Finance Committee Meeting

The finance committee meets tonight to finalize its position on the police budget, the water department budget, the fire engine and other important matters.  This is your chance to influence what happens at town meeting, and to observe the finance committee's performance.

Regarding the water department, the board of selectmen on Monday just punted.  The proposed budget submitted by the commissioners for consideration by the board can charitably be described as deficient, but describing it as a joke would be far more accurate.  The selectmen pretty much threw up their hands and retreated, saying "well it's the commissioners budget, not ours" and looking at the members of the finance committee who were present, hoping they'd be bailed out.  The board could have put items on the warrant directing changes in the water department's practices or procedures, but chickened out. 

There are three citizens' items on the warrant relating to the water department.  Each of the three would, if adopted, impact the department's budget, in two of the three cases dramatically.  So those items should be voted on before the budget, else there could be an irreconcilable conflict.  The selectmen decided Monday to move one of them up to precede the budget vote, but not the others.  Why?  You decide.  I have my suspicions.

The selectmen are punting on many budget items.  It's way past time to hold them accountable.  Make them state their positions on these issues.  Don't let them hide behind obfuscations.