Finance Committee Apr 7, 2026

The Town of Amherst Finance Committee met on April 7, 2026, to review and discuss Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding recommendations referred from the town council. The committee considered multiple CPA projects, including a significant and controversial funding request for the Jones Library historic preservation project, which was ultimately separated for individual discussion and vote due to community concerns and conflicting legal opinions regarding the eligibility of CPA funds for the project. The committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the War Memorial Pool debt authorization and the remaining CPA projects excluding the Jones Library. They also agreed to seek additional legal and state agency opinions on the supplanting issue related to the Jones Library funding before making a final recommendation. Additionally, the committee reviewed and adjusted the May meeting schedule for budget reviews, assigning members to lead questions for various departments. The meeting included public comments emphasizing fiscal responsibility and compliance with CPA regulations.