Finance Committee Unanimously Recommends $10.75 Million Sharaps Farm Acquisition

WILMINGTON -- April 23, 2026, Wilmington's Finance Committee unanimously recommended all four Special Town Meeting warrant articles, including a $6.31 million free cash appropriation to complete the $10.75 million friendly taking of Sharaps Farm at 333 Andover Street. Town Counsel told the committee that two prior appropriations left $4.44 million on hand, with $131,000 already spent on environmental testing, and that a contested eminent domain proceeding would have exposed the town to 12 percent annual statutory interest on any litigation award above the pro tanto payment, potentially exceeding the agreed purchase price. The roughly 60-acre parcel contains approximately 40 upland acres, with town officials eyeing athletic fields, a potential DPW facility, and an ice rink pad as future uses. The committee also recommended three tax-exemption articles, Articles 2, 3, and 4, that would apply annual CPI increases to surviving-spouse and senior citizen asset limits and double a broad range of personal exemptions for seniors, veterans, and other eligible taxpayers at an estimated net cost to the town of approximately $25,000 after accounting for existing HERO Act doubling provisions. All articles head to the Special Town Meeting set for May 2 at the high school.