Tom Hurley was a proponent of two issues that came up during last night’s selectmen’s meeting. The first was one of two resident appointments to the committee being formed to review town government. Hurley who submitted a motion that was passed several weeks ago said he wanted one resident with managerial experience and one with municipal experience. Two residents had contacted the Selectmen, Robert Gatnik and Jim Henderson. Gatnik got the nod.

Mr. Gatnik will fill the slot for a resident with managerial experience. He is the owner of Landmark LLC, a real estate development and consulting service. In contacting the board Jim Henderson also indicated an interest in filling a vacancy on the Audit Committee. The Selectmen support Henderson but cannot approve him. Paula Rizzi pointed out that this is a Town Moderator’s appointment.

The committee will also comprise a selectman (Tom Hurley), a Warrant Committee member, likely Ewan Innes the current chair, and someone from the School Committee or School Administration. Hurley mentioned past Town Administrator, John Cronin, as a possible candidate to fill resident/municipal experience slot; but did not know of Mr. Cronin’s availability or interest.

The second issue Hurley brought up was the filing of an article that would put Milton on the path of adopting the Community Preservation Act and working with the Community Preservation Coalition. This would put a 1.5% one time surcharge on property taxes. There are methods for elderly and people  below a certain income to be exempt. Hurley estimates it would add ~$80 to average bill. However, “it is huge” in his opinion because it could return to the town ~$1.3 million a year in support of initiatives for affordable housing, open space, historic preservation, and outdoor recreation. he offered a couple of examples of how Milton could benefit. One is in coping with the threat of 40B housing. Funds could be used to build affordable housing for municipal workers etc and with a town plan in place other developers would be prevented from erecting 40B units that bypass zoning. Second, the units could be scattered. That is, not all located in one location. Also, existing housing could be modified over time. Single family homes where feasible could become two family homes. These too could be scattered. Earlier in the session Shields had raised issue of 40B on Randolph and suggested that the town fight it by amending legislation that has been on book.s His feeling is that not all towns have developed in the same manner and have the same characteristics. Therefore, the one size fits all 40B legislation does not fit all communities and is more onerous on some that others. Milton being fairly built out does not have abundant opportunities to solve the 10% affordable housing mandate. Hurley’s strategy is to use the Community Preservation Act as a means of coping with this. It retains community control and addresses the mandate. He noted that we can fight the law but what if we lose?

Another possibility, citing the current condition of fire stations, would be using funds to rehabilitate stations as they are historic structures. To date about 140 MA towns have adopted the act.

Hurley is hopeful to file the article for special Town Meeting. If town meeting approves the article, it will go on to the April ballot. ” think it is a good thing. . . certainly worth putting out to the voters,” Hurley said.

Sweeney and Shields did not offer comment. The meeting adjourned.