Stow Select Board unanimously confirms McAndrew as Assistant Town Administrator

STOW — March 24, 2026 — Stow Select Board permanently appoints Tina McAndrew as Assistant Town Administrator and previews a $39.167 million FY27 budget. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to confirm McAndrew, who has served on an interim basis since October, in the role through June 30, 2026, subject to reappointment. Town Administrator Denise Dembkoski presented the annual Financial State of the Town, reporting certified free cash of $2,075,156 (4.9 percent of budget), combined reserves of 10.94 percent of budget, and a snow and ice deficit of approximately $535,000 against a $225,000 budget that will require a free cash appropriation article at Annual Town Meeting. The FY27 recommended budget of roughly $39.167 million reflects a Nashoba Regional assessment of $22.8 million and a health insurance increase of 8.48 percent — which Dembkoski said would have been as high as 24 percent had GLP-1 drug coverage not been removed. Dembkoski described the five-year capital plan as "staggering," flagging a potential $4 million school roof as a likely future debt exclusion question, while projecting that revenue from Masters Academy — including an anticipated $700,000 building permit for Phase 1 — would meaningfully improve the town's fiscal position.