Montgomery work session approves $125,000 from general fund for hydrant/hydro repairs

The Montgomery work session approved a motion to use $125,000 from the general fund to pay for hydrant/hydro repairs, the chair (S1) said during the session.

Chair (S1) moved the funding measure "to utilize a $125,000 towards the hydro repairs in lieu of a ban from the general fund as laid out in the resolution by the owner," and Committee member (S5) seconded the motion. Participants recorded the motion as approved by voice vote during the meeting.

The motion followed discussion about financing alternatives. Committee member (S2) noted that a short-term bank borrowing would be a quick payback and could improve the municipality’s credit, while several members—including the chair—said they were hesitant to draw from the fund balance before an external audit and fuller financial documentation are complete. "I'm hesitant to take any money out of the fund balance right this minute," Chair (S1) said, citing an upcoming external audit and the need for clearer financial reports.

Agency official (S7) said parts and some equipment are already on hand and that some repairs can be started quickly if funds are available. Participants emphasized the decision was a fiscal choice that had been vetted for legal permissibility: Chair (S1) said the attorney reviewed a resolution and indicated taking the money from the general fund for hydrant repair was legally permissible.

Next steps recorded in the session included following through on the repairs and continuing the external audit and financial review to clarify the town’s overall fiscal position. The board did not detail a spending timeline in the work session; members said they would monitor the audit’s findings before making additional draws from fund balance.