New Fire Stations voted a “go” at Milton’s Feb. 22 Special Town Meeting

Milton held a virtual Special Town Meeting on Feb. 22 to discuss the most recent warrant articles. All articles passed, though there was considerable discussion of Articles 2 and 3.

Melinda Collins, Select Board Chair, spoke on Article 1. In November, Milton adopted the Community Preservation Act that implemented a 1% surcharge on all property taxes, which, when combined with matching state money, can be used to fund public projects relating to historic preservation, open space, and affordable housing.

The vote passed in order to establish a Community Preservation Committee.

Article 3 is the vote to authorize the Select Board to lease a portion of land located at 432 Adams St. consisting of .50 acres for the use of constructing a fire station to enter into a lease agreement of 99 years on such terms and conditions as the Select Board deems reasonable and appropriate. There was motion is to refer the article back to the Select Board for the intent of being presented at the May 2021 Special Town Meeting. Ultimately, the article passed.

Article 2, the town is to appropriate the sum of $32,250,000 for the costs of constructing and equipping a new fire headquarters and two fire sub stations.

Brian Walsh, Fire Station Building Committee Chair, provided a quick overview presentation which featured the current buildings, and firefighters spoke on the conditions inside of the buildings.

Dan Clark, Fire Station Building Committee Vice Chair, also provided a project update presentation.

There was a lot of back and forth discussion regarding whether to support this article, or move it to the springTown Meeting. The calls in support stated that the conditions of the buildings are poor, and we can and should do better for our firefighters.

Calls not in support at this time were mainly over the discrepancies over whether the land at 432 Adams St., can in fact be used as the address for the East Milton fire station location. For the most up to date information regarding this article, please visit: Fire Station Building Committee | Milton MA (townofmilton.org)

Ultimately, Town Meeting voted to spend $32.2 million to build/reconstruct Milton’s three fire stations despite not having an exact location nailed down for the new station in East Milton.

Voters will still need to approve a ballot question authorizing Milton to exempt the debt from the provisions of Proposition 2½ at the April 27 Town Election.