The Millis Finance Committee convened a pre-town-meeting session to present and explain the 21 warrant articles that will appear at the town meeting, giving residents a chance to ask questions before the articles are considered by voters.

The committee’s review covered the town operating budget and multiple enterprise funds, capital expenditures and vehicle purchases, school debt funding, a proposed special-act tax relief measure for certain seniors, a petition to change the town clerk from an elected to an appointed position, zoning updates to comply with new state ADU and flood-map requirements, and several reserve and set‑aside appropriations. The committee recorded a split recommendation on the senior tax-relief article, voting 5–4 against it.

Vice Chair Michael Kron opened the meeting by describing the session as “our pre town meeting, when we give the public the opportunity to weigh in on the various articles.” The committee walked through each warrant article and allowed questions from residents and elected officials.

On the town budget, the committee described Article 3 as the detailed operating budget for fiscal 2026. As read at the meeting, the budget figure given was approximately $47.27 million. Committee members also summarized enterprise fund budgets: the sewer enterprise (Article 4) was listed at $1,702,501.60, the water enterprise (Article 5) at $2,621,574, and the stormwater enterprise (Article 6) at $774,328.91. Committee members invited residents to attend finance committee meetings to discuss line items before town meeting.

Capital needs and equipment purchases were presented under Article 8 and related items: the warrant lists an animal-control vehicle (with a cost-sharing arrangement with the town of Medway), DPW dump truck funding ($98,830), a fire utility vehicle ($88,002.72), a radio console for the fire department ($75,081), HVAC repairs for the library ($32,000), and a vehicle for the schools ($63,000). Article 9 would authorize borrowing under MGL chapter 44 for two police cruisers at $137,632.

On regional school debt, Article 10 would transfer $593,075 from free cash to pay Millis’s share of Tri County school construction debt; town administrators explained the appropriation covers FY2026 obligations and would also apply to part of FY2027 until final student counts establish that year’s assessment.

The committee proposed two recurring or reserve funds: Article 11 would set aside $300,000 from free cash for unanticipated municipal and school building repairs, and Article 21 would move $100,000 into the stabilization fund to keep it above 5 percent of the budget. Article 20 would transfer $50,000 into the town’s OPEB (other post employment benefits) trust.

Article 12, a petitioned special act to provide tax relief to a small group of seniors meeting strict eligibility (age, residency of 10+ years, circuit‑breaker thresholds, principal-home value caps and asset limits), drew sustained discussion and an explicit finance-committee recommendation. Finance Committee member Joyce Boyarty explained the committee “is moving that this not be approved,” and recorded a 5–4 vote against recommending the article. Committee members who opposed the article cited the risk of an unknown and potentially rising long‑term cost and concerns about creating a narrowly targeted exclusion; committee members in favor emphasized benefits for eligible low‑income seniors. The committee reported staff estimates that up to 258 homeowners might initially be eligible but that, after applying all criteria, the number could be about 50.

Article 13, a petition to amend the Millis home-rule charter to change the town clerk from an elected to an appointed department head, prompted the lengthiest discussion. Select Board member Ellen Rosenfeld said the “town clerk’s position has changed enormously” and argued an appointed professional would bring continuity and technical expertise; Rosenfeld said appointed town clerks are common and that “every single town that is now appoint they were all elected, by the way.” Select Board member Craig Schulz said the board envisions a full‑time salaried town clerk with a near‑full‑time assistant, and Town Administrator Mike Kaczynski clarified that, if the charter change passes, the town clerk would likely become a salaried department head and the town would follow its standard hiring process, which could be internal or external and subject to union negotiations where applicable. Multiple residents asked for clearer explanations at town meeting about how the change would affect current staff hours and duties; officials said the office would remain funded under the FY2026 budget regardless of the charter vote.

Several zoning and bylaw articles were previewed: Article 16 updates the special flood-hazard district and related zoning definitions to conform to new FEMA flood insurance rate maps; Article 17 replaces a prior “accessory family unit” definition with an “accessory dwelling unit” definition to implement the state’s Home Affordability/ADU law adopted in August 2024 and to allow local limits on parking and other standards where permitted; Article 14 would formalize a permanent Tri‑Board (Scribe Board) committee to meet at least four times per year for interboard planning.

Article 15 would transfer the care, custody and management of numerous small, town‑owned parcels (many historically unused, sometimes called “paper roads” or small, non‑buildable lots) from general municipal purposes to disposition by the Select Board so they can be returned to the tax rolls. Officials said maps and handouts showing the parcels and FEMA flood maps would be available at town meeting.

Smaller or technical appropriations include Article 18 (transfer $40,736.55 to the town’s unemployment insurance fund), Article 19 (transfer $300,000 to the MGL c.41, §111F injury‑indemnity fund for police and fire injury leave), and Article 11’s municipal building repair reserve.

At the meeting’s end, the committee approved a motion to pay $9,457.65 to Our Town Publishing for printing the town warrant; the payment motion was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. The committee also moved to close the session and approved minutes from earlier finance-committee meetings.

The finance committee emphasized that the pre‑town‑meeting session is intended to let residents “air things out” before the larger town meeting and encouraged voters to attend the April/May town meeting where each warrant article will be debated and decided.