[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6302390,"mediaKeyId","2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c","parentId",2477892,"title","At a glance: Select Board & Finance Committee actions, March 3, 2025","audioSeconds",1460,"startMs",7524000,"endMs",8984000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c&start=7524&end=8984","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c/thumbnail_7524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302390/Massachusetts/At-a-glance-Select-Board-Finance-Committee-actions-March-3-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302390-14ebc87e8bdd7a9c5c216c71d6d70278/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791077&Signature=g3gQ1-btCdJG5IMJjgYmyD~JAWPug707rc~1xcU6xX8cWy4mNJScHUlpy4FOBNasKFSxezmMUFIc8OLN22Pk4zjLobcKMLqoxv92WthXdxu4NQ2XhWv~bIo2wMJx9-zYzCRMgPl8pQgxdTFz3LcObCbb5DRotH5xf3kJJmmnUGWGprfwA1UJsvEwBmuuU4QjxToweUL8tj4gk0AKYI4Yz8m0UFdZZnPDCNb1z1YTiSD0AiD5pLghqW5~kupe-RLsPuEaUW0O~oaNzrZBFXMXd1wlu4EUes45eGJRVJBBjDpwHJHoXIabW2Zia8lv4QYcscCjoxaNhUI85rzdLfQs2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Hubbardston, MA","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Below are the formal outcomes recorded during the March 3 joint meeting of Hubbardston’s Select Board and Finance Committee. All motions are listed with the motion text as recorded in the meeting, the outcome and next steps where specified.

Votes at a glance

- In‑principle acceptance of First Parish property transfer: Motion to “move forward with the property transfer proposal of the First Parish Church and accept the gift/transfer in principle.” Outcome: approved by voice vote. Next steps: town attorney review; building inspection; stewardship/governance plan to be returned to boards.

- Authorization to open annual town meeting warrant and accept articles through April 7, 2025: Motion to open the warrant for the June 2, 2025 annual town meeting and accept warrant articles until 2025‑04‑07. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Letter in support of WRWAC request for reinstated access: Motion authorizing the town administrator to submit a letter in support of WRWAC’s request to reinstate vehicle access to specific watershed roads (Reuben Walker / Prison Camp Road). Outcome: approved by voice vote; staff to submit letter.

- Curtis Recreational Field parking request (non‑objection): Select Board directed staff to communicate a formal non‑objection for a resident’s request to use Curtis Recreational Field parking for a wedding on May 18 (first‑come, first‑served; park use must not block scheduled programs). Outcome: board registered no objection and asked town administrator to notify relevant departments.

- 48 Gardner Road change orders: Motion to authorize two change orders for renovation work (soffits and a structural post at the garage bay) totaling approximately $6,487.37. Outcome: approved; town administrator authorized to execute the documents. Funding source: 48 Gardner Road project account/revolving fund (projected to cover cost). Note: town staff indicated the revolving fund has been impacted by unit damages and lease receipts, but funds were available for these repairs.

- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn carried by voice vote.

Ending: Several votes were procedural and directed staff to continue due diligence, reporting and warrant preparation; none of the capital debt exclusion items were approved at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Hubbardston: Select Board and Finance Committee 03.03.25","oneSentenceSummary","A concise list of formal actions taken at the joint meeting, including in‑principle acceptance of a church transfer and authorization of building change orders.","taxTitle","Town of Hubbardston, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",61645,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302395,"Select Board and finance committee agree in principle to accept First Parish Church property",915,6666000,7581000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c&start=6666&end=7581","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c/thumbnail_6666000.jpg","/articles/6302395/Massachusetts/Select-Board-and-finance-committee-agree-in-principle-to-accept-First-Parish-Church-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302395-90f9e7d83edd97e18f345da3a8f3c658/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791077&Signature=fuTOhEYnw11VGvnReVffk-gVInNOJfwznuCT1RIjig6EwbSV4pHm5PrF9pYWfZm8xNFjgFbOlTBVtt79cm7CKETKqgDu4NWR11Pxv-8VjvpAimyFA4lXqcdpu7QdMrkhthY6dt3saoa9~Q6F3N54tG-4~ao56-hRNvLmIF2ILRO4--p9t-nk5xzG-mwmq2np2XKXdSH4~qqz77yb7JBMn~eqpQDVJgOuKOBPrPaBLq~0RE2HkXrguPXfqLZTWfDHh08ns8otMeur3VBL9E6HGVoOqujf7M1SD9PHtrTl0pEz7mLE9YUZ3i~mIwQdlwPtiolj~2H22gxZIuTelXqiaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Select Board members and the Finance Committee voted at a joint meeting to accept in principle an offer by the congregation of First Parish (First Parish Church) to transfer the historic church building to the town for community use.

Town Administrator Nate explained the congregation’s intent is to dissolve and hand the building “to the community,” not to sell it. The town’s counsel will review the transfer, the building commissioner will inspect the structure for unforeseen conditions, and the administrator said he would investigate grant eligibility and the organization model for future stewardship (for example, a trustees or nonprofit steward to help manage programs and grant writing).

Members of the congregation attended the meeting and described the offer as driven by an aging, shrinking membership and the costs of keeping the building heated and maintained. Board members repeatedly noted the structure’s historical significance: the building is listed on the National Register and previously received preservation aid. Nate said the town would seek available grants and consider repurposing the building for community programming, storage of archival collections and limited events; he also noted that to receive public funding the property would need to be transferred out of active religious use and formal dissolution of the congregation would be required.

Vote and next steps: The joint bodies approved the motion “to move forward with the property transfer proposal of the First Parish Church and accept the gift/transfer in principle.” The vote was taken by voice, and the chair declared the motion carried. The administrator will meet with the town attorney, direct a building inspection, and return options and cost estimates to the boards for a future decision or a town meeting article.

Ending: The town will examine the property’s physical condition and funding options; any formal acceptance or appropriation will be decided later by the Select Board, Finance Committee and voters at town meeting.","The boards voted to accept in principle a proposal to transfer ownership of the historic First Parish Church building to the town and asked staff to pursue due diligence and grant opportunities.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302398,"Hubbardston administrator previews FY26 budget, flags school costs and possible debt exclusions",2168,137000,2305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c&start=137&end=2305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2477892-5b85d80f521ba78dde916672cbe4a98c/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6302398/Massachusetts/Hubbardston-administrator-previews-FY26-budget-flags-school-costs-and-possible-debt-exclusions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302398-7eb2deda19daae71ae102a6707705804/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791077&Signature=RW77aHHLDD6bY92pPbqocmcNUOXZvYiCpfBLjbR9iQ-LJcvyn5MrjoTmlxz11OjQMOoNOo9KgEEaTQNy8Ct2WfmfkRBe6PgVOU7kng6dK94suVyyZ6hTxg7ubCp4Fd2ofukPLSJNnlegl2yqUASGoER2MXq8pu52aLqhxY8aAlIxsL9pdSwDMPdAvFSJ0KM2u-fAZ6DTrbn1XmZu7yPEnnJcA-f7VC8~WhpqzlqRaeKdH2jPfWoLzj8DeGE-52JMVddYEPf3bjj1WI8hAxoxwQcJwKuac97HlpNFb6UIOlKdn3vN2q-SD4lSgqW3-2ZMJmglLDPnJCj1cFkCCvhF0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Administrator Nate presented the Town of Hubbardston’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget and capital improvement plan at a joint Select Board and Finance Committee meeting Monday, outlining a roughly $11.8 million spending plan and warning that rising school costs threaten the town’s long‑term fiscal balance.

Nate said the draft budget remains balanced largely by using free cash, about $144,000 in his package, and that the town will need to use one‑time funds unless revenues grow or services are cut. “This budget is unfortunately balanced by approximately the same amount of free cash as we utilized last year,” he said. He highlighted revenues that support the plan: a tax levy that makes up about 78 percent of revenue, roughly $1.75 million in local receipts (including excise), and state aid based on “House 1,” the governor’s initial FY26 proposal.

The administrator flagged several risks and priorities. He said ambulance billing and a stipend for overnight coverage have driven stronger-than-expected local receipts, and that new permitting and e‑services will be rolled out on a newly launched budget/ transparency website (budget.hubbardstonma.gov). He described a projected five‑year town budget that, under current assumptions, could grow from roughly $6.7 million to $8.7 million by FY2030 and reiterated concerns that school spending, which he estimated could rise 8 percent this year, will outpace the town’s growth under Proposition 2½.

Nate reviewed capital priorities and said the town is considering debt exclusions for two large items: a replacement fire engine (estimated about $1 million) and a municipal operations complex that he estimated at $8.5 million over 40 years if advanced. He explained a potential financing strategy that would use longer USDA or similar facility loans to lower annual costs and possibly bundle vehicle and building borrowing to reduce interest expense. He also described other CIP items under study, including a DPW truck, brush mower replacement, building repairs at 48 Gardner Road and libraries, generator projects, and road and sidewalk design work.

On buildings, Nate reported that MSBA paperwork for an earlier school project has arrived and that the school roof’s debt exclusion payment is currently a flat annual line. He told the boards the town has signed MSBA paperwork and that permanent borrowing for the roof has not yet been finalized. He said staff will continue refining the budget as more firm school numbers are produced; the school budget director had recently changed and the town expected the school’s first published figures in the days after the meeting.

The administrator asked the boards to authorize continued work with a financial adviser and architects to refine debt and capital numbers and said he would return with a second version of the budget and CIP. He emphasized grant pursuit for several capital items and said he would only move toward a debt exclusion after more detailed figures were vetted with the finance committee and select board.

Ending: The Select Board and Finance Committee did not take a formal vote to adopt the budget at the meeting; members asked for follow‑up revenue updates and further CIP numbers before formal endorsement. Nate said he would continue refining the package with staff, the town’s financial adviser and consultants and return with updated figures ahead of annual town meeting and warrant deadlines.","Town Administrator Nate presented a $11.8 million FY26 spending plan and five‑year capital improvement program, warning that school spending growth may outpace town revenues and proposing possible debt exclusions for a fire engine and a municipal operations complex.","actionData","errors"]

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At a glance: Select Board & Finance Committee actions, March 3, 2025

Select Board and finance committee agree in principle to accept First Parish Church property

Hubbardston administrator previews FY26 budget, flags school costs and possible debt exclusions