Question:
If money is available, land can be purchased by the Councilors without consent of the voters. Several years ago voters turned down a proposal to allow the Selectmen to purchase land, indicating their reluctance to allow this power to rest with the governing board.
Answer:
As you said, there would have to be money in an account for the Council to purchase land without going through the normal budget process to either include the funds in the budget or to provide for a bond. How often does the Town have money in a fund to purchase land?
If there is money available, how many times have the current landowners waited for the Town Meeting vote to sell their land to the Town?
How many parcels of land has the Town missed out on because the sale would have needed to be stalled by many months?
This change allows for the Council to be proactive. Remember, this is the same Council that we all elect.