Freetown Select Board Accepts Library Grant, Commits to MBTA Zoning Vote

FREETOWN — February 3, 2025 — Freetown Select Board unanimously accepted a state library planning grant and committed to an MBTA Communities zoning vote by July 14, 2025. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners grant funds the planning and design phase of a proposed joint library and Council on Aging building, but is conditioned on the town passing zoning compliance requiring a minimum of 750 housing units — 50 acres at 15 units per acre — near the town's MBTA station, up from the current eight units per acre. Town Administrator Deb Lopes warned that failure to pass the zoning could force repayment of grant funds spent on design, and that the town's own $150,000 allocation would also be at risk. Library trustees chair Amy Sifre urged the board not to walk away before giving voters a chance, saying, "we've already done the work to get the money." The board also awarded a $3,450 contract to Full Scope Contracting for door and window replacements at Fire Station Number One and amended the February 24 special town meeting warrant to add a prior-year $348.94 Comcast invoice.