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Easton Board of Finance retroactively approves Lantern Hill purchase, authorizes $29,985.70 from Fee In Lieu fund
Summary
The Board voted 6-0 May 5 to ex post facto approve the town’s December 22, 2025 payment of $29,985.70 from the Fee In Lieu fund for a Lantern Hill property purchase, citing a 2005 BOF policy that requires Board approval for such expenditures and to avoid claims of voidability.
The Easton Board of Finance on May 5 authorized the Chair to write to the First Selectman and ex post facto approved the town’s acquisition of property at 25 Lantern Hill Road, also authorizing expenditure of $29,985.70 from the Fee In Lieu fund to regularize a payment made on Dec. 22, 2025.
Chair Art Laske summarized the acquisition timeline and referenced a 2005 Board of Finance policy that requires the Board’s approval for expenditures from the Fee In Lieu fund. Finance Director Christine Calvert told the Board the payment had been made on Dec. 22, 2025 by her with approval from Dan but without formal BOF approval. Board members said the omission was inadvertent but agreed that, to avoid creating a voidable transaction, they should formally approve the expenditure now. Several members urged immediate action rather than deferring the decision.
Motion language authorized the Chair to state that the process to acquire 25 Lantern Hill Road did not follow appropriate procedures and was therefore voidable, but that, after considering the merits, the BOF ex post facto approved the acquisition and authorized payment of $29,985.70 from the Fee In Lieu fund. The motion passed 6‑0.
The Board additionally said it would send a formal letter to the First Selectman asserting the requirement of BOF approval for such expenditures and indicated it would review the letter and related process at its June meeting.
