The Milton Community Preservation Committee (CPC) signaled a busy year ahead during its July meeting, as the Milton Affordable Housing Trust revealed that nearly all of its current $1.8 million balance is already earmarked for upcoming projects. The revelation came during a series of eligibility presentations that highlighted the growing financial demands on the town’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, ranging from subsidized rental units to a major renovation of Town Wharf Park.

Julie Kramer, representing the Milton Affordable Housing Trust, detailed the Trust’s strategy of requesting more than the 10% minimum CPA allocation to maintain a robust "buy down" fund. Kramer explained that lowering a unit's affordability from 80% to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) can create a $145,000 gap in mortgage value for developers. We typically contribute between $75,000 and $100,000 per unit in capital to close that gap, Kramer said, noting that without predictable funding, developers will stop pursuing deeper affordability. She estimated that between commitments for Winter Valley, Town Farm, and other developer requests, potentially $1.4 million of the $1.8 million we have is committed.

The request sparked a critical discussion regarding the "supplanting" of town funds, a practice prohibited under CPA rules. Member Pete Jackson questioned whether the Trust was using CPA money to fund the Shared Housing Services Office, which handles regulatory reporting. So you're letting the town off the hook in terms of its share and proposing to fund it through CPA? Jackson asked. Our funds aren't supposed to supply funding that the town traditionally has. Chair Tom Callahan clarified that while the Trust currently uses non-CPA funds for those administrative costs, supplanting is a serious issue, and the Trust would not be allowed to use awarded CPA money to fund that housing office.

The committee also reviewed a budget update for the Town Wharf Park renovation. Scott McKay informed the committee that design revisions have successfully lowered the projected construction cost from $1.9 million down to approximately $1.4 million. McKay noted that the team explored using asphalt instead of brick in some areas to save $80,000 and concrete blocks over pre-cast walls for a $250,000 reduction. However, Member Cheryl Tougias urged caution regarding these "value engineering" choices. Be mindful of upfront costs that decrease durability and increase maintenance, Tougias said. I'd rather see the lower maintenance option even if it costs more.

The Wharf Park project continues to face scrutiny over the fate of a mature oak tree on the site. Tougias expressed deep concern over its potential removal, stating, I think that tree is perfectly healthy, and taking it down would be an atrocity. McKay noted that an arborist would evaluate the tree's health, as its root structure currently complicates ADA compliance efforts. Amidst the discussion, Member Rodney recused himself from the portion of the meeting regarding a specific project on Tosis Place, citing his status as a nearby resident.

In procedural business, the committee conducted its annual reorganization. Motion Made by P. Jackson to elect Tom Callahan as Chair. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Following his election, Callahan facilitated the remaining leadership votes. Motion Made by T. Callahan to elect Jenny Russell as Vice Chair. Motion Passed with one abstention. Motion Made by T. Callahan to elect Pete Jackson as Financial Liaison. Motion Passed with one abstention. We have our team back for another go. Thank you for your confidence, Callahan remarked.

The committee concluded the evening by formalizing the eligibility of several applicants for the FY26 cycle. Despite a lack of communication from a project proponent regarding bicycle wayfinding signage in Randolph, the committee opted to move the application forward to allow more time for details to surface. I don't think we lose anything by giving him a couple months to surface, Callahan said. Motion Made by T. Callahan to declare the Milton Affordable Housing Trust, Bicycle Wayfinding, and Town Wharf Park projects eligible for FY26 funding applications. Motion Passed (Unanimous voice vote).

The fall schedule has been set to accommodate the September 26th application deadline and the October 27th Special Town Meeting. The committee will meet on October 15th, October 20th, and November 5th. Vice Chair Jenny Russell emphasized the importance of varying meeting nights, noting, I like having different nights for the applicants because sometimes people have a conflict on Wednesday and they could come on Monday or vice versa.