Braintree Creates Financial Watchdog For Town Construction Projects

BRAINTREE, MA — The Town Council approved creating a new municipal oversight committee to review town-managed construction projects.

The council voted 8-1 Tuesday to allow the council president to appoint a three-member oversight committee. It will investigate matters referred to it by the council.

District 6 Town Councilor Larry Mackin spearheaded the creation of the committee after a former developer of the Peterson pool and ice rink received a $1 million payment from the Peterson Trust.

District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien was the lone no vote.

Nicole Taub, Mayor Charles Kokoros' chief of staff, told the council the mayor's office had no objection to the committee's creation.

"Certainly another layer of review, more eyes are always better," Taub said.

With the town starting construction on the new South Middle School and considering building a new fire station, Mackin said he thinks the time is right for the Town Council to have more financial oversight of taxpayer-funded projects.

"The goal of it would be just to ensure we're being responsible with taxpayer money," he said. "Proper procedures are being followed for whatever it is that's being done."