Financials & Expenditures

The Finance Committee approved a reserve fund transfer of $14,800 to cover the cost of an outside consultant for the town manager search.

Interim Town Manager Joseph Perkins identified a previously unrecognized structural deficit of approximately $3.4 million for Fiscal Year 2027. This includes about $1.5 million from local aid projections and $700,000 from health insurance and benefits estimates.

A $100,000 expenditure for municipal utility building software for the finance department was questioned by a resident. This software is intended for water, wastewater, and sanitation billing.

Proposed capital expenditures include $108,770 for a wastewater one-ton truck with a plow and $68,000 for a water department pickup truck. Resident questions about the price difference were clarified to account for plows and sanders for winter operations.

The committee discussed proposed land acquisitions (Articles 25 and 26) totaling over $1.2 million, to be funded from water enterprise retained earnings, for water supply protection and a PFAS treatment system.

Article 24 proposes $62 million for a new water treatment facility, which would require bonding. This is in addition to a $30 million plant on East Grove Street and a $3 million upgrade to another facility.

Concerns were raised regarding potential costs of a forensic audit, estimated to be between $100,000 and $500,000.

Zoning & Planning

No notable items.

Resident Action & Public Hearings

The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2026.

The Finance Committee plans a meeting on June 11th, prior to the Special Town Meeting, which may include discussions about town meeting procedures and potentially having cameras present for transparency.

The Finance Committee voted 3-2 to recommend that the Select Board consider authorizing and funding an independent forensic review. The review would examine financial reporting, municipal credit card usage (FY22-FY26), enterprise funds, snow and ice expenditures, grant reporting, payroll payouts, and related internal controls.

The Hidden News

A resident, Pat McMahon (44 Smithfield, Middleboro), expressed public frustration with town financial mismanagement, citing job losses and service reductions like the elimination of police bike patrols. He questioned the necessity of new software and significant land acquisitions for water at this time.

Pat McMahon suggested the town consider quarterly real estate tax billing to improve cash flow and potentially reduce borrowing costs, noting Lakeville’s practice. He was told a town clerk cited assessor/billing synchronization issues and possibly software limitations.

A member, Mr. Barela, stated he was removed as Finance Committee chair almost two years prior after raising concerns about fire department overtime, which grew from $300,000 to $900,000. He highlighted job terminations and delays in receiving the Fiscal Year 2025 audit as consequences of unchecked issues.

Another resident, Nancy, clarified that one-ton trucks with plows and sanders can cost significantly more than standard pickup trucks. She also confirmed that quarterly real estate tax billing had been discussed at a recent Select Board meeting.