Weston Finance Committee Backs $4.6 Million Art Center, Housing Completion

WESTON — November 2, 2017 — Weston Finance Committee backs $4.6 million Art and Innovation Center renovation and completes affordable housing vote. The committee voted unanimously at its November 2 meeting to support the Article 1 warrant appropriation of up to $4.6 million to renovate the old library for the Weston Art and Innovation Center, despite acknowledging that final construction bids — expected November 15 — had not yet been received, and that early bids came in higher than projected. The committee voted 4-1 to support Article 2, a $400,000 completion appropriation for the Brook School Apartments affordable housing project, even though the committee had previously opposed the original $2.6 million appropriation, reasoning that two units sit unrentable and the sunk cost is already spent. The committee took no position on three smaller CPC-funded articles totaling roughly $300,000, establishing a new process requiring sponsoring groups to appear before the committee before any spending vote — and stating that groups who refuse will face opposition. The meeting also included a briefing on a new PILOT program targeting Regis College, The Rivers School, and three other private Weston schools, with a total ask of approximately $488,000, of which up to $240,000 to $250,000 in cash is expected after in-kind service credits.