Stoughton Finance Committee Tables $70,000 ADA Ramp Transfers, Cites Missing Department Head

STOUGHTON — June 24, 2026 — Stoughton Finance Committee tables $70,000 in ADA ramp transfers and approves three police surplus moves. Meeting at Great Hall on June 24, the committee first reorganized, re-electing Carolyn as chair (11-0-1), Becca Markson as vice chair (9-0-3), and Mark as clerk unanimously. Members then deferred action, 10-1-1, on two transfers totaling $70,000 from the Parks Contract Services and Waste Disposal accounts to fund 26 prefabricated ADA sidewalk ramps in the town center, citing the absence of DPW Director Paul Jafoon and an unexplained $15,000 gap between the $54,600 per-unit cost estimate and the $70,000 requested. New member Stephanie Carrera said it was "not fair" to ask the town accountant to defend a project "when you weren't anticipating this." The committee set a follow-up meeting for approximately July 8, the statutory July 15 deadline still in play. Three transfers drawn from a police payroll surplus — caused by roughly 14 officer vacancies for part of FY26 — were approved: $4,618 for a Norfolk County Aggie school assessment shortfall (12-0-0), $75,000 to cover the community center block party originally expected to be funded by a federal earmark that has not arrived (final tally 8-2-2 after one member changed her vote), and $56,000 to cover a deficit in the Town Accountant Department Head salary line (8-1-3).