Finance Committee unanimously endorses $43.4 million water tank package

WESTON -- February 27, 2025, Weston Finance Committee unanimously backs $43.4 million water tank project for March town meeting. The 8-0 vote covers four motions across three articles, a land swap, a zoning height bylaw setting a common 410-foot tank elevation, a design appropriation of $2 million to $3 million from free cash, and a separate two-thirds-vote construction appropriation. Select Board member Tom told the committee Weston was shut out of the state revolving fund this year after scoring 427 on the priority list, below the 523 cutoff, leaving municipal bonds at roughly 3.9 percent as the alternative, a spread he quantified at "about 5.6 million over the life of the 30-year loan." Funding the higher rate requires water-rate increases of about 1.6 percent annually for nine years. Member Zachary Sadek moved support of all four motions; Chair Bharath Venkataraman said he will speak in favor at town meeting.