Sudbury Finance Committee approves $100,000 Fairbank utility transfer, defers reorganization

SUDBURY — June 16, 2025 — Sudbury Finance Committee approves $100,000 utility transfer as Fairbank electricity costs nearly double estimates. Meeting June 16 with five of nine members initially present, the committee voted to let Co-Chairs Michael Joachim and Michael Ferrari hold over until a July 14 reorganization. Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Victor Garofalo said Fairbank Community Center electricity is tracking to about $127,000 against a $53,000 budget, with usage exceeding 400,000 kilowatt hours versus an estimated 178,000. Member Henry Sorett called the heat-pump installation "a serious mistake" and urged conversion to gas; the $100,000 reserve fund transfer passed 6-0, and a separate $32,990 sustainability coordinator account transfer passed 5-1 with Sorett opposed. Garofalo also walked the committee through a 172-page benchmark report finding Sudbury ranks bottom-four among 16 peer towns on free cash and lowest on per-capita general government spending at $189.