[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6051278,"mediaKeyId","3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb","parentId",3455793,"title","Select Board approves sending pilot request to large nonprofits, seeks targeted follow-up and edits","audioSeconds",643,"startMs",5087000,"endMs",5730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb&start=5087&end=5730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb/thumbnail_5087000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6051278/Massachusetts/Select-Board-approves-sending-pilot-request-to-large-nonprofits-seeks-targeted-follow-up-and-edits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051278-1e145605db37db9fbc50bc2396202e47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770698330&Signature=DT27FUqoCHa35P-r7Pcfc65PfFqTqRrfPR4vrP8twynYq1Rg0dgVV6Vmyv797HleoTstPSzd-7~nOzdlT6LIW7YDqi19-UhjBmeRxwc8dScU541~eShPU0Le85pk~s4Z01Ccp-4QZk5gMGjtRxk36H-wAUQAsIAXF4qp0hC-mPXHSwSwQZ~ottKuFpaDqeYeTsTzqHziGSKW183ij~S9qK9iknP0qYZ7aQ72HkwpbWoc0-kpdxBFBUI2RPwIiz8805wnMv8OlrociJXiZU~BBjMChdu0yRYB6zHg1XpgPrZjdxx22dhFWdYmseksE9ruwzmCeYH-Jw-7bYeD4oKHgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Concord, MA","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Select Board reviewed a proposed pilot letter May 12 asking large nonprofit institutions to consider voluntary contributions to offset municipal service costs such as police, fire and public works for major events and campus impacts.

Board members said the outreach matters because several large local institutions benefit from town services but do not contribute through property taxes in the same way private property owners do; the pilot aims to secure voluntary payments and to test fundraising and outreach models for FY2026.

Staff described the plan: send a single introductory letter to a broad set of nonprofit landowners, then prioritize in-person follow-up with the largest institutions (those with greatest estimated service impact). The memorandum cited a potential FY2026 pilot target of $100,000 in revenue and an overall theoretical addressable pool of about $1.4 million if higher participation rates were reached. Anthony said the pilot might take time to scale and that negotiations with large institutions are typically incremental.

Select Board members requested edits and a more assertive outreach plan: add schools and the library to the letter’s list of services that generate municipal costs, and commit staff to follow up by phone and schedule in-person meetings with the top prospects rather than rely solely on a mailed letter. The board also recommended customizing outreach for the highest-impact institutions while sending a uniform introductory letter to the broader nonprofit universe.

The board concluded with consensus approval to send the letter after the edits and to begin prioritized follow-up; staff said they would start contacting large institutions right away, beginning with known contacts and local partners.

Ending: The Select Board agreed to send the revised pilot letter to nonprofits, pursue immediate phone and meeting follow-up with top targets, and return to the board with early results; no binding revenue commitments were made.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Concord: Select Board May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff and the Select Board finalized a pilot letter to request voluntary contributions from large nonprofit landowners; board asked staff to send the letter promptly, add schools and the library as illustrative service users and to follow up by phone with top prospects.","taxTitle","Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",68746,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6051283,"Finance committee and Select Board debate new reserves policy and proposed stabilization appropriations",1395,3561000,4956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb&start=3561&end=4956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb/thumbnail_3561000.jpg","/articles/6051283/Massachusetts/Finance-committee-and-Select-Board-debate-new-reserves-policy-and-proposed-stabilization-appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051283-9e6d34c6cc8705936bc49609758d9c4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770698330&Signature=b6W-TXyvwn9h8L1zvbD5fw0Jhl0odtj8CsXY6qsqv9rI00ON8ludpNHw9yZ56QazRvIjr-Au83fUQJM6zs9wl6Q-n9AQXib7liAtPtMo5H4dMAd3a6Ax7v1Gw1Uls2tYPo3gdG6TE8q7013Zr~oBYvRGnViq9Y~LBjnGgw7T33NXKCFt8E~Ibi48HoguF2SxrAwmo0z2XJdLvaLgJLg250bSDs4emj59kYtlYnJRUPf94ZzxKm1pKG~PQEOBOLQXMCApHSlf2oqEGkenaKUltCqb4zdjZP-PBuJeegZIYN0s1chjP1xd9KZieLt4ZrB9mVuuruLMEGqeaJNvsUdSpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board and the Finance Committee met May 12 to continue a months-long discussion about reserve policy, free cash targets and two citizen articles that would earmark surplus funds for stabilization accounts.

This matters because Concord faces near-term capital needs (schools, roads, town buildings) and town leaders want a policy that smooths tax impacts across years while preserving emergency reserves.

The Finance Committee presented draft policy language and explained the proposed structure: maintain a general “rainy day” stabilization target (department of revenue guidance referenced), establish special-purpose capital stabilization accounts for identified projects and consider a separate debt-reduction stabilization account. Committee members said the town’s current free cash (certified in draft figures) is about $10.5 million and that the state guidance suggests a free-cash target in the mid-percentage range of annual budgets; the committee recommended reserve targets in the 5–7% range as a planning goal.

Board members asked whether a separate “debt stabilization” account is needed, or whether capital reserves and debt-reduction could be consolidated. The Finance Committee replied that Concord’s debt-service ratio (reported at about 11.6% of the operating budget) argues for additional tools to manage debt peaks and future capital, but committee members acknowledged that a policy needs to be explicit on how funds will be accumulated and used; they emphasized that the recommended targets are planning goals, not immediate appropriations.

Select Board members raised process questions: would the town divert free cash that would otherwise reduce next year’s tax levy? Finance Committee members said the draft envisions dedicating excess certified free cash (amounts above a chosen free-cash floor) to stabilization accounts over a multi-year path, not by raising taxes. The board asked for clearer prioritization and a mechanism to smooth spikes: committee members suggested a “channel” approach that would trigger reserves when revenue spikes above a target band and disburse when revenue drops below it.

The Finance Committee said it deferred formal votes on two warrant articles (articles 18 and 19) that would appropriate estimated excess free cash to stabilization funds until it receives direction from the Select Board and final certified numbers. The Select Board supported continued policy work and asked the committee to draft clearer language tying reserve targets to spending guidelines and to return with a recommended funding pathway.

Ending: No appropriation vote occurred. The Finance Committee will prepare refined policy language and a funding plan for the Select Board’s review before Town Meeting; the citizen stabilization articles were tabled for deliberation pending finalized policy language and certified free cash.","The Finance Committee presented updated reserve-policy language and discussed two citizen petitions to move excess free cash into stabilization accounts; the Select Board and Finance Committee agreed on the need to clarify targets and funding mechanisms but did not adopt a final policy or vote the citizen articles.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6051288,"Moderator proposes 30-minute default limit for Town Meeting articles; Select Board signals support",1047,1533000,2580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb&start=1533&end=2580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb/thumbnail_1533000.jpg","/articles/6051288/Massachusetts/Moderator-proposes-30-minute-default-limit-for-Town-Meeting-articles-Select-Board-signals-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051288-b5bc73300a97af19751dcc68efa8cbc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770698330&Signature=HmjlVmCmCsnZx2u9oiQg2hTv0iIoBKmZnmX-YG40kM19C4OTxb4ILYWZWsntFzfx-f1yHiMD2ZGzIzpEi6EdPbOHXhdtIdjAkXV0Jczlb7AyA51Y~Z8MSIP6q70sNDWCX85B8OJ1g57wlAcxC4AmSAuTu0ZW9zhwbax2NRgZc-PcAa-dVGSwjgW00BBrat5ijff-IWYhOES84Q~egfek3kmuEtKP1fsCuDDZyFArD0H7k9KytFBtgDPtHPPfsP8JxgE~JlEWHS3BNB-eINK0G5b3q47BvDs0BOYLx3CfmjKG36TacTIkLElOKciqKjXUIRj2li9YsRO8bamQ9RkmJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Moderator Carmen Racetown brought the Town Meeting Study Committee’s draft recommendations to the Select Board on May 12, seeking the board’s views on a possible rule of the meeting to limit deliberation time on individual articles.

The proposal matters because Town Meeting frequently runs late and the committee’s study of voter feedback found speed and efficiency were recurring concerns, while preserving meaningful public deliberation remains a priority.

Racetown summarized the Study Committee’s draft: a short default cap for initial deliberation (the committee discussed 15 minutes as 1 possible model) with an automatic procedural check when the time limit elapses. She explained that the moderator could then ask the assembly whether it is “ready to vote” or whether members want to continue. The moderator noted motion to call the question remains the formal route, but the proposed rule would provide a standard, predictable process to surface a sense of the meeting when discussion has already consumed a set interval.

Board members, moderators and attendees discussed practical options: a presumption of 30 minutes for initial deliberation with incremental extensions (for example another 15 minutes) was broadly favored by board members, who asked the moderator to try a time-check procedure this year and report back. Carmen said the committee also recommended keeping pro/con microphones (relabelled “yes” and “no” for clarity) and suggested asking the meeting for a sense vote when the time limit elapses; she said moderators could also use a brief show-of-cards to gauge whether most voters have made up their minds. Several Select Board members noted the risk that a formal rule could itself be debated at length and suggested an informal pilot this year followed by a possible adoption of a rule in a future Town Meeting session.

Citizen Diane Proctor urged caution: “I find it discouraging that we're worried about efficiency and discussion rather than quality of discussion,” she said, asking the board to preserve meaningful time for deliberation on important matters. The moderator and board members acknowledged the tradeoffs and agreed to trial a timed, informational check with the option for the meeting to continue if a supermajority opposes stopping.

Ending: The Select Board endorsed the moderator’s plan in principle and asked the moderator to pilot an informational 30-minute check on articles at Town Meeting this spring, then report back; the board did not enact a binding rule at this meeting.","Carmen Racetown, the Town moderator, presented a Town Meeting Study Committee recommendation to set time limits for deliberation (a suggested 15-minute default and a practical plan using a 30-minute check) and the Select Board signaled support for an initial, informal 30-minute check to ask the meeting whether it is ready to vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6051292,"Select Board hears Deaconess proposal for Newbury Court overlay, neighbors press for setbacks and affordability guarantees",1762,5774000,7536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb&start=5774&end=7536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3455793-b38f6950debd78f124b728f605ae44fb/thumbnail_5774000.jpg","/articles/6051292/Massachusetts/Select-Board-hears-Deaconess-proposal-for-Newbury-Court-overlay-neighbors-press-for-setbacks-and-affordability-guarantees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051292-d3d10196398e479e78008bfd241ee01e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770698330&Signature=JDWJ3JuxqqtKGEGW4~ueQVgm0beXJRxreyrMIrHQwwl-cYWDmfQWQ5jpqOTIdtBZhrcvahVx74VR31e6YMfJ36~QYIOzQXiESnyoqiH2qixwdWGYLFFWv8hbVn7eAcu3yRydhQGFmzX8vgNS5W-JuQnwOabX29Tt3ZJgMYIDIiyUe3OxRgngqQ6z4kJaXQVLDtqx31JJglbBfI9GtAU7RkgrBok0SCliYbZssIVtJVr5YEldLfIChPG6OfB-1Bp7UbL9i9t48WFJ5Wwi72su7yGhME5UIdrzaRrdZDlw3pqLOeCwqa8VsFECHfOTatDadYwkxJXOy8yt3yJHOx7QBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board met May 12 to hear Deaconess Abundant Life representatives present revisions to a proposed continuing-care retirement community overlay district and to discuss outstanding items that residents want fixed before Town Meeting.

The exchange matters because the board is considering whether to enter a memorandum of agreement with Deaconess ahead of a citizen-initiated zoning article, and neighbors said the current draft does not yet protect abutters’ concerns about scale, setback and the availability of affordable units.

Deaconess representatives described changes they say respond to abutter feedback. The presenters said landscaping and larger setbacks were added: a 40-foot setback from Old Marlborough Road for townhouse buildings and a rule that “the setback in feet would have to be twice the distance as it is high” for multiunit structures, which the presenters said is intended to provide additional buffering. Mark Bobrowski, a project representative, said the landscaping standard “shall at a minimum comply with the requirements of section 6.2.9 of the bylaw.”

Residents at the meeting said those changes do not fully address visual scale and traffic concerns. Jim Jackson (44 Old Marlborough Road) told the board that “if it becomes 40 feet off the road and it's a big complex, our property values go right down the toilet,” and asked the developer to shift building massing farther from the neighborhood. Other speakers pressed for clearer limits on unit types and sizes; attendees said drawings shown to neighbors featured units and building footprints they feared would feel “industrial” rather than residential.

Select Board members and Deaconess representatives also discussed taxes and affordability. A Deaconess presenter said the organization has historically paid taxes on its campus and “expects that’ll be the the future on the new parcel.” Residents and several board members asked for concrete, enforceable affordability standards. Matt Johnson, speaking as a resident and member of Concord housing groups, urged the town and Deaconess to adopt rules that account for applicants’ assets as well as income, noting that retirees with large asset pools can appear to qualify under standard AMI thresholds even when the goal is to preserve access for lower-wealth older households.

Developers and their counsel told the board that several items the neighbors had requested were moved from any MOA into the draft zoning language so they would be enforceable: landscaping, the 40-foot Old Marlborough Road setback, a density cap derived from a 16-units-per-acre limit in the draft, and language on freestanding independent living and multiunit massing. Deaconess said it circulated the revised draft to abutters earlier the same day.

The board asked for time to continue negotiations and signaled that an MOA will be worked on in parallel with the zoning article; there was no formal vote. Select Board members emphasized that any MOA or agreement should include measurable affordability commitments and that the town needs clarity on how property tax revenue would flow if the project proceeds.

The Select Board scheduled continued review; Deaconess was told the board would expect clearer affordability formulas and tighter language on setbacks/landscaping before the board considers endorsing any agreement or taking a formal position.

Ending: The Select Board did not take a final vote; members said they will continue negotiating the MOA language and asked Deaconess to provide concrete affordability metrics, a clearer site plan showing the revised setbacks, and confirmation of tax commitments ahead of Town Meeting.","Deaconess Abundant Life presented revisions to a proposed continuing-care overlay district and told the Select Board it intends to pay property taxes and keep an affordability commitment; neighbors urged larger setbacks, lower building heights and concrete affordability standards in a possible memorandum of agreement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board approves sending pilot request to large nonprofits, seeks targeted follow-up and edits

Finance committee and Select Board debate new reserves policy and proposed stabilization appropriations

Moderator proposes 30-minute default limit for Town Meeting articles; Select Board signals support

Select Board hears Deaconess proposal for Newbury Court overlay, neighbors press for setbacks and affordability guarantees