Selectman Tom Hurley, lead proponent for an article to requesting Milton adopt the Community Preservation Act, appeared before the Warrant Committee recently to advocate they recommend it to Town Meeting. He was joined by former Town Administrator John Cronin.

Hurley and Cronin reviewed what they believe to be the benefits. The Act is subscribed to by a number of south shore communities (you can view a map here). Communities that adopt the act are granted financial support for specific initiatives related to open space, recreation, community housing, and historic preservation. The CPA fund receives revenues from a surcharge on the property tax of between .5 and 3% (Hurley is recommending 1.5%) and from a surcharge placed on all real estate transactions at the state’s Registries of Deeds.

Initially there was a 1:1 matching amount awarded back to participating communities. For example, if a town contributed $250,000, it would get $500,000 back. The number of towns participating continues to grow. There were 34 in 2002. There were 243 in 2011. However, the matching amount is now approximately 26%. Still not a bad return in Hurley’s view.

A couple of members of the Warrant Committee voiced concern about the fact that it was at the end of the day a tax – and that while it would not represent a significant amount, it was still an increase and they questioned the reception it would receive on the floor of town meeting. The concern was somewhat amplified by the fact that Hurley and Cronin had not identified a specific large-scale project to which funds might be applied that represented a clear benefit to the town. One advantage they did discuss was using funds to develop community housing efforts and develop a plan that would reduce or remove risk of threats posed by hostile 40B development. Chapter 40B allows developers to bypass certain local zoning bylaws to construct affordable housing in communities that do not have at least 10% of their housing stock at an affordable level as determined by a state formula. Milton’s is at approximately just over 4% and, consequently, has some exposure to 40B developments.

In the end the Committee voted in favor of recommending the Community Preservation Act to members of Town Meeting. There was one vote against.

The Committee also heard from Town Meeting Member Kris Hodlin who was a proponent of a citizens petition to look at managing redistricting as required by future census data. The Town Clerk recently redistricted the precincts of Milton to be in compliance with the most recent census. In doing that he reduced the number of precincts from 11 to 10. He presented his plan to the Selectmen and it was approved by the Secretary of State. Hodlin’s proposed article requests that the Town Moderator appoint a committee to review any changes required by future census. The committee voted to recommend the article.