Braintree Town Council Names Financial Watchdog Committee Members

BRAINTREE, MA — Braintree Town Council President Meredith Boericke on Tuesday named the three members of the town's new Municipal Oversight Committee, intended to serve as a financial watchdog over town-managed construction projects.

The committee will be chaired by District 6 Councilor Larry Mackin, while At-large Councilor Charles Ryan will serve as vice chair, and District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty will be the third member.

The committee was created last month in an 8-1 vote by the Town Council. It will investigate matters referred to it by the council. District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien was the lone no vote.

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.

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.