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Town reserves CPA funding buckets, approves $3.2M for Affordable Housing Trust and $395K for Lexab; moves ahead on athletics projects
Summary
Town Meeting voted to reserve Community Preservation Act funding buckets and approved multiple CPA projects: $3.2 million to the Affordable Housing Trust, $395,355 to Lexab and $2.63 million for athletic fields at Harrington; a separate fencing request was later debated and rejected.
Town Meeting approved the Community Preservation Committee’s recommended allocations and appropriations for several Fiscal Year 2027 Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects while also approving the statutory funding buckets that guide CPA spending.
Funding buckets and process: Members first voted to reserve funds into the four statutory CPA funding buckets. The vote to set the buckets passed 172–0 with four abstentions. The CPC said the buckets are set as 10% for each category and the remainder goes into unbudgeted reserves; the committee emphasized a preference for cash appropriations rather than new debt.
Affordable Housing Trust (Article 10C): Elaine Tong, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, argued the trust needs flexible capital to respond quickly to market opportunities and to support buy-downs, MBTA SRD projects, and a pilot tenant rental-assistance program. Town Meeting approved the AHT funding request 170–4–2. Tong said the $3.2 million would allow the trust to support acquisitions, deepening affordability and timely responses to developer opportunities.
Lexab preservation and community housing support (10D): Sarah Morrison, executive director of Lexab, described a $395,355 CPA request to preserve and rehabilitate 31 Lexab units, fund repairs (roofs, doors, chimneys, walkways) and subsidize rents for very low-income tenants. Town Meeting passed 10D 171–0–2.
Harrington athletic fields (10E): The Recreation Committee requested $2,630,000 to complete Phase 2 of the Harrington athletic-fields project, creating two full-sized natural-grass rectangle fields, a cricket overlay and lighting; the committee estimated about 1,200 additional annual field-use hours. The article passed.
Votes at a glance: - Funding buckets (Article 10 lines): 172 yes, 0 no, 4 abstain — motion carries. - Article 10C (Affordable Housing Trust): 170 yes, 4 no, 2 abstain — approved. - Article 10D (Lexab preservation/support): 171 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain — approved. - Article 10E (Harrington fields): 160 yes, 4 no, 4 abstain — approved.
Why it matters: CPC officials framed the funding as part of CPA’s 20th anniversary accomplishments — preserving historic assets, protecting open space, enhancing recreation and expanding community housing — while cautioning that the state match has declined and that careful prioritization is needed.
What’s next: Approved funds will be drawn and administered according to project plans; the AHT and Lexab will bring applications or commitments as projects proceed. The Select Board and committees will continue oversight as projects move toward design and construction.
