Milton’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is facing a difficult fiscal balancing act as funding requests for the upcoming cycle have surged to double the available budget. During a Wednesday night session, Chair Tom Monahan delivered a sober reality check to several applicants, noting that the committee has received over $2 million in funding requests but only expects to have roughly $1 million to distribute. We're going to have to cut basically by half, Monahan told representatives from the Tucker PTO. Think creatively about what you could do if we don't fully fund it. Sharpen your pencils.

The committee’s commitment to strict procedural fairness took center stage when members moved to disqualify an application from the Forbes House for porch restoration. Despite the project’s historic significance and the committee's past support for the site, the application arrived on June 10, well past the May 30 deadline. Treasurer Jackson noted that he had personally encouraged the director to apply just days before the submission, but the committee remained firm on the cutoff. Vice Chair Johnny Russell, drawing on his professional experience, argued against making exceptions. As somebody who writes grants in a professional capacity, if you're late, you wait until the next cycle, Russell said. I would discourage our committee from bending that rule because then everybody will expect it. It's a slippery slope.

Motion Made by R. Levash to disqualify the Forbes House porch restoration for this funding cycle due to being a late application. Motion Passed (6-0-0). Representative Wendy Garpo expressed the committee's collective reluctance regarding the vote, stating, I just would like to express how regretful I am to have to vote this, and I think I'm speaking on behalf of all of us.

The funding squeeze also loomed over playground projects across town. Jackie Balden presented a request for $143,000 to finalize the Fairwood Playground project, which has already secured a $63,000 in-kind donation for materials and excavation. Balden noted challenges in securing additional private funding this spring, explaining, We have been trying to get more private funding within the town without success this past spring, which is a little disappointing. While the project has made significant progress, Park Commissioner Rob Levash cautioned that neighborhood outreach remains critical. At our last parks commissioners meeting, we had one person in the audience, a neighbor, who asked about your project. I would advise public outreach because they weren't particularly fond of it, with questions regarding parking, Levash noted.

A more nascent proposal for the Tucker School playground also faced scrutiny. Representatives Leslie, Haley Byron, and Marita Golden outlined a vision to replace asphalt and wood chips with modern, ADA-accessible play structures. The group has already raised $11,000 for a site survey and plans to self-fund the $60,000 design phase. We were looking for construction funding and were going to try to self-fund the planning because we're trying to keep this project on a relatively tight timeline, Byron said. However, the committee expressed concern over the "ambitious" goal of breaking ground by next summer, with Treasurer Jackson questioning the specifics of the grounds beyond the play equipment.

Historical landscape preservation also emerged as a priority through an application for the Winter Valley property, formerly part of the Whitney estate. Marita Manning requested funds to restore an overgrown piece of land behind the community building. Just to restore it so it doesn't go to woods and fill in with Norway maples, Manning said, noting the trees on the site are over a century old. While Manning initially requested $2,000, the committee suggested the actual cost of a historic landscape architect's assessment might be closer to $6,000. Representative Garpo suggested a community-minded approach to the research: I'm wondering if the Milton Garden Club might be able to help you with this research.

On the housing front, the committee signaled a strategic shift toward routing all housing-related requests through the Milton Affordable Housing Trust. This includes a $50,000 request for the "Creamers" project and an application regarding 648-652 Canton Avenue. Member Cheryl Tougias recused herself from the latter discussion due to her proximity to the project. Treasurer Jackson advocated for using the Trust as a buffer and negotiating body. We should encourage them to work with the affordable housing trust, Jackson said. They're the ones who have the expertise to negotiate value. We're not in a position to do that. Monahan agreed, citing a similar precedent set with Winter Valley projects.

The meeting concluded with a focus on administrative transparency and term management. Clerk Julia confirmed that the committee will begin posting all project applications on the town website to satisfy concerns raised by the Warrant Committee. Additionally, Monahan noted he is working with the Select Board to ensure committee terms are properly staggered to maintain institutional knowledge. The committee also directed Julia to order more construction signage, ensuring that any project receiving CPC funds prominently displays the committee’s contribution. As projects like the Clap Street Bocce court and Geo Field baseball upgrades move forward, Monahan reminded the board of the upcoming schedule, including a meeting on June 24 and potential deliberation dates in July. The 24th is the next meeting, Julia reminded the group, as they prepared for a summer of difficult financial decisions.

Motion Made by [Unidentified] to approve the minutes from the April 28th meeting. Motion Passed (6-0-0).