The Finance Committee's prime responsibility is to make recommendations to Town Meeting on all financial matters, including the annual operating budget, capital projects, borrowing, and funding sources. State statute requires every town to hold at least one annual Town Meeting in the spring at which a budget is passed. Massachusetts General Law also requires that any town with a budget of over $1 million must establish an advisory finance committee. The Finance Committee advises and reports to the voters at Town Meeting. Our goal is to ensure that the voters understand the issues involved, and especially the financial implications, of every article at Town Meeting, so that they may make informed decisions.

The Finance Committee meets throughout the year, but most regularly from the end of January until Town Meeting in April, and from the beginning of August until Fall Town Meeting in September. We meet with the Board of Selectmen and Town Moderator the Tuesday before a town meeting to discuss the motions and procedures. We are in session during town meetings in case a vote is called for, and can call extra meetings as necessary.

The Public is invited to attend. All proceedings of the Finance Committee are subject to the Open Meeting Law, and all minutes and financial information discussed at meetings is available to the public.

As of May 31, 2010 the Committee has two openings. Letters of interest should be submitted to Frank Hassler, Commitee Chair.