Halifax Finance Committee Votes 6-0 to Approve $2,200 Wage Transfer, Probes Housing Authority Deal

HALIFAX — June 15, 2026 — Halifax Finance Committee questions long-standing housing maintenance deal with neighboring Pembroke. Meeting virtually on June 15, the six-member committee — chaired by Jim Walters — directed Town Administrator Steve to investigate why the Halifax Housing Authority's maintenance and repair work is being handled by the Pembroke Housing Authority, with federal funds apparently flowing to Pembroke rather than staying in Halifax. Building Maintenance Director Scott Materna, who raised the issue, asked bluntly: "If they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart, it must be profitable for them — so why would we not do it for ourselves?" The committee also learned that the executive director listed for the Halifax Housing Authority is John McCown, who simultaneously holds the same title at the Pembroke Housing Authority. In other action, the committee approved 6-0 a $2,200 line-item transfer to cover wages for a former part-time selectman's office employee, and the town administrator said a same-day citizens' petition seeking a special town meeting faces a likely legal timing problem given the June 30 free cash deadline — with town counsel being contacted that evening for a ruling. Halifax is also set to receive just under $138,000 in state snow-and-ice reimbursement funds, according to a social media post from State Representative Kathleen LaNatra's office.