Sudbury Finance Committee reelects co-chairs, learns school roof costs nearly doubled

SUDBURY — September 15, 2025 — Sudbury Finance Committee learns school roof project nearly doubled to $11.7 million. Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Victor Garofalo told the committee at its Sept. 15 meeting that the Haines and Nixon roof project, estimated last year at $6.2 million, has been resubmitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority at $11.7 million, with an estimated district share of roughly $7 million after 41 percent reimbursement on eligible costs. The Haines roof alone grew by $4.4 million, driven by MSBA requirements for solar-ready structural work and accelerated ADA compliance. Town Manager Andrew Sheehan said the MSBA votes Oct. 28, with a special town meeting targeted for as early as Dec. 1. Garofalo also projected fiscal 2025 free cash above $9 million, up from $9.7 million in undesignated funds to $11.8 million, on $1.9 million in investment income against a $255,000 budget. Members reelected Michael Joachim and Michael Ferrari as co-chairs 9-0 and appointed Andrew Bettinelli to a three-year CPC term, also 9-0. Member Henry Sorett dissented from the consensus declining a Sudbury Housing Authority liaison, saying that without the assignment "I will say things publicly."