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CPC chair urges caution as Select Board reviews draft warrant articles proposing CPC surcharge change
Summary
Community Preservation Committee chair Arden Russell told the board that draft warrant language reducing the CPC surcharge could cut funding for open-space, recreation and school projects; the Board agreed to take no action on Articles 1 and 2 and let CPC reconsider recommendations.
The Select Board reviewed draft language for several proposed October 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant articles, including a placeholder proposal to reduce the Community Preservation Act (CPC) surcharge from 2% to 1% of the property tax levy. Arden Russell, chair of the CPC, said the committee had not yet weighed in and warned that a reduction could sharply reduce funding for projects that rely on CPC support.
"CPC has funded many clean water initiatives ... open space purchases ... the school department would be at a real significant loss," Russell said, asking the board to let the CPC consider the draft before any action. Board members agreed to take no action on Articles 1 and 2 as they are placeholders and to allow CPC to reconvene and revisit its recommendations. The manager said the language was a placeholder brought by a board member for discussion and that no final decisions had been made.
Board members also discussed the schedule for the town meeting warrant and several other article drafts; some articles will be tabled or modified once CPC finalizes its recommendations.
