Select Board adds $30,000 in climate items to FY23 preferred budget

LINCOLN — January 3, 2022 — Lincoln Select Board adds roughly $30,000 in climate items to FY23 preferred budget and loses a member. The board voted 3-0 to add a $5,000 stipend for Assistant Planner Jen Curtin to support a Climate Action Plan grant application, and 3-0 to add $25,000 to switch municipal electricity accounts to Massachusetts Class I local renewable energy credits, with the water enterprise fund absorbing a separate $25,000. Climate Action Planning Committee chair Sue Klem, citing a recent MAPC webinar, said "we can't do this revolution on the backs of volunteers." Member James Craig announced he will not seek another term, calling the decision "much, much harder" than expected. Town Administrator Tim Higgins said the revised preferred budget goes to the Finance Committee Jan. 18 and could shrink from a 5 percent to a 3.5 percent increase if ARPA covers an IDEA Committee consultant. The board also opened the March 26 town meeting warrant and extended the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee charge through 2025.