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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 79
Warrant Article Title:
APPROPRIATION / PRIVATE WAY REPAIRS REVOLVING
FUNDS
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money into
the Private Ways Repairs Revolving Fund for the purpose of
repairing or reconstructing private ways, including costs incidental
and related thereto and to determine how the appropriation into
such revolving fund, and to determine how the appropriation shall
be raised or expended, including the possibility of borrowing all or
some of same; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Town Manager
Report Excerpt:
The Town has long utilized the Private Way Repairs Revolving
Fund to pay for costs associated with improvements to the many
private ways in Arlington. These costs are always recouped by
the Town from the abutters of the private way. This year, a larger
project will be undertaken, the cost of which exceeds the amount
in the fund. This appropriation will enable the Town to perform
the necessary work for that neighborhood. It will be repaid to the
Town in full, with interest. (Requires a 2/3 vote).
[Select Board] voted 4-0 (Mr. DeCourcey recused himself) in
support of this article.
This appropriation article seeks to authorize the borrowing or debt
issuance and appropriation of a sum of money in the amount of
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up to a maximum of $1,569,608 to fund a large private way repair
project to take place in the Kelwyn Manor neighborhood of
Arlington. Ordinarily, private way repairs are funded through the
process set forth Title III, Article 3 of the Town Bylaws. That
process allows abutters to any private way, or group of private
ways, to petition the Select Board to order repairs. Typically,
private way repair projects are much smaller in scope and funded
through the overlay reserve or an appropriation from existing
General Funds. Given the scale of this project, however, the
ordinary funding process is not an option because existing private
way funds are insufficient. It is noted that all Town funds
expended on private way repair projects are recovered through a
special assessment on real estate tax bills for impacted properties
whose owners do not pay their share up-front.
If approved by Town Meeting, it is expected that the Town will
issue a bond to fund the project. Thereafter, each abutter's share
of the funded amount will be repaid to the Town. Abutters may
pay in full upon completion of the work or can be partially or fully
assessed on their tax bills for payment over five-year period with
interest at 2 percent above the cost (including Town oversight and
administration costs) of any bond issued to fund the repair in
question.
Vote Language:
That the sum of $1,569,608 be and hereby is appropriated for the
purpose of financing the repair of private ways, subject to a
Betterment Order under Title III, Article 3 of the Town’s bylaws,
including costs incidental and related thereto; that to raise this
appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select
Board, is authorized to borrow up to $1,569,608 under and
pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7, of the General Laws, as
amended, or any other enabling authority and to issue bonds or
notes of the Town therefore; and that the Select Board and the
Town Manager be and hereby are authorized to enter into any
agreements they determine to be necessary in connection with
the project and its financing. Further, in accordance with
