Boxborough FinCom Votes Meeting Secretary, Defers $650,000 Library Renovation Request

BOXBOROUGH — January 16, 2024 — Boxborough Finance Committee defers library renovation, patches fire budget accounting, and adds meeting secretary. The Finance Committee, meeting via Zoom on January 16, voted 7-0-1 to approve its own FY25 budget at $4,325, adding a meeting secretary at $134 per meeting after the position was omitted from the prior week's vote. Library Director Payshon presented a $650,000 interior renovation proposal — aimed at creating private study rooms, telehealth spaces, and small-group areas — but members were cool to the request, with member Tony Newton noting the town may face a competing fire station capital ask and that residents "are already freaked out about their tax bills." Trustee President Mary said the library foundation may contribute up to $100,000, but members asked for construction-company-sourced numbers before any warrant article moves forward. The committee also spent significant time reconciling fire department FY25 salary figures after a collective bargaining agreement appropriation from last spring's town meeting was not mapped into the operating budget, creating a roughly $27,000 discrepancy that the town accountant must resolve before the warrant is printed.