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.