Pepperell Selectmen Disclose $200,000-Plus School Grant Risk, Accept Town Audit

PEPPERELL — December 3, 2012 — Pepperell selectmen disclose a state building authority grant freeze that puts more than $200,000 at risk for the Peter Fitzpatrick School. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to accept a Department of Revenue instruction authorizing use of $180,000 in water enterprise retained earnings after a spring town meeting warrant article failed to explicitly authorize the draw — prompting frank discussion about enterprise fund oversight gaps. Town Administrator John presented a preliminary fiscal year 2014 budget framework projecting roughly a $7,000 post-fixed-cost shortfall, with a 2 percent increase guideline recommended for all departments; board members noted that guideline collides with 3 percent school union contracts, calling it "a cut." The board also accepted the fiscal year 2011 audit, voted to appoint Michelle Gallagher as Personnel Board At-Large Representative through June 30, 2014, referred a rezoning petition for 64–70 Main Street from the Bozikis family to the Planning Board, and adopted updated senior and veterans property tax work-off guidelines capping benefits at $1,000 and switching to an earned-income eligibility standard.