Williamstown Finance Committee Unanimously Approves $226,000 Snow and Ice Transfers

WILLIAMSTOWN -- July 15, 2026, Williamstown Finance Committee closes fiscal year with $226,000 snow and ice deficit covered by departmental turnbacks. Town Accountant Dave Bartels presented the year-end transfer sheet at the July 15 meeting, drawing from surpluses across multiple departments, including $50,000 in unneeded personnel reserve from the town manager's budget, to cover public works overages driven by back-to-back severe ice winters; actual snow and ice spending over the past four years ran $308,000, $291,000, $491,000, and $477,000 against a budgeted $251,000. After transfers, the town holds roughly $45,000 in remaining budget cushion, though revenues came in approximately $300,000 above projections, pointing toward a favorable free cash certification. The committee voted unanimously to approve the transfers, then unanimously elected Suzanne Stinson as chair and Margo Neely as vice chair, both for two-year terms. Members also opened discussion on how to deploy the town's $2 million cash proceeds from its sale of the Water Street parcel to Williams College, with stream bank stabilization along the Hoosic River and a professionally managed stabilization fund emerging as leading options pending Town Meeting appropriation.