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Lunenburg Finance Committee 
Meeting Minutes 
Thursday, March 9, 2023 
 
Location: In-person at Lunenburg Town Hall and broadcast on Zoom 
 
Present: Chairperson Evan Watters, Vice-Chairperson Chris Menard, Jay Simeone, Tom Gray, Tom Balish, Caesar Nuzzolo 
 
Guests: Town Manager Heather Lemieux, DPW Director Bill Bernard, Facilities Director Christopher Ruth 
1. Call to Order 
Mr. Watters called the meeting to order at 7p.m. and read a statement concerning the Open Meeting 
Law, and how all public meetings are legally being held remotely. 
This meeting was recorded and is viewable on YouTube at https://youtu.be/JfIbPstvpPU 
2. Pledge of Allegiance 
 
3. Budget Presentations: 
 
a. FY24 DPW Budget Request: The DPW is requesting $2,168,287.64, which is $158,138 more (7.8 percent) 
than FY23. A new line item for streetlights has been added, Mr. Bernard has estimated the electricity 
will cost the town $30,000. Mr. Bernard has already had to spend almost twice the budget amount for 
snow and ice in FY23, and is up to $684,650. Though this winter has seemed mild, road crews have had 
to use a lot of salt to combat ice, on top of that, contractors needed to be hired for shoveling and 
plowing as the DPW is still waiting on much needed snow removal equipment to be delivered. A $12,911 
increase is sought to purchase shrubs, and services for the cemetery department. Tree removal is 
estimated to cost $33,500 in FY24, which is up $4,357 from FY23. Mr. Bernard is also seeking grants for 
preventative maintenance for bridges and culverts, as well as for safety training for the department.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Approved by Finance 
Committee at the 3/22/2023 
Finance Committee meeting. 
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b. FY24 Facilities Budget Request: New Facilities Director Christopher Ruth, who has been on the job for 
about five weeks, presented his budget requests. The newly created facilities department will seek a 
$15,000 increase for contracted services, $5,000 for salaries for parks, and another $8,500 for 
contracted services exclusively for parks.  
 
Mr. Ruth outlined what’s been spent out of the FY23 budget so far: 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4. Town Manager/Finance Director Report:  
 
 
5. Old Business:  
a. Finance Committee Report: Committee will address ESSER funds and free cash in relation to the overlay 
account in their report this year. Mr. Gray suggested addressing property value assessments, and how to 
be better prepared for next year, as well as how the town’s budget may be impacted by the new 
“millionaires’ tax” imposed by the state.  
b. Capital Plan: Town Manager will update when more information is available. It’s possible $500,000 may 
be added to the plan. 
c. Tax Assessment/Abatement: Mr. Watters urged members of the public to work civilly with town 
government to come to a reasonable solution to the recent property tax hikes. 
 
6. Minutes: Mr. Nuzzolo motioned to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2023 meeting, Mr. Balish seconded. On 
vote, motion carried unanimously.  
 
7. Public Comment:  
 
a. Board Comment: Mr. Menard addressed the recent anonymous letter brought up at a Select Board 
meeting, and urged members of the public who may be afraid to share their thoughts publicly, to come 
to him. Mr. Menard added that everyone should have a voice.  
b. Public comment: Former Finance Committee member Dave Passios first agreed with Mr. Menard, and 
also opined that oftentimes opinions of members of the public are often better heard when they’re 
voiced by appointed and elected officials. Mr. Passios also asked why the Turkey Hill Elementary School 
is not being used as a shelter for people in town in emergency situations. 
Mr. Passios also informed the committee that no public discussion of the parks budget ever took place 
before tonight’s Finance Committee meeting. 
 
8. Items for Future Meetings: Emergency Shelter –Turkey Hill Elementary 
 
9. Next Meetings  
a. March 16 –Fire, Lunenburg Public Schools 

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b. March 22 –Administration, Unclassified, Debt Service, Monty Tech 
c. March 23 –PACC, Sewer, Other Moneyed Articles 
d. March 30 –Public Hearing 
 
10. Adjourn At 8:43 p.m. Mr. Menard motioned to adjourn. Mr. Nuzzolo seconded. On vote, motion carried 
unanimously.