Wicked Local
With support from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and a majority of city councilors, Newton for the first time will provide Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for a project at a house of worship.
By voting 17-5 in favor of awarding more than $1.43 million in CPA money to help repair Grace Episcopal Church’s historic tower, most councilors indicated they did not believe the move went against the state’s anti-aid amendment.
The anti-aid amendment prohibits granting public money to several non-public entities, including schools and religious institutions, except in specific circumstances.
The church applied for the money because “a design defect has rendered the tower unstable, creating an emergency situation and a threat to public safety,” according to a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) report.
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