[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6584822,"mediaKeyId","5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10","parentId",5548178,"title","Braintree council approves five-year $110 million capital plan; authorizes $17.46M general-fund and $1.05M stormwater borrowings","audioSeconds",572,"startMs",1702000,"endMs",2274000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10&start=1702&end=2274","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10/thumbnail_1702000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6584822/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Braintree-council-approves-five-year-110-million-capital-plan-authorizes-1746M-general-fund-and-105M-stormwater-borrowings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584822-7eb5e6997e095ecceaf53c6472349967/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192519&Signature=DsAinYOJ5sO3P5usCKqYUbdUxnoLV7urCotp0WJJt8jmbtJ6i71yn9Soq4mPUB-tmWM9zc5kYNSGUyb~PTN8GOs5P5dDT04AbDhaefn1Y-gDGlyucQkbdAGQOegvY3ymI3qHIyHNpspDdf-6Io7R3wNU8dMLF8DbR-jQEVOkeVYzs8EPl-80Ok1Fs-4xiaRTIii3Jastp2aiWNe-zXF2jnsJDA1FjLeOoo842sSjcvNd8bn-iaPeOyBEMXbpjsI~rMG0ygndDGlTkLNFBi9JVxFacFtaQQH~0cqejWGc7GFWjTaX-RHXXEO3B0LRUfJtrcV1zYIg1Fb-C99LFR7r7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Braintree","date","2025-08-07T01:17:24.22Z","article","The Town of Braintree Town Council on Tuesday approved a five-year capital plan covering fiscal years 2025–2029 and adopted appropriation orders authorizing borrowing for specific FY25 capital projects.

Mayor Mia Joyce summarized the plan during the meeting, saying the fiscal year 2025 capital plan “outlines $110,000,000 in investments over a five-year period, of fiscal year 25 through fiscal year 29,” and naming major investments including the Tri Town Water Treatment Plant and roadway, water, sewer and public-safety projects.

The plan and two borrowing motions passed unanimously. Councilors voted to approve the capital plan as submitted, approved a list of general-fund capital projects totaling $17,463,500 to be funded by general-obligation debt, and approved a separate $1,050,000 borrowing from the stormwater enterprise fund for capital equipment replacement.

Why it matters: the package directs funding for infrastructure and equipment across the town, including large multi-year items that shape maintenance and service capacity. Mayor Joyce said the plan draws on multiple funding sources — “cash balances, bonded funds, state and federal funding sources and other non-budgetary sources” — and that it is intended as a living document to guide long-term investments.

Key project highlights listed during the meeting include:
- Tri Town Water Treatment Plant: total investment noted as $59,000,000 with Braintree’s share described as nearly $18,000,000.
- Roadway projects: roughly $18,000,000 in roadway-related projects using a combination of town funding and annual state Chapter 90 funds.
- Water distribution upgrades: $15,000,000.
- Sewer repairs and rehabilitation: $5,000,000.
- Fire headquarters renovation: $5,000,000.
- Police and fire equipment replacement: $4,400,000.
- Braintree Public Schools technology replacements: $2,000,000.
- Playground, parks and fields upgrades (accessibility improvements): $1,200,000 across multiple projects.

Councilors and staff described the review process as more thorough and transparent than in prior years. Councilor Bridal, chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the committee met over multiple evenings and sent the full package to the council with unanimous favorable recommendations. Finance Director Mike Esben said bond counsel reviewed the appropriation language to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

Council discussion also included timing and coordination questions: Councilor Bridal asked when a $600,000 appropriation for Business Square improvements would proceed; staff said $150,000 was projected to be spent in fiscal 2026 and that paving of the municipal lot in South Braintree Square would likely not occur before spring or summer of the following year, and would require DPW bidding and coordination with local businesses because the lot’s temporary closure would affect parking.

Formal actions recorded in the meeting included motions to open and close public hearings on the capital items and then to approve the plan and the appropriation orders. All recorded votes on those motions were unanimous. No public speakers addressed the specific appropriation items during the hearings.

What’s next: the capital plan and the appropriation orders authorized borrowing and directed the mayor and treasurer to take actions needed to issue bonds or notes and to apply any eligible federal or state aid toward the projects. Council members said Ways and Means will continue to track project timing and report back to the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Braintree Town Council Meeting 8.5.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Town of Braintree Town Council on Tuesday approved a five-year capital plan covering fiscal years 2025–2029 and adopted appropriation orders authorizing borrowing for specific FY25 capital projects.","taxTitle","Town of Braintree , Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",57175,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584813,"Highland Street hockey-rink project remains stalled; council tables update to Sept. 16",98,3084000,3182000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10&start=3084&end=3182","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10/thumbnail_3084000.jpg","/articles/6584813/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Highland-Street-hockey-rink-project-remains-stalled-council-tables-update-to-Sept-16","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584813-83618fcba03ac475cd1f15e941cdeb3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192519&Signature=b7T3UHo-wixX1Jl2LpFSXcmIE3DLVjQRGR0wfwCmuvPjpSkN0kTMBglTmsDZibCePPwXCkHQrcQKxeZt1XxWxBgamWJCWVevh-mP7QjzlaFSyNXr5cVKBuHKbtFeNXI15NbQ3WwM192S~iNFNvFgIzjtyT9OM0LFRFuLfiRTWT5Wgl~qDkzQrGqcNLHvrx3ZtAZkLC0hFME8QB5hdm2W6RWDOxL0bGjMI6P1~iZ6JfpXMs7RdbMJ4nTcK3os46gpwoiZocMQ7op3lhNilN3fPNnyECiJ~TdjQwru2MbDAU4LT3CGZYzeC-zDVRxUqsUfYkJ3m5xrLjZeB687p4Lznw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Braintree Town Council took up an update from the Community Preservation Committee on the Highland Street hockey-rink project and voted to table the matter until the Sept. 16 meeting so staff can supply additional information.

Councilor Morin said the project “has had no progress on it in two years” and that planning and Community Preservation staff answered committee questions at a Ways and Means appearance earlier. Morin said he hoped the council’s discussion would catalyze further action and requested the item be tabled until Sept. 16 to await additional information from the officers involved.

The council first voted to take the item off the table and then voted to table it again to Sept. 16; both motions passed unanimously. Councilors noted the project is intended to honor a young man for whom the rink is named but did not provide new scheduling or budget details during the meeting. Planning staff and the Community Preservation Program administrator provided background and answered questions but did not offer a firm timeline in the public record.

No new funding or contract approvals were taken; the council asked staff to return with further information on schedule and outstanding requirements at the Sept. 16 meeting.","The council received a Community Preservation Committee update on the Highland Street hockey-rink project, heard staff explain a two-year delay, and voted to table the matter again to Sept. 16 to allow agencies to provide additional information.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584818,"Council continues public hearing on ADU zoning amendments to Sept. 16",26,1668000,1694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10&start=1668&end=1694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548178-3349a90349066704a8a3a5154a076e10/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","/articles/6584818/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Council-continues-public-hearing-on-ADU-zoning-amendments-to-Sept-16","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584818-e99525c70fe35e64cfce65fc4858dc84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192519&Signature=ZX64IL-yNbdMRLECHV75u3yGxFDgCGrg0IkdVrj2KDTIngXq0L1oSWsYYhWecTaeEUEtv-zflrdAv0NfCX9~8V~az~dkuRYc9eyCS7~djXJRUglw8YcwDn~mlDO9M5Jxo3Q-4F0MZ-7AiAVev6SjNoV-6-fi3luQTxZJ98DIIsD3B1WIcQPA6rw80EnsAqf2K7NqQspofvKlIbnNbAIV5PzlRPJCi1zC0h-GCCHqBBi2~ySRnN~ICP7KoO6eY4ofvsE9GRsgbii-XGNqhsNwI8GXU0DOkXbXXmM77ofBWkBsZu8oDqnWHrojab336HLVsVq9tZQIruS1xAFLOgqNDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Braintree Town Council opened a required public hearing on order 25003, a mayoral zoning ordinance with text amendments to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations to comply with the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act, and voted to continue the hearing to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2025.

Councilor Warren moved to continue the public hearing; the motion carried unanimously. No public testimony on the ordinance was recorded during the hearing segment.

Why it matters: the Affordable Homes Act at the state level has prompted municipalities across Massachusetts to update local ADU definitions and zoning rules. The council’s continuation preserves opportunity for further public comment and committee review before final action.

No specific ordinance text revisions were read into the record at the meeting; the council scheduled the matter for additional consideration at the Sept. 16 meeting.","The council opened a public hearing on a mayoral zoning ordinance to amend accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to comply with the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act and voted to continue the hearing to Sept. 16, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Braintree council approves five-year $110 million capital plan; authorizes $17.46M general-fund and $1.05M stormwater borrowings

Highland Street hockey-rink project remains stalled; council tables update to Sept. 16

Council continues public hearing on ADU zoning amendments to Sept. 16