Whitman Finance Committee approves six backlogged meeting minutes, hears DPW project closeout

WHITMAN — March 3, 2026 — Whitman Finance Committee clears a six-meeting backlog of minutes and hears that the new DPW building project is closing out with $623,324 returned to the town. Acting Chair Chuck Colby presided in place of Chair Mike Warner, with members Kevin Wolfe, Ann Zaniga, Jason Hunter, and Al Cafferty present and liaison Kathleen joining by phone. Rick Anderson, who served as the Finance Committee's liaison to the DPW Building Committee, reported the original contract sum was $19 million and net change orders came to just $178,755 — under 1 percent of total cost — though a discovered underground oil tank consumed $500,000 of the project contingency. Three proposals for additional scope, including a $120,000 second boiler and security upgrades, were unanimously rejected at the building committee's final meeting the night before and referred to the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee. Members closed with an unresolved discussion about whether the Select Board is preparing an override, which Anderson said would shape how the roughly $1 million FY27 budget shortfall can be addressed.