Palmer Council Votes to Fund Full Thorndyke Street Development Study at $40,000

PALMER -- September 8, 2025, Palmer Town Council doubles Thorndyke Street development financing authorization to $40,000. The council voted unanimously at its September 8 meeting to transfer $40,000 from the capital stabilization fund for both phases of a District Improvement Financing study of the Thorndyke Street commercial corridor, doubling the $15,000 originally proposed for phase one alone; members cited a contract clause allowing the town to exit after phase one at no additional cost if it chooses not to proceed. Town Manager Brad Brothers stressed a December 1 deadline to map the district before new commercial properties such as Liberty Plaza raise baseline assessed values, and noted the DIF could help offset costs on a sewer siphon replacement estimated at $6 million to $8 million that has a pending grant application for up to 80 percent coverage. The council also unanimously approved a $37,800 salary reserve transfer for negotiated DPW and dispatch contract increases, and deferred a vote on establishing a Special Education Stabilization Fund after Superintendent Matt Francis could not identify a funding source that did not draw from existing general fund revenues, with members asking for comparative data from other communities before the item returns during budget season.