[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6565473,"mediaKeyId","3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1","parentId",3218970,"title","Council approves FY26 Community Preservation appropriations; one member objects to admin fund","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7048000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1&start=7048&end=7048","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1/thumbnail_7048000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565473/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-FY26-Community-Preservation-appropriations-one-member-objects-to-admin-fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565473-0c551bd20937881bd1f35e941ba626b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197259&Signature=k7PZdi1eT4KfcoSYwh16bqD-SOc8aNs-ksq-tWlScT8kXgpA6QEq3rS30z25DXea-rkTXAyvh9z4pOYFtgEcQODUPL8NaiBmHGEXiU8mw60Hkm38vAO7o9drd6-wE6c9Te907fVyml6NpLUZznE4qX2bho5xssN72qOAx~mWGtW0rlcK8tRrSOLup0BDcj0bStHMyx1PHd8TzEAS0tqobgkyLp6O~i~Dr1lfEbHiVs3kEzbq0kWstcKA3~VgIizJn4hILY42lg969bfo8GGwv9ZpxfVQU1OLUcNO5yWS03JmcFue5PvraYMCn~V2htHpn5ujg~fynnwtG0BtsteQOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Braintree, MA","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Town Council approved a slate of Community Preservation Act (CPA) appropriations during the May 7 budget hearing.

Councilor Moore moved and the council seconded and approved the following appropriations, each made from the Community Preservation Fund and taken \"in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44B, Section 5\" as stated on the record:

- $150,000 to the Community Housing Reserve for acquisition, creation or preservation of community housing.
- $150,000 to the Open Space Reserve for acquisition, creation or preservation of open space.
- $150,000 to the Historic Resources Reserve for preservation or restoration of historic resources.
- $743,844 to the Community Preservation budgeted reserve.

Each of the four motions was approved on voice vote with the clerk recording the outcome as unanimous.

The council then moved a $62,836 appropriation from the Community Preservation Fund to the FY2026 administrative operating fund, to be expended under the direction of the Community Preservation Committee and by the Director of Planning and Community Development. That motion passed on a voice vote with one councilor recorded as voting no; the name of the dissenting member was not recorded in the audio transcript.

What was said: Councilor Moore read each motion on the record and indicated the statutory basis from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44B, §5. The motions were seconded and approved in succession; for the administrative operating fund allocation the clerk recorded one opposed vote.

What happens next: The CPC-administered funds will be available for projects consistent with CPA rules; the FY26 administrative appropriation provides the CPC with operating funding for staff and routine CPA administration. Councilors asked that CPC administration and project pipeline matters be tracked and that stalled projects be reported back to the council as requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Braintree Ways and Means Budget Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted to appropriate Community Preservation Act funds to community housing, open space, historic resources and budgeted reserve; it also approved the FY26 CPC administrative operating appropriation with one councilor voting no.","taxTitle","Town of Braintree , Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",57175,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6565479,"Planning director outlines projects, CPA funds and MBTA-zoning work in first month",895,4468000,5363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1&start=4468&end=5363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1/thumbnail_4468000.jpg","/articles/6565479/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Planning-director-outlines-projects-CPA-funds-and-MBTA-zoning-work-in-first-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565479-21c83a66c8fe9dcaf6b233b4e86672a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197259&Signature=ksGQcI4xr6WOHI3NUrawtz-f7WnJQTuKObiQn3kshUZ9J~X9GvqQhXB~13ADxd8mVEMx2gjrSHaTViCJlYJfjw0ynfMb4tC~BfcOgoxr43PwD5DitIJpmNZuRxJMl7NzWCt815QUMQVRXVa3iJY~uHMf8smX27B7hKo5Ou4qXPexYfAcpZiDwGFJr8Jsd1Eajp8AX0MiF8Vs8ZXCegbDWP~36Ssf~7e5gnSLuyFlNnKYYYXgpMZGc8YjdFYLwuFcfErF65USPzacUHbGJiYdRgUEW8-2vI0-MSHvdeeKSFk83Lt4bUnAsLwthYjnPrQ2jC1yCGUS1VsqD985dnPbjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peter Matczak, planning director, gave his first formal presentation to the Town Council on May 7, summarizing ongoing planning work, Community Preservation Act (CPA) activity and priorities carried forward from staff who prepared the FY26 submission before his arrival.

Matczak highlighted several projects and program items: the Allen Street residential project currently under construction (a mixed-income development of roughly 50–56 units, described by staff), the Armstrong Dam boardwalk (work noted as nearly complete), completion of a recent hazard-mitigation-plan update and the fish-ladder project. He said the town intends to continue implementing MBTA-area zoning adopted last year and to promote related development.

CPA funding and pipeline: Matczak said the town’s gross CPA resources available for appropriation total roughly $1.3 million and that the state trust fund distribution is estimated at about a 16% match this year. He noted the Community Preservation Coordinator (Liz Manning) administers CPA activities on a part-time basis (about 14 hours per week) and reviewed recent CPA-funded projects, including a window-replacement project at Independence Manor and other preservation and open-space efforts.

Master plan implementation and zoning: Councilors and the director discussed the master plan’s implementation phase and the need for a committee to guide detailed zoning work. Matczak said some “low-hanging fruit” zoning updates could be taken up quickly to reduce permitting friction, while a comprehensive zoning rewrite would be a multi-year effort tied to the master plan.

Economic development and coordination: Matczak described the planning office’s role as coordinating with the mayor’s economic development manager (a grant-funded, one-year post) and with other departments to shepherd projects through permitting. Councilors asked how planning resources will support increasing project workload and whether comprehensive-zoning administration should be resourced centrally or handled within existing staff.

Sustainability and green infrastructure: Councilors asked about explicit sustainability goals — EV readiness, solar canopies and other climate measures — and Matczak said several sustainability elements are embedded in the updated state and local codes and that the department will raise these topics as projects proceed. Councilors asked staff to follow up on EV make-ready conduit for a recent parking-lot development and to consider adding environmental goals to future planning work.

Next steps: Councilors requested clearer timelines and staffing plans for master plan implementation, a possible CPA strategic plan and a short, resident-facing checklist for common permitting questions (for homeowners planning decks, sheds or small renovations). Matczak agreed to follow up with the council and the clerk’s office on specific requests.","New Planning Director Peter Matczak summarized projects including Allen Street housing, Armstrong Dam boardwalk, CPA funds available and MBTA-related zoning; councilors asked for clearer CPA planning, zoning rewrite priorities and sustainability goals.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6565484,"Braintree officials seek to boost building-inspection staff as large projects loom",1367,196000,1563000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1&start=196&end=1563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218970-db732e7b215c8d0339395caf5ad865b1/thumbnail_196000.jpg","/articles/6565484/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Braintree-officials-seek-to-boost-building-inspection-staff-as-large-projects-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565484-f6ddb93fab73712ddbd672bf6e1d86a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197259&Signature=d5mbt~l5bghz2NWVP57HFQHCRGh0LgYCrRan-p3pFkdIrUTGqdfs2NfyD6fGPLNulzUmPJZIhxnrFwXz9h5IJP0LxX2vLd6DBi5GpjeyRmGjlnEAEh3mjH8BGJwvuJaGv7e6OGywdRBnqKCagFeLE9YpVWjE3OpHnvrwR~EWHPUITeP6VrpT32QRK4OtlcGM1DiSOzsr0MBwDjTCtqBJeLSVF69a1nqspAoyPKWXOfurq0TsHgE5TAFP8ynhGAkf8LoPnipJVQea~IMKeltgMf1D1keyiiN0ZVHKhPWPuGDU39zBPyVjzOUMehVPq7ox6UzcnJe7udPY2Y-F1miFcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Mary Beth McGrath, director of the Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections, told the Town Council on May 7 that the department has shifted some line-item funding and is pursuing a reclassification to make inspector salaries more competitive.

The department’s staffing shortfall is longstanding. Russ Forsberg, building commissioner for the Town of Braintree, said the department has been operating with a single local inspector since 2022 and that the field is “very competitive” and aging. \"We are in a, I won't call it a bidding war, but we are trying to be very competitive with other comparable communities,\" Forsberg said. He added that surrounding towns are facing the same shortage and that state certification requirements have narrowed the candidate pool.

Why it matters: McGrath and Forsberg told councilors the staffing gap constrains routine code-enforcement work — for example, proactive sweeps for unpermitted work and more timely follow-up on complaints — and could worsen as multiple large residential developments come online. Forsberg estimated the town typically has about 1,500 projects in various stages and said roughly eight major residential projects expected over the next three years could add about 1,400 units, heightening inspection demand.

Budget and reclassification: McGrath said additional funding to support an inspector reclassification was provided through the mayor’s office; she also described intra-department reallocations among nonpersonnel line items (office supplies, mileage, printing and postage) to balance this year’s budget. She emphasized those internal reallocations did not move money into personnel lines.

Operational impacts and priorities: Councilors pressed for clarity about what a filled inspector position would deliver. Forsberg and McGrath said a new inspector would allow the department to resume activities curtailed by limited staff, such as targeted code-enforcement sweeps, surveys for unpermitted work and faster inspection turnaround. They said the current workload forces staff to prioritize immediate inspection requests over proactive enforcement; resolving that, they said, likely would also recover permit revenue the town now misses when work goes unchecked.

Training and certifications: McGrath and Forsberg stressed the importance of continuing education for inspectors as codes change. Forsberg noted recent updates to the state building code and described monthly regional coordination and training with neighboring communities.

Related program notes: McGrath said the department includes health-code enforcement, plumbing and gas inspection, electrical inspection, a public health nurse, a substance use prevention coordinator and administrative staff. She confirmed the substance use prevention coordinator role has been filled from within the department and that a prior drug-free communities grant coordinator post is being refilled through the mayor’s office.

Zoning, ADUs and lithium-ion battery ordinance: Forsberg said the department has worked with the Fire Department on a proposed lithium-ion battery ordinance and spent roughly \"five or six hours\" researching approaches used elsewhere. On accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, he warned of building-code implications for proposed state-level ADU language and said he had drafted amendments and shared them with the planning department and mayor’s office. Councilors expressed concern about mixing building-code technicalities into zoning language and asked whether the department had submitted comments to the state; Forsberg said he had not submitted comments to EOHLC at the state draft stage but had provided proposed amendments locally.

Fleet and inspections logistics: McGrath said the department operates three vehicles — two hybrids and one 2013 Ford Explorer — and that the Explorer is necessary for construction-site access.

Public-health and other enforcement work: McGrath described ongoing work with the Attorney General’s Office neighborhood renewal function to bring vacant properties back into use; she said several properties have been placed into receivership and that court-directed outcomes vary case by case. The council also heard that the immunization revolving account funds clinic activity (flu clinics, vaccination billing) and supports tobacco-control efforts and public-health outreach; Clerk Cimito noted the fund is supported by vaccine billing to insurers and Medicare.

What happens next: Councilors asked for clearer, measurable goals tied to added staffing (for example, expected inspection turnaround times or hours devoted to enforcement), and several members urged the department to return with more concrete metrics that show what additional staff would deliver to residents.","Town officials said persistent vacancies and a thin hiring pool have left the Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections understaffed, limiting proactive code enforcement and threatening delays as several large housing projects come online.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves FY26 Community Preservation appropriations; one member objects to admin fund

Planning director outlines projects, CPA funds and MBTA-zoning work in first month

Braintree officials seek to boost building-inspection staff as large projects loom