Finance Committee approves $928,828 in mid-year transfers

MARLBOROUGH -- February 3, 2025, Marlborough Finance Committee approves $928,828 in mid-year transfers. The committee voted 4-0 Monday to advance Mayor J. Christian Dumas's package, which directed $791,000 to the Department of Public Works to cover a $200,000 electricity overage, $100,000 in additional natural gas usage, and roughly $243,000 in emergency generator and controller repairs at city wastewater facilities. DPW Commissioner Sean Divoll said heating degree days ran 25 percent above last year in December and 14 percent higher in January, calling the spike "a usage" issue rather than a rate problem. Smaller transfers included $27,075 for a retiring DPW employee's sick-leave buyback and $37,000 within the legal department for specialized labor and environmental counsel. Council President Michael Ossing noted DPW salary lines held about $765,000 unspent due to vacancies, telling colleagues, "Don't ever apologize for reducing the budget." The committee also accepted the FY24-28 capital improvement plan on file.