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Committee backs $69K design study for PEMI path amid Army Corps talks; fundraising expected to reimburse town
Summary
Budget committee approved recommending a sizable increase in the economic committees’ line to fund a PEMI path design study (~$69,000). Committee heard the Army Corps has a near‑final draft contract and that private fundraising is expected to reimburse the town for design costs, though repayment is not guaranteed.
Members of the Budget Committee voted to include a large increase in the budget line for “economic committees” after hearing a request to fund detailed design work for the PEMI (pending) path.
The chair summarized the proposal: the economic committee’s recommended budget rose to $70,580 primarily because the pending‑path committee needs about $69,000 to pay engineering and design fees. The committee was told the Army Corps of Engineers has a draft contract nearing completion, and that the town cannot complete fundraising appeals until the project design is sufficiently developed.
Committee members repeatedly stressed the reimbursement plan: private, nonprofit fundraising is expected to pay back the town for design costs if the project proceeds. As the chair put it, “the goal is that the townspeople will not be asked to pay any taxes to do this project, that it'll be funded through fundraising,” but the committee also noted the risk that, if fundraising fails, the town could be left covering the design expense.
The budget committee voted to recommend the appropriation for the economic committees’ budget increase, and the select board will review the draft engineering agreement before town meeting.
