Weston Finance Committee Backs Moderator Appointments for Mid-Term Vacancies

WESTON — January 29, 2026 — Weston Finance Committee unanimously backs moderator control over mid-term vacancies and reviews a $3.9 million road project. The committee voted 5-0 at its January 29 meeting to recommend that future mid-term Finance Committee vacancies be filled by the town moderator rather than through the existing process involving the town clerk, a change Town Manager Leon Gaumond supported on grounds that the current appointed, non-resident town clerk position creates a procedural conflict. DPW Director Rich Sullivan presented a capital request headlined by a $3.9 million Concord Road reconstruction affecting 14 properties, plus $205,000 for a one-time EPA-mandated water service line inventory due by October 14, 2027, and a $300,000 water meter system upgrade. Gaumond reported $11.8 million in free cash, an overall budget increase of approximately 2.9 percent net of debt reductions, and said he is "seriously considering" an appropriation to the stabilization fund, noting Moody's has flagged the balance as below Triple-A standards for several consecutive years. Unified Plan Committee member John Mancini warned that debt service could grow from roughly $12 million in fiscal year 2025 to $50 million by fiscal year 2031 or 2032 if three major planned projects proceed, with the long-term liability ratio potentially reaching 430 against a Triple-A benchmark of under 100.