Acushnet Town Meeting passes spending for golf clubhouse

By Beth David, Editor

Acushnet voters made quick work of voting on more than $5 million in spending items at a special Town Meeting on 11/3/25, at Ford Middle School, adjourning in just over an hour. 

With his usual flair, Garry Rawcliffe asked more than once how much of the money in free cash came from the school department. Mostly, he was shut down with Town Moderator, Les Dakin, telling Mr. Rawcliffe that his question was not within the scope of whatever article was up for discussion. At some point, he got Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar to estimate that the school department generally turns back about $300,000.

All articles were approved, except Article 8, which was Indefinitely Post­poned, and would have funded the clerical union contract. Mr. Dakin explained that the town and union failed to finalize the contract prior to the meeting.

The largest single spending item was Article 11, which authorized $3,500,000 to build and equip a Golf Course Clubhouse, with $1.25 million coming from the Golf Enterprise Retained Earnings, and $2.25 through Bond Anticipatory Notes, which are short-term borrowing instruments.

“We have a world class golf course with no club house,” said Finance Com­mittee Chairperson, Mike Boucher. He said the FinCom felt the town should invest in the golf course. He noted the money is not coming from taxpayer funds. The BAN would be paid from the Golf Fund. 

SB chairperson, David Wojnar, said they had spoken to a lot of golf customers and the town and committee decided to move forward with the project. He said he was “thrilled” with the “all star” group that came together to form the exploratory committee. He said they worked “countless hours” on it. He also noted that SB member Kevin Gaspar was “very creative” looking at the financial aspects of the project.

Mr. Gaspar said that $3.5 million is a lot of money, so they will have to improve revenues. With a new club­house to do that, he said, he thinks they can pay off the loan in five years.

“I think $3,500,000 is a pretty good number,” said Mr. Gaspar.

Golf committee member, David Flynn, said the golf course brings in 200,000 to 300,000 people a year to Acushnet. 

He said the current clubhouse is a   trailer that has been there “since day one.” The town has owned the golf course for 27 years.

“We know this is feasible and affordable,” said Mr. Flynn.

Town Meeting passed the article with very little opposition.

Article 6 was one of the few to get some discussion. It funded the purchase of a new ambulance for $475,000, with $275,000 from free cash, and $200,000 from the ambu­lance fund which currently has $1,090,900. 

Deborah Medeiros asked why the whole amount was not coming from the ambulance fund.

Mr Gaspar explained that the fund is used for purchasing other equip­ment, and is also used to balance the department budget. He said they did not want to take too much from that account, but wanted to make it  “balanced approach.”

Article 5 rescinded the vote from June that would have borrowed the money for the ambulance. 

Town Meeting also approved:

• $625,000 from free cash to fund health insurance past claims and litigation that result from the unexpected costs of catastrophic cases and associated litigation.

• $190,000 to amend the capital budget from last June’s TM, including adding $170,000 from Free Cash for two police cruisers, and $7,000 for repair to the Parting Ways Building;

• $49,000 from Cable TV funds to buy and equip a utility van with mounted aerial lift. 

• the transfer of $295K to pay off the borrowing for the school roof project, with $242,352 from free cash, and $52,648 from the Solar Tax Revenue fund. 

Mr. Wojnar also repeated his announcement that he would not be seeking re-election next year. He encouraged people to run, saying it was a “great vocation” and a great job, and a great “use of your time.”

The meeting is available on the town’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAp1AJmUUWU

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Click here to download the 11/6/25 issue: 11-06-25 AcushSTM

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