Milton’s aging infrastructure and the tightening financial constraints of the upcoming fiscal year took center stage as the Warrant Committee weighed a million-dollar design request for the Atherton Fire Station alongside proposed hikes to school bus fees. Fire Station Building Committee Chair Brian Walsh presented a detailed case for the Atherton renovation, noting that the 1901 structure was originally built for horse-drawn carriages and now poses significant safety risks. Walsh highlighted that fire trucks currently have less than two inches of clearance, and the lack of modern ventilation means exhaust fumes often infiltrate living quarters. Today, the health and safety of our firefighters is the priority, Walsh told the committee, emphasizing that firefighter cancer linked to station conditions is a major concern. The proposed design would maintain two existing bays for light equipment while adding three full-size bays to house modern engines and specialized equipment.

The scale and cost of the fire station project drew questions from several committee members. Brian McGuire questioned the origin of the $1 million design estimate, while Nick Tangney expressed reservations about the long-term planning of the facility. I'm concerned we are building for today's needs rather than looking forward, Tangney said, suggesting the scope might be expanding simply because of the available land at the Atherton site. Walsh countered that the department needs the space to protect expensive equipment, such as an off-road tanker for Blue Hills forest fires, from the elements. Larry Johnson clarified the bay configuration, asking, the design is for five bays total? Two old ones and three new ones? Walsh confirmed the plan and noted that a video presentation is being developed to help Town Meeting members visualize the necessity of the project.

The conversation shifted to the school department’s efforts to close a significant budget gap. Members Julia and Lorraine reported on a revised list of $831,000 in cuts, which includes the elimination of director roles in nursing and fine arts in favor of teacher stipends. To mitigate the impact on classrooms, the school district is moving from a three-year to a four-year plan to replenish its reserve funds and is proposing an increase in bus fees. The biggest change is the Circuit Breaker funding, Julia explained, noting that the extended timeline allows the schools to draw down an additional $400,000 this year. Lorraine shared concerns regarding the loss of personnel, stating, I have concerns about cutting ‘bodies’ that interact with students.

Town Administrator Nicholas Milano provided a more optimistic outlook for the town’s overall FY27 budget, revealing that a once-daunting $2.4 million deficit has been whittled down to approximately $300,000. This improvement was driven by updated state aid figures, a $400,000 increase in local receipts, and a reduction in projected health insurance premiums. Milano noted that the town will follow the state's lead in no longer covering GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, for weight loss starting in July, which contributed to lower insurance costs. This leaves us with about $300,000 in ‘new’ money to decide how to allocate, Milano said, suggesting the funds could address critical department needs or bolster the Budget Stabilization Fund.

Milano also briefed the committee on several non-budget warrant articles, including a proposal to double tax exemptions for seniors, the blind, and veterans. This change would increase the town's annual exemption cost from $80,000 to $160,000. Additionally, the town is exploring 25-year contracts for solar credits and leasing roof space on municipal buildings to reduce electricity costs. Brian McGuire raised concerns about the length of the solar commitments, asking, Does 25 years seem excessive? Milano argued that the discount relative to current rates protects the town even if energy costs fluctuate. The committee also discussed a proposed change to the town’s demolition bylaw that would redefine demolition to include the partial destruction of historic features on buildings over 75 years old.

As the committee prepares for the April 1st warrant print deadline, Chair Jay urged members to finalize their reviews of upcoming articles. We have five Mondays until April 1st. We need to knock these articles off, Jay said. Looking ahead, Cecile noted she is putting a presentation together regarding tax credits after further consultation with the Town Administrator, while Andrew was tasked with reviewing Community Preservation Committee articles, specifically focusing on borrowing for Wharf Park.