Sherborn Advisory Committee concurs with Select Board on $147,000 year-end transfers

The Sherborn Advisory Committee unanimously voted on June 17, 2026, to concur with the Select Board’s request to transfer $147,000 in unspent Employee Benefits funds to cover year-end overages across eight town accounts.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 33B, the Select Board submitted the transfer requests and the Advisory Committee considered explanations from department representatives before voting to concur. Chair Stephen Bonder moved the concurrence; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call.

Committee members heard detailed explanations for each request: Board of Health Co-Chair Daryl Beardsley and Administrator Sarah Lapin sought $36,000 mainly to pay invoices for a supplemental health agent engaged on special projects and to cover recruitment and software costs; they said fee revenue had softened but noted a new fee schedule effective May 1, 2026, that is expected to increase septic and well fee revenue by roughly 2.5 times. Finance Director Deb Siefring presented a $22,000 Select Board request driven principally by a $17,000 mid‑year increase in the Town Administrator’s contract and higher centralized postage and medical-plan consulting costs; the FY2027 budget has been adjusted to reflect the contractual salary obligation.

The Advisory Committee accounted for a $1,000 overage related to higher postage and printing costs associated with producing a multicolor advisory report. Legal counsel spending prompted a $27,000 request, which Siefring described as a conservative cushion for June invoices amid ongoing litigation and labor negotiations (including police contract talks). DPW Director Sean Killeen described a $24,000 overrun in Town Buildings tied to aging infrastructure, including library HVAC repairs, elevator maintenance and a repaired sewer drain at Town Hall. Fire Chief Zachary Ward attributed a $16,000 overage to higher wage costs for storm coverage after two major winter storms; Ward said this year’s storm coverage costs rose to about $23,000. Killeen also explained a $10,000 transfer for the Transfer Station due to higher disposal rates, fuel surcharges and wait‑time fees. Treasurer Pam Dowse said an $11,000 debt‑service overage resulted from choosing long‑term borrowing rather than a short‑term note, which modestly increased interest costs.

The Chair confirmed with Siefring that the Employee Benefits appropriation had sufficient unexpended balance to fund the transfers. Chair Bonder then moved the committee’s concurrence “that the Advisory Committee concur, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 33B, with the Select Board’s transfer of $147,000” to the specified accounts; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously by roll call.

The committee also unanimously approved minutes from March 21, April 15, April 28 and May 22, 2026. In member reports, Nora Lynch said the Capital Budget Committee plans further meetings in late August and noted the Recreation Commission’s recently approved pickleball and tennis court project came in about $60,000 over an initial $458,000 bid, with roughly $36,000 attributed to unforeseen electrical issues. Finance staff reminded members that remaining ARPA-funded projects must be expended by December 31, 2026.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.