Lincoln Finance Committee unanimously backs $2.33 million stabilization transfer for Community Center

LINCOLN — June 2, 2025 — Lincoln Finance Committee unanimously recommends $2.33 million from stabilization to close Community Center bid gap. Town Administrator Tim Higgins told a joint session with the Select Board that seven pre-qualified bids ranged from $20.8 million to about $25 million, with Hutter Construction Corporation low at $20,799,135 against an $18.5 million construction budget. Finance Committee Chair Paul Blanchfield, framing the committee as the town's "nutrition label," said the transfer keeps reserves above the 20 percent floor that supports Lincoln's AAA rating, while adding roughly $1,200 per median-tax household in already-collected funds. The CCBC, represented by co-chairs Sarah Chester and Dan Pereira, recommended pulling blinds, kitchen appliances and playground equipment from the contract to deepen contingency. Owner's project manager Ksenia Slaski called the resulting 6 to 8 percent contingency "middle of the road conservative." The Select Board then canceled a planned June 26 debt-exclusion election, with the appropriation now heading to a June 25 Special Town Meeting.