Erving board votes to close grant deficits

Select Board · Meeting of March 16, 2026

Erving's Select Board, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee found a $300,000 structural deficit in the draft fiscal 2027 budget. Town Administrator Bryan Smith told the panels the gap persists even using free cash, and said health insurance increases, a proposed IT director hire and the police department's Taser request still aren't reflected in the numbers. Finance Committee member Daniel Hammock warned that skimping on technology means the town stands "to lose a whole lot." Members voted unanimously to transfer $68,490.06 in free cash to close a federal COVID-19 CARES Act grant FEMA declined to reimburse, and $990.52 from wastewater retained earnings to zero out a state DEP grant deficit.

Selectmen James Loynd and William Bembury co-chaired most of the meeting before Chairman Jacob Smith arrived at 7:44 p.m. to help approve a $693,077.29 accounts payable warrant.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• [00:14:47] — Theresa Dodge, Museum Committee Chair
• [00:45:51] — Bryan Smith, Town Administrator
• [00:44:18] — Daniel Hammock, Finance Committee member
• [00:46:59] — William Bembury, Select Board member
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Erving's community access TV: Select Board meeting, March 16, 2026
• The complete report: 1,078 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of March 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.