Burlington Selectmen Approve Seven Department Budgets

BURLINGTON, MA — The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved departmental budget proposals for seven departments at their Monday meeting. The town Budget Analyst Whitney Haskell explained that they are using a 3.5 percent growth blended budget guideline, with around 3.25 percent for the town and 3.75 for the schools. The group of town departments approved Tuesday were on target for 3.25 percent growth.

The seven departments were: conservation, fire, selectmen, legal, central administration, sealer of weights and measures, council on aging and youth and family services.

In other budget matters, the selectmen accepted $12,500 in donations for the Sculpture Park: $10,000 from the developer Nordblum Company and $2,500 from real estate law firm Riemer & Braunstein. In addition, Town Administrator Paul Sagarino announced that the town was accepted into the Green Communities program, with a designation grant of about $172,000, for building energy efficiency work.

The selectmen also approved two liquor license changes. Tuscan Kitchen needed approval to change its manager and its seating arrangement, reducing patio seating. The Buffalo Wild Wings license change is for change of ownership: the national corporation is buying five franchisee-owned locations in Massachusetts.

The Board also heard updates from the town's state legislative delegation and on improvements planned at Mary Cummings Park. The full meeting, via BCAT, is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.