Article 32, a proposal for a major renovation of Wharf Park, passed with the required two-thirds majority but not without significant debate. The article authorizes the town to borrow $750,000 for an ADA-compliant overhaul and landscaping of the waterfront park, which currently suffers from dangerous slopes and exposed roots. However, the funding comes with a strict condition: the Select Board will not authorize the treasurer to borrow the funds until the Friends of the Milton Farmers Market secures $450,000 in private donations.

Select Board Chair Winston Daly assured members that the town would not take on the debt until the private fundraising targets are met. Despite this assurance, some members expressed skepticism. Precinct 7 member Brian Kelly characterized the bonding as a mortgage on town parks and questioned the feasibility of the private fundraising goal. Other residents raised concerns about the potential impact of construction on local wildlife, specifically eagles and herons that frequent the estuary.

The project aims to transform the currently dilapidated space into a safe and accessible community gathering point. Proposers argued that the renovation is long overdue and that the partnership between town bonding and private fundraising represents a fiscally responsible way to address the site's safety issues.

Vote: Passed 141-52-4