Topsfield Town Government

Capital Program Committee

Members:

  Heidi Fox

  Richard Gandt

  Holger Luther

  Dennis Shinn, Clerk

  David Strachan, Chairman

 

 

The Capital Program Committee serves as an advisory committee to the Town Finance Committee and consists of three town residents appointed to three-year terms by the Town Moderator at the recommendation of the Selectmen, one Selectman and one member of the Finance Committee. The committee reviews proposals from town departments requesting annual capital purchases in excess of $5,000 or land acquisitions or building construction or repair in excess of $10,000. In addition to the proposals, each department is required to submit a five-year capital-spending plan, which is then used by the Capital Program Committee during the review process. The committee convenes annually in late October and conducts meetings through December. Final recommendations on these proposals are presented to the Finance Committee during a meeting of the Selectmen, Finance Committee and Capital Program Committee in early January. Proposals accepted by the Finance Committee are later added to the warrant at Annual Town Meeting for vote by the town's residents.

 

The committee:

 

• Conducts site reviews of all town facilities
• Meets with town department heads to review capital expenditure proposals
• Creates a comprehensive five-year schedule of anticipated capital expenditures for the Finance Committee
• Presents a comprehensive report of recommendations for next-year capital expenditures to the Finance Committee and Selectmen