Selectman Tom Hurley is advocating that Milton sign up for the Community Preservation Act.Today an article on Boston.com outlines the status of the initiative which appears to be losing enthusiasm. However, there are towns that continue to express interest. In addition to Milton, Canton is also looking to voters to consider adoption.

Some towns that have adopted the act are looking to reduce their surcharge. The maximum is 3%. Hurley is suggesting a surcharge of 1.5%.  A key reason for tempered enthusiasm is a reduction in the matching grants. The state now awards ~26% which is down from its original 1:1.

That said, many towns are grateful for the funds]. Chelmsford and North Andover are two.

The article identifies uses Chelmsford has applied to funds to:

Chelmsford, meanwhile, is simultaneously rehabilitating three of its most historic buildings. For starters, there’s a $2.5 million project in the works to renovate and upgrade the town’s 1879 Old Town Hall, now the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, according to Morse. And right across the street, work is underway to restore the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church’s steeple and clock. Meanwhile, across town, the heavily deteriorated 1853 North Town Hall is undergoing a $2.85 million rehab; once completed, it will house an after-school youth center, Morse said.

You can find the full story here.

We recently interviewed Selectman Hurley regarding this initiative. You can view that interview on MATV tonight (Mon) at 6:30PM.