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Select Board backs capital purchases and emergency management reserve ahead of town meeting
Summary
The board approved placement of several capital and reserve warrant articles including purchase of a brush grinder (Article 40), a new $150,000 emergency management reserve (Article 41), OPM and designer funds for a proposed community center (Article 38), and transfers for beach and wastewater funds.
Select Board members reviewed and placed multiple capital and contingency warrant articles. Public Works described the need to replace an unsafe surplus brush grinder and recommended a state‑bid replacement (Article 40) costing approximately $606,540 from the Capital Improvement Fund; the board placed and supported the purchase after discussing alternatives such as leasing or regional sharing and the grinder's utility for post‑storm cleanup and producing town mulch.
The board created a new Emergency Management reserve (Article 41) to hold $150,000 from free cash to cover urgent sheltering, overtime and response costs for storms and large events. Select Board members said prior storms and the July 4 demands showed the town had no ready fund and that the reserve would be administered by the town administrator.
The board also placed Article 38 (funding for owners' project manager and designer services of a proposed community center at 901 Route 134, $1.8 million requested; one board member voted no on that placement), and transfers to other stabilization and capital funds (OPEB, wastewater stabilization, beach nourishment, etc.). Several transfers were placed and supported to maintain fund balances and meet immediate project needs.
Next steps: capital purchases to proceed through normal procurement if articles are approved at town meeting; emergency reserve will be available if the town votes to approve the transfer from free cash.
