Stoughton’s youth athletes made a compelling case for the future of the town’s athletic infrastructure as the Finance Committee opened public hearings for the upcoming May 4 Annual Town Meeting. The session, which spanned nearly four hours, centered on more than $3 million in proposed Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects, ranging from vital records preservation to a massive renovation of the Kolt Soccer Fields.

The $877,275 proposal for the Kolt Soccer Complex (Article 28) emerged as a high-priority item, with $827,275 requested from the CPC and a $50,000 contribution from Stoughton Youth Soccer. A Soccer Representative explained that the fields, situated on a former landfill with a concrete cap, suffer from severe compaction and drainage failures. The rain just sits on top of the fields, one youth player told the committee, adding that sometimes they are the best defenders because they stop the ball in mid-play. Member Arnie Feinberg supported the urgency, stating, I refereed all over... these are some of the worst fields. We need to step up. Member Heidi Tucker inquired about broader infrastructure at the site, asking, What about the parking lot? Is that going to be a disaster or are you going to pave it? The representative clarified that the lease only covers the area within the fence guidelines, leaving the lot as a town responsibility.

The committee also weighed an $800,000 request from the Stoughton Housing Authority (Article 27) to construct eight new low-income units on Drake Avenue. Authority Chair Barry Crimmins explained that the project would replace seven scattered site units that are inefficient and difficult to maintain. We will sell those and replace them with eight brand new, accessible units, Crimmins said. Director Colleen noted that residents pay 30 percent of their income toward rent and that we will not displace the seven households until the new units are ready. Resident Natasha Gomes questioned if the aging units could be sold to lower-income residents, but Colleen noted that the grant requires a market-rate sale to fund the new construction.

The housing discussion took a sharp turn when Member Johna Rosenblatt used a term to describe residents that Chair Carolyn Campbell found offensive, leading to a formal request for a change in terminology. As a member of this committee, please use a different term, Campbell said, citing the historical context of grouping people into categories. Rosenblatt defended her phrasing, stating, I have a right to use that word.

Departmental budgets for the 2027 fiscal year also came under scrutiny. The Library budget featured a 34.42 percent increase in the salary line, which a representative explained was necessary to correct a grading error and reflect collective bargaining raises. Vice Chair Becca Markson questioned technical stipends in the request, noting, I don't know what night differential is. The representative explained it covers staff working after 5:00 PM or on weekends. Public comment from a resident highlighted ongoing accessibility concerns, specifically a lack of curb cuts at the rear library entrance. It really is distressing, the resident said. I wish somewhere in the future there'd be a line for some accommodations.

Recreation and Youth Services Director Matt Kochen reported booming attendance in town programs, including a 29 percent spike at the South School program and a 36 percent jump for teen services. Kochen justified a $50,000 maintenance contract after Member Ian Turlin asked if the work could be handled internally. Hiring full-time staff would likely cost more than the $50,000 contract when you include healthcare, Kochen said, adding that his department will continue to work with the Lions Club to offer free swim lessons to Stoughton families in need.

Other major CPA articles discussed included a $650,000 renovation of Denison Athletic Field (Article 26) and a $250,000 request for the Cedar Hill Golf Course (Article 30). Member Benjamin Carre asked if the Denison project included artificial turf, but Kochen clarified it focuses strictly on dugouts and fencing. At the golf course, representative Victor noted that enlarging Green #1 would spread the damage out and have less chemical use. CPC Administrator Thomas J. Calter also presented Article 29, a $250,000 request for vital records preservation, noting that experts must take the most decrepit volumes and preserve them page by page. Finally, Joseph Baeta presented Article 25, a $150,000 request to restore an 1850s hand pumper truck. This will be a patina restoration—it'll look aged and used, Baeta said of the historic vehicle.

Motion Made by J. Wolk to open the public hearings for the May 4th Annual and Special Town Meeting. Motion Passed (10-0-0).