Historic Newton reported that a federal grant intended to fund collections work was terminated in April, forcing the nonprofit and city partners to reassess a recent plan to return artifacts from off‑site storage to the Jackson Homestead museum.

The vote: Committee members recorded a straw vote in support of the department’s FY26 operating request, $323,093.

Why it matters: The termination affects a collections manager position and the project timeline to rehabilitate storage and exhibitions at Jackson Homestead, a city museum site. The department described a mix of local, city and federal funds for building repairs and exhibit work, and said remaining conservation and exhibit work will continue through other funding and fundraising.

Lisa Davey, representing Historic Newton, told the committee the city nonprofit had expected to reduce an off‑site storage line item as artifacts were returned to the museum, but that an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant anticipated to support a collections manager and three years of work was terminated on April 8. She said the grant covered roughly $135,000 across three years and that the termination required layoffs on the nonprofit side and a reallocation of planned work.

Davey outlined building repairs funded through the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and ARPA dollars: basement waterproofing and a new HVAC to protect artifacts and improve sustainability, porch and gutter work funded by CPA, and exterior repairs scheduled for spring. She said the museum will install a new, full‑floor exhibit on the Jackson Homestead main floor built on current scholarship and interactive elements, paired with online resources to expand access.

Committee members thanked staff, asked about backup systems for climate control and whether generators or emergency plans would maintain temperature and humidity during outages. Davey said she would consult the project architect and the public buildings team about backup power and update the council with specifics.

The committee recorded a straw vote in favor of the department’s FY26 request; final appropriations will be set during subsequent budget votes.