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Resident questions $20,000 litigation line; CFO says lawsuits could require bonding in worst case
Summary
A resident raised concerns that a proposed $20,000 increase for Legal Fees – Litigation may be insufficient given pending suits; CFO Seth Bernstein said he has no details on case statuses and acknowledged worst-case liabilities could push the town to bond for payouts.
Resident Randolph Adler asked whether the proposed $20,000 increase for Legal Fees – Litigation was adequate given the number of pending suits against the town and how a worst-case plaintiffs’ victory might affect town finances. CFO Seth Bernstein said it was an important question and acknowledged he did not have details about the status of the suits. Bernstein said that if the worst-case scenario occurred, "the Town would probably have to go for bonding." He described litigation exposure as one of his main financial concerns moving forward.
Bernstein said Board members and department heads worked hard on the proposed budget and that the BOF voted unanimously on the proposed FY 26–27 package at the board level. The exchange highlighted fiscal uncertainty tied to pending legal matters and the limits of the $20,000 litigation line if multiple unfavorable judgments occur.
