Capital Budget Committee Chair Jack Griffin took a hard line against fiscal uncertainty Tuesday night, implementing a restrictive six-point framework to manage over $15.6 million in capital requests that currently lack a verified funding plan. Griffin reported that while informal estimates suggest the town may have between $600,000 and $800,000 in available free cash and closed project balances, no official documentation exists to support the multi-million dollar warrant items originally proposed by the Interim Town Administrator. Griffin expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting that he was told by the Interim Town Administrator that the previous administration had dropped the ball on the capital budgeting process.

This year we've had over $15.6 million in capital budget requests and no confirmed funding plan, Griffin said. I spoke with the Former Town Administrator this afternoon; he says we have $400,000 in free cash and $340,000 in closed projects. This is not a financial plan; it is uncertainty. I cannot support making decisions on millions of dollars without knowing where the money is coming from. Griffin’s new framework mandates that no capital request is fully authorized without a documented funding source and that all committee approvals remain strictly conditional until that documentation is provided. Motion Made by J. Griffin to adopt the six-point framework for contingent capital budget approvals. Motion Passed (4-0).

Member Bonnie McCarthy supported the move toward transparency, noting the confusion that occurs at Town Meeting when voters are presented with articles that lack clear financial backing. It's nice to approve things, but if we don't have the money, that's what it should be, McCarthy said. People at Town Meeting may not understand if they see an article to vote on without a funding source behind it. It could put us in more trouble.

Faced with a massive funding gap, the committee narrowed the list of requests to nine emergency items to be recommended to Town Meeting, subject to final funding identification. At the top of the priority list is a $531,500 replacement for Paramedic 4, a 2018 ambulance with nearly 200,000 miles that has been frequently out of service. Member Dean Scribner pushed for clarity on how the town would pay for the vehicle, suggesting that even with a lease, the annual impact must be tracked. If you did a seven-year lease, it would be about $95,000 a year, Scribner noted. Let's go with the high number to be safe. Member Linda Walsh utilized a scoring system to justify the expenditure, noting that the vehicle’s condition and public safety impact both rated as critical. For asset condition, I'm giving it a five because it has failed or is on the verge of failure, Walsh said. Motion Made by J. Griffin to recommend to Town Meeting to approve replacing Paramedic Number 4 based on funding sources for $531,500. Motion Passed (4-0).

The committee also scaled back significant school and public safety requests. A proposed $1.8 million roof restoration at Daniel Webster School was reduced to a $145,000 temporary patch intended to last one year. Griffin noted that the school department might be able to use $500,000 in unexpended funds from the Martinson roof project to cover the repair. In the police department, a request for three new cruisers was trimmed to just one vehicle, costing roughly $67,000, despite the Chief suggesting that existing building project funds might be available. The committee also prioritized an animal control vehicle for $73,900 after hearing the current unit's deer lift is inoperable and its cage is inadequate for aggressive animals.

The Conservation Department sought $10,000 for land management and hazard tree removal, sparking a debate over municipal liability and department responsibilities. Conservation Agent Liz Anoja warned that the town faces significant risk if it fails to address trees on town-owned land that threaten private homes. If a property owner is made aware of a hazardous tree imminently going to damage property and they do nothing, then they are liable, Anoja said. Part of this is to capture the conversation on record so that if a tree falls in a few months, we have public hearing minutes showing we requested funding. Conservation Administrator Mike Seele added that the DPW lacks a certified arborist, forcing the department to hire outside contractors for serious work. The Former Town Administrator noted that grants could be an option if the town remains in compliance with state housing mandates, stating, The state has money for this if the MBTA thing is not rescinded.

Infrastructure needs dominated the remainder of the emergency list, including $450,000 for the town’s share of Ocean Bluff riprap repairs and another $450,000 for the Green Harbor Jetty project. Public works officials also identified $120,000 for water main upgrades and $200,000 for carbon filter replacements as urgent needs. One bright spot for the budget came from the Council on Aging, as the Director informed the board that a requested $126,870 handicap vehicle would now be fully funded by a grant. I would like to push that request up because we just got a grant through Gatra to get the vehicle. They are paying for the whole thing, the Director said. Similarly, the Library Director appeared briefly to confirm that a $300,000 roof project would be handled through Facilities department funds rather than a new capital request. I'm just here in case you had questions, the Library Director told the board.

The meeting concluded with an omnibus recommendation that consolidated the identified emergency items into a single contingent package for the Town Meeting warrant. Motion Made by B. McCarthy to recommend to Town Meeting nine emergency items subject to final funding sources and amounts: one police cruiser; Paramedic 4 ambulance for $531,500; Ocean Bluff riprap repairs for $450,000; water main upgrade for $120,000; carbon filter replacement for $200,000; Daniel Webster School roof repairs for $145,000; one special education 8-passenger van for $142,452; Green Harbor Jetty project for $450,000; and one animal control vehicle for $73,900. Motion Passed (4-0).