Natick Finance Committee Unanimously Approves Capital Borrowing, Deadlocks on Police Chief Extension

NATICK -- March 12, 2026, Natick Finance Committee deadlocks on Police Chief James Hicks's retirement-age extension while clearing $6.25 million in capital spending. The committee voted unanimously, across three separate roll calls, to recommend favorable action on Article 9 capital items totaling approximately $11.7 million for fiscal year 2027, funded through a new two-tier prioritization structure that winnowed $24.2 million in general fund requests down to roughly $12 million in approvable projects split between $6 million in cash and $6 million in borrowing. On Article 12, a home rule petition to extend Police Chief Hicks's employment past the mandatory retirement age of 65 to as late as 67, Select Board Chair Bruce Evans and Hicks detailed a succession plan anchored to a tri-community regional dispatch consolidation, a civil service transition, and development of internal command candidates, but four Finance Committee members voted no, leaving the six-to-four tally below the eight-vote threshold needed for any formal recommendation. Article 13, the parallel petition for Deputy Chief Brian Lauzon, was referred back to the Select Board nine-to-one after member David raised the possibility of recruiting a new deputy chief as an internal succession vehicle instead.