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3/11/2024 AC Minutes <br />2 <br />and to continue offering this service for free to residents. This expense will be partially offset by a <br />reduction in tipping fees, since heavy organic waste is being diverted from the trash waste stream. <br />Mr. Bartenstein commented that the Town had recently received initial MWRA estimates for water <br />and wastewater assessments, but these estimates were not used in the Brown Book nor in the motion <br />under Article 5 Appropriate FY2025 Enterprise Fund Budgets. As a result, the initial appropriation <br />will be roughly 10% larger than needed but, as always, these appropriations will be adjusted at a fall <br />special town meeting after the final MWRA assessments are received and before the water and <br />sewer rates are set. <br />Under Article 9 Establish and Continue Departmental Revolving Funds, Mr. Parker asked whether <br />the revolving fund for the MEMA cache at Hartwell Ave. needed to be included in the motion, even <br />though the spending limit will be zero. Recent changes in legislation removed the need to re-author- <br />ize revolving funds every year, so it can be left out of the motion. <br />Ms. Kosnoff stated that the Moderator will be asked to hold Article 10(d) Lincoln Park Fitness Sta- <br />tions Equipment until later in the meeting calendar in order to give the Trustees of Public Trusts a <br />chance to vote on providing partial funding for this request. <br />Several edits were made to the report on Article 33. Aspects of the all-affordable housing develop- <br />ment financing model were clarified by Mr. Bartenstein. <br />Ms. Yan expressed concern that, if an all-affordable development operator became insolvent at <br />some future date, the Town could then be required to provide financial support. This support might <br />entail rent subsidies for tenants, or direct funding for maintenance and capital needs at the develop- <br />ment. Mr. Bartenstein and Mr. Parker agreed that the Town would not be obligated to provide sup- <br />port. While the Town might become temporarily involved, the private operator would need to re- <br />solve the issues, either by refinancing or transferring the management to another operator. If this <br />were not possible, the Town could elect to assume responsibility for the project at a future date, for <br />example by exercising a right of first refusal to repurchase the property. <br />Mr. Levine reported that Select Board Member Mark Sandeen said that a local architect had pro- <br />duced a rough design that fits 48 units on the site. <br />Mr. Osborne asked why the report discussed the “fallacy of composition” under this article when <br />the idea is not mentioned in other articles where it might also apply. Mr. Bartenstein replied that he <br />felt it was relevant to this request because the Town will face numerous challenges from a growing <br />population. Mr. Parker stated that the discussion about the impact of growth was relevant here, but <br />it was just as relevant for all the other anticipated growth that the Town will be seeing in the next <br />decade. Mr. Osborne noted that we cannot predict the timing of the impact being discussed. Con- <br />struction on this development could be delayed until well after other large by-right developments <br />are already completed under the new MBTA zoning. <br />The Committee discussed the expected tax revenue from the development. Mr. Parker stated that <br />the operator of the development would most likely pay property taxes, that the amount would be de- <br />termined by the Town Assessor, and that this was not a negotiable item in the financing of the de- <br />velopment. Mr. Bartenstein accepted this point, but pointed out that the Town’s contribution should <br />be compared to the present value of the future property tax. Mr. Parker agreed that any direct finan- <br />cial benefit from this development to the Town would be limited but noted that the Town would re- <br />ceive a significant benefit in the form of affordable housing at a discounted price. He added that <br />there were other intangible benefits that could result from having more affordable housing in the <br />Town.