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Easton finance board reviews departmental budgets as DPW request tops $3.54 million
Summary
At a March 5 special meeting the Easton Board of Finance reviewed insurance, library and public works budgets; Public Works accounts for $3,537,552 of roughly $4.0 million in combined departmental requests, while library staff discussed grant restrictions, an oil tank repair history and a proposed Library Assistant.
The Easton Board of Finance reviewed multiple departmental budget requests during a special meeting March 5 at the Easton Senior Center and on Zoom.
Chair Art Laske opened budget reviews and heard from Gerry O'Brien, Treasurer and Finance Director, who presented the insurance budget and emphasized that premium estimates were preliminary. The board discussed claims history, the option of raising deductibles and the role of a broker in managing coverage and costs.
Library funding drew detailed discussion. Library representatives explained service contracts and utilities, described the history of an underground oil tank and the condition of the library roof, and noted that timing for any expansion is constrained by the terms of an existing grant. The library team outlined a proposal to hire a Library Assistant and weighed the benefits and costs of adding Sunday hours; board members pressed for ways to reduce costs after an initial supporter expressed doubts when a corrected, lower estimate was announced.
Public Works Director Ed Nagy presented the combined Public Works budgets — the board was told this is the 50th consecutive year of the department’s combined submission — reporting a DPW subtotal of $3,537,552 and combined departmental budgets exceeding $4,000,000. Nagy described overtime for snow removal, scheduled road maintenance needs, a request for a boom mower, garage-space constraints and how recycling program charges increase when residents place inappropriate items in recycling loads.
Board members discussed operational efficiencies, including whether retired equipment from Park & Recreation could be repurposed by DPW and whether roof and oil-tank work across town buildings could be grouped for cost savings. Treasurer O'Brien and department staff answered clarifying questions about line items and cost drivers.
No budget votes were taken at the special meeting; the board completed review of multiple fill-in budget items that had been finalized at a prior meeting.
The board adjourned after approving a motion to end the meeting (see "Votes at a glance"), and noted upcoming public hearings and meetings for later in March.
