Finance Panel Backs $181,000 Pumper Restoration

Finance Committee · Meeting of August 31, 2026

Bridgewater Finance Committee backs $181,000 to restore an 1848 fire pumper and recommends ticket fee hikes. The committee voted 7-0 to recommend the town council approve a Community Preservation Act transfer covering $123,000 to restore the Asamaquin hand pumper and $58,000 for historic photo restoration, with Community Preservation Committee Chair Gina Gasconi arguing "if we don't put money into restoring things... do we want it just to sit in storage and rot?" A skeptical member pressed, "why should the taxpayers fund this?" but ultimately joined the unanimous vote. Separately, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend council approval of parking and traffic ticket fee increases expected to roughly double the roughly $38,000 collected annually, though staff said there is no plan yet for how the new revenue will be spent.

Dana was reappointed committee chair by unanimous roll call.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,315 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of August 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.