The Marion Finance Committee at its June 25 meeting approved three Reserve Fund transfers to help three different departments pay for unexpected expenses in Fiscal Year 2025.
With a winter that did not bring much snow, a request from the Department of Public Works for $3,495 for snow removal drew some questions from Finance Committee members.
Finance Director Heather O’Brien said the snow removal and ice maintenance budget is based on different line items and is difficult to predict. She said that at the last special Town Meeting in spring, participants agreed to close the books on last season’s winter road maintenance with a $27,000 appropriation. However, officials later learned that an additional $3,495 would be needed to pay all bills for the 2024-25 winter.
The Finance Committee approved the Reserve Fund transfer.
Finance officials also approved the harbormaster’s request for $13,000 to replace floating concrete dock landings. O’Brien, referencing a letter from Harbormaster Adam Murphy, said this work is an unexpected expense that cannot be covered through the Marine & Fisheries operating budget.
The Finance Committee also approved a request from the Police Department for $6,058 to replace information technology and other equipment damaged after an air conditioning unit failed. O’Brien said she was told that some of this equipment is important for police communications. She also said the overall expenses surpassed $9,000 but that the department covered some of the replacement costs, bringing the total bill down to $6,058.
All told, after the June 25 meeting, the Reserve Fund was cut by approximately $20,000 from its initial $65,000.
The Finance Committee discussed a Citizen Petition that passed on the May Town Meeting floor to raise taxes through a Proposition 2 1/2 override to repair town roads, ways and sidewalks.
That project, approved at $2,700,000, will rely on $500,000 in certified free cash from the general treasury and a temporary tax increase to fund the remaining balance.
The town will form a subcommittee to determine which roads and ways are in greater need of repair, and Finance Committee member Sean Healy agreed to join the group.
Finance Committee member Tom Crowley questioned if the town was paying too much in road repairs, especially with an accelerated pavement plan that allocates funding toward these repairs.
O’Brien explained that this $2,700,000 project is based on a Citizen Petition, which passed at Town Meeting, so officials must honor the request for the funding.
Marion Finance Committee
By Jeffrey D. Wagner