BCAT News

September Town Meeting kicked off on Monday evening, and after almost a four and-a-half hour session, there’s still more on the warrant to discuss. The first of two articles regarding the proposed Burlington High School Construction Project took up the most of the evening’s focus.

After coming to order, the body went into Article 1, General Reports from Town Officers and Committees. Assistant Town Administrator Patrick Lawlor spoke on the Town’s Capital Improvement Program, followed by reports from the Government Review and Human Services Committees, by Town Meeting Members Betsey Hughes and Carl Foss respectively.

The body then voted unanimously to approve Article 2, setting the date for the Annual Town Election to be April 11, 2026.

The agenda then moved onto the main event. Article 3, a request of $340,000,000 for a new and renovated Burlington High School, covering the expected sum of project management, project design services, and construction, subject to a debt exclusion. The article was supported unanimously by the Select Board, School Committee, and Ways & Means. The Capital Budget Committee’s vote was not shared due to a clerical error. Chair of The High School Building Committee Katherine Bond, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Eric Conti, and Ways & Means Committee Chair Doug Davidson, all spoke on the project before Town Meeting went to discussion.

Given the article carried the largest dollar-amount ever put before Town Meeting, the discussion took up most of the evening, with opinions both for and against.

Those against it said they supported a new high school, but not the current plan, claiming it was rushed. Others had concerns construction would disrupt abutters, and the tax increase would impact residents with fixed income. Some members considered the effect the project may have on the students, for those who went through elementary school during the COVID-19 pandemic, would then go through high school while the new building was being constructed.

Those in support of the project expressed the need for a more modern facility to meet current education and accessibility needs, and that “the can had been kicked down the road” long enough, and postponing or voting down the article would only increase project costs, excluding any potential failures of the building’s current systems, which would make a renovation far more urgent.  School Committee Member Christine Monaco stated that a “No” vote would bring the project back to square one, and they would lose their current project team.

Discussion continued after multiple motions to move the question or adjourn for the evening failed. Finally as Town Meeting entered its fourth hour, the question was moved, and Town Moderator Bill Beyer elected to go straight to a roll call vote. Ultimately, Article 3 passed with 77 in favor and 29 against.

However, the body is not done discussing the High School Construction Project. When Town Meeting resumes Monday October 6th, they will move on to Article 4, which is to approve the funding of $30,000 to hold a special election for the public to vote on a debt exclusion for the project. Also remaining on the warrant is an amendment to the Stormwater and Erosion and Sedimentation Control Bylaw, an amendment to a zoning bylaw which would add an additional subdistrict to the MBTA Communities Multifamily Overlay District, and a resolution concerning violations at the ICE Detention Facility located in The District. You can find out full Town Meeting Preview and the warrant here.