The primary topic of discussion was the budget transfer requests, highlighting pressing financial adjustments necessary for the town’s operations. The committee first addressed the need to replace a malfunctioning air conditioning condenser coil at Town Hall. The issue was considered urgent due to upcoming hot weather conditions, and the estimated cost for the replacement was approximately $5,300. To cover any potential unforeseen expenses, the Finance Committee rounded up the necessary amount to $5,500. Cody, a member of the finance team, assured the committee that the repair work was scheduled to commence promptly upon approval of the funds, though it would not start immediately. The committee acknowledged the importance of addressing this infrastructure issue swiftly and voted unanimously to approve the transfer from the reserve fund.

The more substantial and complex transfer involved reallocating $30,000 from the police wages account to the legal fund. This move was prompted by unexpected legal costs stemming from ongoing litigation, including a lawsuit concerning zoning requirements and the Morse Brothers case, which involved legal disputes over permit requirements. Cody elaborated on the necessity of this transfer, explaining that operational efficiencies within the police department had resulted in an excess balance in the wages account, which could now be redirected to cover the legal overrun. The committee deliberated on the potential implications of these legal issues for future budgets, particularly the fiscal year 2026, noting that the outcome of the ongoing litigation could lead to additional expenses. Concerns were raised about further overruns in the legal budget, especially with impending labor negotiations. Cody mentioned that involving labor counsel in every negotiation could increase legal costs.

In addition to budget adjustments, the committee underwent a reorganization of leadership roles for the fiscal year 2026. Jim Walters was nominated and unanimously elected as the new chairperson, with Cheryl Zarella Burke continuing as vice chair, and Michael Bennett confirmed as clerk. The committee also acknowledged the vacancy left by Mr. Smith’s transition to the board of selectmen, discussing the need for new talent to fill the finance committee position. With no applications received yet, the committee showed a proactive interest in motivating community members to apply, with Jim Walters expressing his intention to encourage potential candidates to submit their forms.

The summer schedule for the committee was outlined, with plans for two meetings in July and one in August. A meeting was confirmed for July 7th at Town Hall, while a tentative Zoom meeting was proposed for July 21st, depending on the agenda needs. Jim Walters emphasized the importance of the July 7th meeting due to impending deadlines for line item transfers. The committee also touched upon correspondence and public participation, noting a lack of new inquiries but receiving positive feedback from the community regarding the previous year’s budget efforts.

Cody provided an update on the formation of an override committee by the board of selectmen, indicating that while the charge had been approved, applications for this committee and others had not yet been posted, with an expected release date of July 1. This override committee would comprise members from various town committees, including the finance committee, school committee, and an at-large member. Cody suggested that, in the absence of applications for the at-large position, a finance committee member might fill the spot.