A somewhat heated discussion about the responsibilities of the different boards, specifically what powers or influence the Board of Finance (BOF) has over the town’s budget, broke out at a special BOF meeting last week, with Chair Jean Fitzgerald proposing that the BOF take a more formal involvement in the initial budgets created by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and Board of Education (BOE).

BOF member Judith Freeman from the onset made it clear she had concerns about the process, saying that it was clearly not how the charter intended the town to operate with the BOF essentially allowed to tell the other boards how much money they are allowed to spend.

“We are not charged with giving an allowance to the town and saying, ‘Fit those needs within that,’” Friedman said.

“I disagree with that,” Fitzgerald cut in. “I think it is within the role of the BOF to be the fiscal agent of the town. So it is to say, we are responsible for the increase in taxes.”

The BOF currently workshops budgets by the BOF and BOE, making any cuts it deems fit before eventually sending the budgets to voters via a process set out in the charter. Friedman argued these meetings served the same purpose Fitzgerald was advocating: that the BOF have more input in the initial stages of the budget.

Conflicts between the BOF and the BOS have arisen in the past, with many blaming the vagueness of the charter on where or how certain responsibilities are shared. The charter gives the BOF responsibility for “preparation of the town budget, and acting as the budget authority of the town,” which Fitzgerald argued made the more active role in the other board’s budgets appropriate.

“This is not a negative. This is a conversation. It’s not unheard of to have these conversations. I just want to have it in public,” Fitzgerald said.

Other BOF members expressed support for at least continuing the conversation, mostly joining Fitzgerald in arguing there was nothing inherently overreaching about the BOF communicating with the other boards on the budget.

Friedman blamed some of the town’s infrastructure issues on the attitude of “kick the bucket down the road” and setting hard limits on spending and taxes rather than adapting to the needs of the town. She cited the disrepair of town vehicles as illustrated in a recent study and the aging school facilities as evidence of this.

“We need to hear from the BOS, because this is what they were elected for, to tell us what the needs are, and then look at what a number might be that we can reach. To turn it on its head I think it is financially irresponsible,” Friedman said.

Fitzgerald clarified in an email to The Source that the BOF “does not put out a specific dollar amount prior to the BOS and BOE finalizing their budget request.” She also said during the meeting there was no intention of the BOF getting involved in line items or directing the other boards on what specific projects to prioritize.

First Selectman Peggy Lyons told The Source via email she had not spoken to Fitzgerald about these more formalized budget conversations, adding that both boards had approved the budget calendar late last year. The BOS has not yet made their recommendations to the BOF, but will do so “in the coming weeks.”