Lincoln selectmen promote McDonald to DPW crew chief, shift OPEB trust to state fund

LINCOLN — December 16, 2014 — Lincoln selectmen move $3.5 million OPEB trust to state-run PRIT fund. The board, with Chair Renel Fredriksen absent, unanimously authorized the transfer at the recommendation of Finance Committee Chair Peyton Marshall, who said the town's OPEB liability stood at $46.1 million as of July 2012 against just $3.5 million in trust contributions. Marshall contrasted Lincoln's 4 percent discount rate with Concord's 7.5 percent, noting Wellesley fully funds its annual required contribution while Lincoln's FY16 budget model carries a $650,000 OPEB contribution, up $200,000. "If everyone's baking cookies with a different recipe, you can't really make these apples-to-apples comparisons," Selectman Peter Braun said. The board also promoted 28-year DPW veteran Stephen McDonald to permanent crew chief, approved two conservation restrictions presented by Rural Land Foundation Executive Director Geoff McGean, and accepted a citizen petition on fossil fuel divestment for the March warrant.