Annual Town Meeting Article 18, which covers a wide array of capital projects, has become a point of friction between the Advisory and Finance Committee and the Select Board. While the majority of items received FinCom's blessing, the committee specifically voted against funding for police parking (A7), downtown resiliency (A30), and pedestrian lighting at Training Green (A33).

Chair Joseph Lai explained that the committee felt compelled to trim the list. The committee wished to make thoughtful cuts to the capital request to include items that aren't imperative at this time, Lai said. Despite the lack of FinCom support, Select Board member Kevin Canty noted that the board is still recommending the $220,000 Training Green lighting and irrigation project, arguing it is already underway.

Other major capital items that did receive unanimous FinCom recommendations include Phase 2 of the Town Wharf (B1), the South Middle School roof (B2), and a new State Police hangar (B4). A design project for Veterans Memorial Park (A34) also moved forward with a 9-5-0 recommendation.