Ayer highlights community preservation efforts ahead of annual Town Meeting

AYER — In preparation for the Annual Town Meeting on April 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ayer Shirley Regional High School Auditorium, the Town of Ayer has initiated the “Articles of the Day” series. This initiative aims to provide residents with detailed insights into each warrant article to be discussed at the meeting. On April 20, 2025, the town released summaries for Articles 23 through 25, focusing on community preservation initiatives.

Article 23: Fiscal Year 2026 Community Preservation Act Budget

This article proposes the appropriation of funds for the FY 2026 Community Preservation Act (CPA) budget, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The CPA supports projects in historic preservation, community housing, open space, and recreation.

Article 24: Ayer Library Roof Replacement

Under this article, the town seeks to allocate $214,250 from the CPA Historic Category to fund the replacement and repair of the Ayer Library roof. The total project cost is estimated at $258,550, with the remaining $44,300 proposed to come from Article 13 of the Town Meeting Warrant. The CPC held a public hearing on March 5, 2025, to discuss this project.

Article 25: Ayer Affordable Housing Trust Funding

This article recommends the allocation of $200,000 from the CPA Housing Category to the Ayer Affordable Housing Trust (AAHT). The funds aim to continue the Ayer Rental Assistance Program (ARAP) and to build reserves for future property acquisitions to expand affordable housing opportunities. A public hearing regarding this funding was also held by the CPC on March 5, 2025.

For more information on Ayer’s Community Preservation Committee and the aforementioned articles, go here.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the Annual Town Meeting to voice their opinions and vote on these and other important community matters.

For more information and/or questions about Town Meeting, contact the Town Manager at (978) 772-8220 or via email at tm@ayer.ma.us.