Bridgewater Finance Committee Approves Capital Plan Over Member's IT Objections

Finance Committee · Meeting of January 12, 2026

Bridgewater Finance Committee approves $1.58 million in capital spending and accepts two charitable donations, 4-1. The committee voted Monday to advance Order OFY26-042, a general fund capital transfer covering police vehicle maintenance, a radio repeater replacement, and building sealing work, and Order OFY26-045, the town's five-year Capital Improvement Plan, with Finance Committee member John Higgins casting both dissenting votes over what he called insufficient analysis of IT expenditures. Finance Director Lori and Town Manager Jesse Casanova Davis acknowledged in discussion that the town's five-year plan carries roughly $70 million in identified needs against a Capital Stabilization Fund balance of approximately $2.5 million, a gap both officials said would require bonding, debt exclusions, and grant funding to address over time.

The committee also voted unanimously to accept a $45,000 gift from the Oliari Charitable Foundation, split equally among the police department, fire department, and public library, and a $1,050 donation from the Bridgewater Police Association directed to the Veterans Office. The Capital Planning Subcommittee's first meeting was rescheduled to January 22 after a conflict with a joint budget session was identified.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of January 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.