Town officials are looking to use some of the free cash built up over the past three years to use for capital projects.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — After years of determining what to cut, town officials now have the happier — if just as difficult — task of deciding where to spend.

The Finance Committee and Selectmen on Tuesday informally endorsed the idea of asking voters to spend some $125,000 from free cash on much needed infrastructure repairs and to pay off debt. Town officials are also weighing the wisdom of borrowing up to $300,000 to fix the failing Horrigan Road.

"The town needs roads to be repaired," said Selectman William Schrade. "We're not talking $100,000, we're talking millions of dollars and we have to make a dent there."

If the town wanted more growth, it had to invest in things that would attract people, he said. "They move to a town for good infrastructure and good schools."

Clarksburg has found itself flush with free cash — more than $480,000 — after finally gets its financial books in order. And this year's budget is shaping up far better than years past, although preliminary numbers show the town is close to its levy limit.

"We've been using $100,000 to offset the budget," noted Finance Committee member Lori-Anne Aubin. Committee Chairman Mark Denault agreed: "Now we can use it to do some good."

The fiscal 2016 town budget is currently at $1,269,509 and the school at $2,783,751, up about 4.56 percent overall and running almost $9,000 over the levy limit. A number of items were discussed Tuesday night that will likely drop that number below the levy limit.

Some $65,000 from free cash is being targeted to pay for overages in this year's snow roads account, leaving about $418,000 available.

The committee has been advising a conservative approach to using the funds. Denault said he was comfortable at using $100,000, but not much more.

"We have to be diligent in the way we spend it," Aubin said. "We don't want to spend $287,000 to fix problems going back year and years."

Town Administrator Carl McKinney provided a list of potential capital projects, including putting $17,500 away in a fire truck stabilization account in anticipation of the Fire Department acquiring a grant toward a new truck, repairs to the town garage roof and highway equipment.

Selectman Chairman Jeffrey Levanos advocated to pay off the library loan, which still has 21 years to go.

"That library bothers me, let's knock off 30 years of interest at 5 percent," he said, adding that the interest alone was costing the town thousands of dollars. "We have a chance to get that burden off our shoulders."

Schrade suggested paying off the library, putting money away for the truck and some other items coming up to $125,000.

The Selectmen also reviewed the possibility of taking out a loan to pay for Horrigan Road, which needs an estimated $250,000 to $300,000 reconstruction.

McKinney is recommending a short-term loan to pay the amount off in five to six years at $50,000 to $60,000 a year. If the library loan is paid off this year, the town will have three other loans — two for highway trucks and one for the landfill — that will be paid off within four years.

The first payment on Horrigan would not be due until fiscal 2017, he said.

Denault asked what would happen if voters did not approve the borrowing. Schrade and Levanos said they would have to make the case.

"If we don't do it and we lose Horrigan Road, we'll have to wipe out our free cash," Schrade said. "We're going to start losing roads and we're going to go bankrupt."

In other business, the board and committee agreed the compensation plan had to be re-evaluated as some workers were being underpaid or improperly classified. While determining at the last meeting to freeze wages other than a cost of living increase for now, they did agree to a minimal wage increase for one employee should he complete certain licensing.

• They also agreed to put off hiring a financial adviser and doing a full audit — more than $20,000 — until next year. Those will have to be done to prepare for any bonding if a new school should go forward since the town does not have a bond rating.

• McKinney was also asked to shop around for new insurance after learning that the town's insurance through MIIA is going up 8.7 percent, largely because of the high percentage of workers using workman's comp. Two of the town's three highway crew were injured last year. McKinney said if the town pays upfront, MIIA will provide a 4 percent discount.

• The town will also ask for $12,500 to pay for a contracted building inspector. Clarksburg and Florida are joining together to pay for the services through another community. An attempt had been made last year to cobble together enough money for a part-time inspector but it didn't work out.

Town officials say the lack of a building inspector is not only a health and safety issue, it is not capturing growth and frustrating residents who are going ahead without permits.

"I know for a fact we're losing money on fees because they know there's no one here and they're saying they're not waiting," Schrade said.

Both boards plan to meet on Monday, May 4, to review final numbers (the House passed its budget on Wednesday) and make any adjustments. A second meeting for Tuesday, May 5, is also being posted in case it's needed.

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