Finance committee recommends accepting LePeta family trust gift for library and cultural events

The Bridgewater budget and finance committee recommended the town accept a $125,816 donation from the LePeta family trust and forward the acceptance to the town council.

Laurie, town staff overseeing the item, told the committee the trust certifies annual financials that determine this year’s donation. “This particular donation was for a 125,816,” she said, and staff said part of the check is earmarked for library museum passes and the rest for cultural events and community programming. Committee members noted the gift is large compared with typical donations and asked for a formal process to guide spending.

Members discussed whether existing gift-and-donation guidelines are sufficient for recurring, substantial gifts. Several suggested forming an advisory group or adapting state cultural-council guidelines so the town can fairly allocate funds across applicants and avoid letting the money “sit there growing” until the Fourth of July committee spends it. Paul Murphy, a committee member participating remotely, said the library trustees would manage the library-designated portion but urged clearer town-side policies for the remainder.

The finance committee moved and seconded a recommendation to accept the gift; a roll call showed the recommending committees approved forwarding the measure to the town council.

What happens next: staff will work with council and the relevant trustees or committees to draft spending guidelines or an oversight proposal before the town council acts on acceptance.