Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Settlers Park Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen delay vote on $916,000 Settlers Park request as funding questions linger
Summary
After a detailed staff presentation and questions about phasing and financing, the Board of Selectmen postponed a funding vote on the Settlers Park reconstruction to its next meeting so members and the board of finance can review cost breakdowns and funding scenarios.
Board members spent the post-presentation portion of the meeting testing budget options after public works presented a nearly $916,000 reconstruction plan for Settlers Park. Several members asked whether the town would tap unassigned fund balance, include the work in next year’s budget, or divide the project into phases; the finance director said both options are viable and that the town currently has about $11,100,000 in its unassigned fund balance (approximately 12.8% of the general fund).
Selectwoman Holly Sullivan and others suggested splitting the work—doing preparatory removal and the main lot now, and the remainder in the next budget year—to reduce the immediate draw on reserves and avoid a large one-time hit to taxpayers. The finance director confirmed the board could use a mix of funding sources and phase construction. After the discussion, the board agreed to postpone the funding vote to the next meeting and requested a detailed line-item cost breakout for each lot and a recommended phasing schedule.
