Article 33 - MCI Concord - Planning

ARTICLE 33. To determine whether the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of acquiring the existing MCI Concord Wastewater Treatment Plant or for general planning purposes associated with the MCI Concord; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article Explanation

In January of 2024, the Governor's proposed FY25 Budget Plan indicated the Commonwealth was planning to close the MCI Concord prison (excluding Northeast Correctional Center ['The Farm']), including a provision that would conditionally allow the ownership of the WWTP to be transferred to the Town of Concord for public use.  The wastewater treatment facility serving MCI Concord has a design capacity of 0.31 million gallons per day (MGD). Prison operations ceased on June 30, 2024, and inmate housing operations concluded on July 17, 2024.   

On February 10, 2025, the Select Board voted to direct the Town Manager, the Town’s Director of Public Works and Town Counsel to continue discussions with the Division of Capital Management & Maintenance (“DCAMM”) on the terms of a mutually agreeable land disposition agreement (LDA). This article is being advanced to appropriate funding for the purposes of the Town’s further due diligence regarding the Facility and negotiation of an LDA. 

Taking ownership of MCI's Treatment Facility offers Concord an unusual and rare opportunity to provide a relief valve for wastewater treatment capacity constraints that have been unresolved within the Town for over 25 years. Such an opportunity will need to balance the Town’s desire to meet the needs of economic growth and development interest by the community, while also serving the needs of the planned redevelopment of the 51 Acre site formerly occupied by MCI, as well as the needs of ‘the Farm’, the State Police barracks, and the MassDOT Maintenance Facility, all located along Route 2.

Article Motion

Mr. Howell moves that the Town transfer from Certified Free Cash Balance of July 1, 2024 the sum of $250,000 for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of acquiring the existing MCI Concord Wastewater Treatment Plant and for general planning purposes associated with the MCI Concord.