Easton Board of Finance trims budget requests, delays some staffing and roof decisions ahead of April town meeting

The Town of Easton Board of Finance met March 24 to finalize budget recommendations for the April 27 Annual Town Meeting and approved a package of line-item reductions while leaving several larger decisions for follow-up.

Chair Art Laske opened the special meeting by stressing the priority of producing a budget that will pass at referendum. Treasurer and Finance Director Lynn Zaffino answered department questions; the board reached consensus to cut requests for additional Sunday hours and to remove the Library Assistant for Adult Services from the proposed staffing additions.

Library and police spending were reviewed. Library Board Chair Foti Koskinas identified a potential $9,000 reduction in the police-related line noted during the discussion. The BOF agreed to reduce the land-use/plan-of-conservation-and-development (POCD) consultant line from $20,000 to $10,000 after noting a recent hire can contribute to that work.

A proposal to increase the Fire Chief stipend by $6,292 did not receive majority support (Jackie Kaufman, Colin Cote and Josh Bailey supported it). The board discussed volunteer recruitment and succession planning for the fire department and accepted a compromise — approved by the chair — to reduce the department Material & Supplies line by $3,000 rather than fund the stipend increase.

Schuyler Sherwood, Easton’s Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal, urged funding for an emergency message system and described safeguards needed to avoid misuse; the request was not cut at this meeting.

Selectman Chris Calvert said she will review historical snow-removal overtime and return with a recommendation to lower the $100,000 overtime line. First Selectman Dan Lent acknowledged that replacing the Town Hall roof (plus carpet and painting) could be delayed and accepted a proposed $285,000 reduction if the town pursues bonding for other roofs, but he asked that the Town Hall roof be included in any such bond.

The BOF voted to reduce the legal budget from $200,000 to $175,000 after a review of recent legal costs and discussed whether contingency funds should be used to cover shortfalls; Chair Laske objected to using contingency for that purpose.

Park & Recreation board member Rocky Sullivan answered questions and the BOF agreed to cut $5,000 from Maintenance & Repair and $1,000 from overtime. Member Ira Kaplan recommended increasing Park & Rec fees by 20% and proposed transferring a $29,373 Activity Fund balance to the general fund; Chair Laske said he would investigate the automatic transfer request. Ira also suggested a discretionary $22,562 transfer from the Field Use fund for consideration.

On EMS staffing, the board sought greater reliance on live-in volunteers for weekend coverage and approved a $5,000 reduction to weekend staff pay allocations; the change was supported by Ira Kaplan, Art Laske, Colin Cote and Josh Bailey and opposed by Jackie Kaufman and Mike Gutowski. Discussion of Town Clerk staffing hours and other department savings was left open; First Selectman Lent was asked to seek additional savings within departments under his authority.

The board adjourned on a motion by Josh Bailey, seconded by Colin Cote; the motion passed 6-0. The BOF scheduled a follow-up special meeting for March 25 to continue finalizing budget recommendations and to prepare any special appropriation requests for FY26.

The meeting record notes next procedural steps: finalize any special appropriation requests at the April 7 BOF meeting and at the April 9 Board of Selectmen meeting ahead of the April 27 Annual Town Meeting.