prioritized capital plan totaling $6,168,975 at its Feb. 5 meeting and agreed to send the recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance for approval and referral.

Chairman Brad Belcher told commissioners he had reported to the Board of Selectmen that "the overall budget is currently showing a fairly significant increase," and that the Selectmen had asked whether additional items could be included in the town's bond package. Belcher said the Selectmen also asked the commission not to backfill any reductions with new projects and requested the commission reduce its final figure to $6.4 million, inclusive of $2.4 million in debt service, down from an earlier $7.6 million target.

In response, the commission revised its spreadsheet to remove the Spaulding exterior door replacement and the Student and Staff bathroom projects from the set of items being considered for bonding, noting those were large, multi‑year capital items that might be more costly if phased. Commissioners discussed funding options, including using sweep funds and capital transfers, and evaluated each requested item’s priority and necessity.

After deliberation the commission settled on $6,168,975 in recommended items, including projects proposed to be funded through the operating budget and debt service. The commission proposed $338,970 be funded outside the budget process through capital transfers by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance using part of $553,000 in sweep funds the town had identified; the commission left $215,000 of sweep funds available for later consideration during the budget process.

Commissioner Saeed Akbar moved, and Commissioner Mike Sattan seconded, to assign the voting rights of absent Commissioner George Austin to Commissioner Don Miner for the meeting; the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Sattan then moved, and Commissioner Akbar seconded, to send the prioritized recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 18 and to refer them to the Board of Finance on March 23; that motion passed unanimously. The commission subsequently voted to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.

Public participation was recorded; Victoria Copes of 223 Hickory Street was listed under public participation. The meeting minutes for the Feb. 3, 2026 meeting were tabled.

The recommendations will be taken up next by the Board of Selectmen and then the Board of Finance according to the schedule approved by the commission.