Milton Warrant Committee Defers Votes on Solar, Historic Buildings, and Fire Station

Finance Committee · Meeting of March 2, 2026

Milton's Warrant Committee pressed unanswered questions on three major town meeting articles without taking a formal vote. At the March 2 meeting, member Brian McGuire walked through four solar power purchase agreements — Articles 39 through 42 — covering fire headquarters, town hall, the library, and the animal shelter, noting a proposed rate of $0.05 per kilowatt hour against a current $0.14 rate but flagging unresolved concerns about roof structural integrity and developer bankruptcy risk. Member Ronald Sia presented a warrant article adding a definition of "demolition" to Chapter 163 of the town bylaws, drawing pushback from members who warned the broad language — covering removal or replacement of any portion of a regulated structure — could ensnare routine renovations on the roughly 58 percent of Milton homes that are 75 years old or older.

Member Nicole Boyson detailed the $60.1 million Atherton Street Fire Station's financing, including a $1 million design request for the May town meeting, a $16.1 million debt authorization expected in fall 2026 or spring 2027, and a debt exclusion ballot question anticipated this November, with a further property tax override of approximately $1 million per year projected around 2029 once the Special Purpose Debt Stabilization Fund reaches zero.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.