Groveland Finance Committee hears three departmental budgets, defers CPA project review

GROVELAND — February 4, 2026 — Groveland Finance Committee reviews three departmental budgets and previews 11 Community Preservation Act project applications totaling more than $2.9 million. Board of Health Chair Dave Greenbaum told the committee his health agent position has sat vacant for seven months at 17 hours per week, saying the post would be far more attractive at 20 to 25 hours — a change the committee chair calculated would cost roughly $20,500 annually at the current rate of $49.27 per hour. Town Accountant Ellen made the case for a new 30-hour assistant town accountant, warning that if she were unable to work, "we don't get an audit, we don't get month ends, we don't pay bills." The committee deferred detailed discussion of CPA applications — which range from $12,800 for a community garden water supply to $1.65 million for sports lighting at the Pines recreation area — to its February 25 meeting, after the Community Preservation Committee holds its applicant hearing February 9. The only formal vote of the evening was a 3-0-1 approval of the January 20 meeting minutes, with the chair abstaining for absence.