At the most recent Hudson Board of Selectmen meeting, during the liaison reports, Selectman Xen Vurgaropulos, who serves as the liaison for the Budget Committee, explained that the Budget Committee brought up funds that were supposed to be coming from the Target Distribution Center for the School District. Vurgaropulos explained that he is still learning as a new Selectman, but the concerns raised by the Budget Committee are that they didn’t necessarily receive their portions of the funds since it wasn’t written into the contract. “There was concern there that it could come back to get us,” Vurgaropulos said, but said since they already received a “good chunk of that,” the Budget Committee felt like they were on the right path. Vurgaropulos said it raised concerns by the Budget Committee regarding STEM grants the School District is expected to receive.
In addition, he said they were concerned that the School Board didn’t have any representation when the process played out. He also explained that it was brought up during the meeting that they didn’t have a list of potential projects for funding coming from Target. “So there is a big information gap there,” Vurgaropulos explained.
He told the board that the Budget Committee was concerned about accepting the funds. While he understood that Vurgaropulos was just relaying the information from the meeting, Board of Selectmen Chair Dillon Dumont said he wanted to make it clear that no “side deal” was made between the Town and Target. “There was no side deal, so I just want to make that clear to everybody,” Dumont said.
Dumont also explained that he disagrees with the assertions made at the meetings by the Budget Committee. Instead, he explained that it was an agreement and stipulations made that have been recorded. “I don’t know where the discrepancy lies over there,” Dumont said. Dumont also explained that they have relayed that information many times.
School Board Chair Maureen Dionne, who was the liaison for the meeting from the board, explained that they have not been provided any funds by Target yet. “Those funds won’t be provided until the certificate of occupancy is received,” she said. “The school district has received no money.”
Dionne explained that at that time, they would have conversations about STEM and where those funds should be spent. She explained that they have not had any conversations about the funds and how they would be spent, since they are a long way away from even receiving the funds. Selectman Heidi Jakoby said the Budget Committee had been provided information about how everything came about, noting she previously served as the liaison for the budget committee. “So to raise it yet again is unfortunate,” Jakoby said.
The next Selectmen meeting is slated to take place on May 27, at 7 p.m.
