Select Board approves routine transfers, reserve requests and spending items

The North Brookfield Select Board approved a slate of routine financial items during its May 19 meeting, including transfers and spending requests signed off by the finance committee.

Key approvals included a transfer of $60,000 from highway salary to highway vehicle supplies to cover fleet repairs and inspections; a $10,000 transfer from highway salary to highway road materials to purchase processed gravel for Buon, Downey and Murphy roads; and several highway spending items such as $700 for vehicle batteries and $3,000 for front-end work on a 1999 F350. The board also approved a reserve fund request of $8,564 to address tower-truck mechanical issues (pump leak, hydraulic leak, ladder control repairs and sensor fixes).

A prior reserve request of approximately $1,336 for a police computer purchase was rescinded after the board said the cost was covered by a previously approved Special Town Meeting article. The council approved a $375 spending request from the Council on Aging to pay Beis Farms Nursery for a senior workshop on June 23, funded from a gift account.

Board members discussed vendor differences on a loader-tire repair and asked highway staff to re-submit one spending request for clarity. Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote; no formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes.