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.