Town asks voters to authorize up to $7M to design municipal employee housing on Wait Drive

Christy Ferrantello, the town’s housing director, presented Article 13 asking voters to authorize borrowing up to $7,000,000 to design, permit and construct phase one of municipal employee housing on town‑owned lots along Wait Drive.

Ferrantello said the town owns five buildable lots on Wait Drive that could support multiple units over time and described phase one as a modest initial build aimed at creating stable housing for municipal employees — teachers, police, firefighters and other essential staff. "Providing stable housing for our workforce is one of the most effective long‑term solutions we have to address this challenge," she told the group, citing survey data showing many employees are housing‑cost burdened or at risk of losing housing.

Participants flagged a likely Town Meeting question: the per‑bedroom headline cost. One attendee said it could read as "$1 million per bedroom," and presenters agreed to prepare simple, lay‑person explanations about how rents and projected operating revenues would offset debt service and reduce net taxpayer cost over time. Officials also said video graphics and slides will show the development layout, rental assumptions and the effect of any borrowing on tax rates in the voters' guide.

Organizers advised Ferrantello to lead with the need — staffing pressure and the number of municipal employees on the housing list — and to prepare concise answers on unit counts, costs and projected rental revenue before the April 9 mock session and the May 4 meeting.