Weston Finance Committee Backs Train Station Article in Close 4-3 Vote

WESTON -- April 26, 2022, Weston Finance Committee votes 4-3 to back warrant article on historic train station, unanimously approves cybersecurity transfer. The committee supported Article 19 at its April 26 meeting, authorizing the Select Board to negotiate for control of the deteriorating MBTA-tied Church Street train station, with up to $30,000 available to fund the effort. Historical Commission co-chair Phyllis Halpern and architect Al Adelot presented the case, estimating renovation costs at $350,000 to $400,000 and citing an interested matching donor; committee member Jim voted no, saying years of failed negotiations gave him little confidence $30,000 would change the outcome. In a unanimous separate vote, the panel approved a $44,010 reserve fund transfer for a three-year Barracuda cloud cybersecurity subscription covering roughly 150 town employees, filling a gap created by the town's transition to Microsoft 365. Finance Committee Chair Bharath Venkataraman noted the train station article's placement in the consent agenda left no opening for public floor debate unless 10 town meeting attendees stand to pull it out.