AFC recommends IT, recreation and other warrant outcomes; defeats festival funding

The Westborough Advisory Finance Committee voted on multiple warrant articles and budget line items ahead of town meeting.

Key actions included revotes and roll‑call recommendations for the IT salary and wages line ($369,898) and the recreation salary and wages line ($266,551). The IT salary recommendation passed on revote (roll‑call), with members discussing enterprise fund contributions that cover portions of stormwater and utility work. The recreation salary recommendation also passed in a separate roll call.

The committee unanimously recommended funding a feasibility study for the country club building, approving a motion to transfer $68,000 from free cash and $32,000 from Country Club retained earnings for that study. The committee also voted to recommend the town defeat Article 33, a $3,500 funding request for an Afro‑Caribbean Festival, citing insufficient planning by the proponents.

On land acquisition, the committee re‑voted to recommend transferring $507,500 from free cash and $132,500 from the Walkup Robinson Trust to acquire 0 Bowman Street; the recommendation was recorded in the roll call. Members also approved publishing the AFC booklet as amended, authorized up to 400 printed booklets for town meeting, and adjourned after completing the agenda.

All of the committee’s advisory recommendations will be presented to voters at town meeting; final appropriation, borrowing and tax‑rate outcomes will be decided there.