Wales Finance Committee approves $5,000 reserve transfer, adopts several budgets and tables others pending follow-up

The Wales Finance Committee on Feb. 26 approved a $5,000 transfer from the town reserve to the fire department to cover vehicle repairs and adopted several departmental budgets, members said.

Ed Fisher, a member of the Wales Finance Committee, recorded attendance for the meeting held at 7 p.m. at the Wales Senior Center. Committee members Christine Jacques and Tyler Stretch voted with the committee to approve the reserve transfer and the list of budgets presented.

The budgets approved as received include the Moderator budget, Legal Services, the Zoning Board of Appeals, Town Offices, annual report printing, Code Enforcement, and the Library (with MAR). The committee recorded that the reserve balance moved from $40,000 before the meeting to $35,000 afterward, reflecting the $5,000 transfer to the fire department.

Several budget items were tabled for additional information. The committee asked the Board of Selectmen for details about a $3,000 line for transcription software; Stretch said he will review comparable pricing from similar-size towns. Jacques said she is conducting a price comparison for storage equipment requested by the Department of Public Works. The committee also said it will review stipends for the Board of Health before voting on that budget line and requested the most recent fiscal-year ledger of expenses from the Town Accountant to inform remaining decisions.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. after a motion by Tyler Stretch and a second from Christine Jacques; the vote was reported as unanimous. Minutes were submitted by Edward Fisher Jr.

The committee did not take final votes on the tabled items; those will return for consideration after the requested follow-ups and ledger review.