BURLINGTON WEATHER

How Burlington Works

With no opponent on the ballot this spring, Brian Curtin is set to continue his work on the Burlington Housing Authority, a role he has held for the past five years.

The Burlington Housing Authority, consisting of three elected members, one tenant member, and one Governor's appointee, administers Burlington's public housing programs for seniors and people with disabilities.

For Curtin, running uncontested is less about politics and more about continuity. He plans to move ahead on projects already underway while planning for the future of affordable housing in Burlington.

“The most pressing challenge is the need for more affordable housing. We would love to be able to add more units. We have land that was gifted to us by the town in 1987, and we’re looking to partner with a developer to build on that property and create more housing for the future.”

Curtin’s connection to Burlington runs deep. He moved to town at age 5, graduated from Burlington High School, and spent more than four decades serving the community as town treasurer and tax collector. After retiring in June of 2020, he was appointed to the Housing Authority, which led to his election to the board in 2021. 

Now, as he seeks another term, Curtin says he remains motivated by the same goal that has guided much of his career: improving the town he has long called home.

As a member of the Housing Authority’s board of directors, Curtin helps oversee the organization’s operations while leaving day-to-day management to the executive director and staff. In his role as treasurer, he focuses on the Authority’s financial health. He reviews and signs checks, monitors spending, and helps ensure the agency passes its annual audits. 

“Our job is really oversight,” Curtin said. “We want to make sure the funding is in place, the bills are legitimate, and the infrastructure is sustainable for the long term.”

That oversight has helped support a series of major capital improvements in recent years. One of the most significant projects was a $665,000 roof replacement at Tower Hill, the Authority’s main building, which houses 65 units. The project took more than two years to complete and was critical to preserving the building’s condition. 

More recently, the Authority completed a $98,000 parking lot paving and striping project and launched a $162,000 effort to replace faucets, medicine cabinets, and shower fixtures at Birchcrest Arms, a 40-unit complex.

The Authority has also focused on safety and modernization. It secured state funding for improved intercom systems and security cameras and replaced outdated heating and cooling units with a $33,000 investment. Another major initiative, still in the planning stages, will redesign office space at Tower Hill to make it safer and more efficient for both staff and residents.

Curtin said those projects rank among the Housing Authority’s biggest accomplishments during his current term.

 “We’ve had a lot of major projects over the last two or three years,” he said. “We’re very proud of what’s been accomplished.”

Paula Kinnon, executive director of the Burlington Housing Authority, said Curtin’s experience and community connections make him a valuable board member. Kinnon, who has worked with Curtin for about two and a half years, said he often helps connect the authority with people and resources in the town. 

“Brian is very well-liked and very informative,” Kinnon said. “He’s overall a great source of information.”

Michael Gionet, leasing coordinator for the Burlington Housing Authority, said Curtin’s financial background and familiarity with Burlington have also benefited the organization. Gionet explained that he interacts with Curtin mainly during board meetings and when Curtin signs off on financial payments in his role as the board’s treasurer. 

“His knowledge in community and financial matters has been really helpful,” Gionet said. “He’s also a great reference when we have questions.”

Curtin said housing affordability remains the authority’s most pressing challenge. Like many Massachusetts communities, Burlington faces a limited housing stock and long waitlists for affordable units. 

Still, Curtin said there may be an opportunity to expand. He said that while state and federal regulations limit what local housing authorities can do on their own, he sees potential in the aforementioned gifted parcel of land and says the authority is now taking steps to see how it can be developed to create additional affordable housing units. They’re in early stages at the moment, seeking an appraisal of the land and hoping to issue a request for proposals to find a development partner to turn that possibility into reality.

“That’s really where the future is,” Curtin said. “If we can partner with the right organization, we may be able to add more units and help more residents who need affordable housing.”

Another priority in the coming years is safety. The Authority recently received $430,000 in state funding, awarded with the support of the Massachusetts housing secretary, to be used for future security and infrastructure projects. Curtin hopes those funds will help improve conditions across all Authority properties and provide residents—many of them seniors—with greater peace of mind.

Despite the financial and regulatory challenges, Curtin says he remains committed to the role.

 “I care deeply about the senior citizens in Burlington,” he said. “It’s challenging to secure funding in today’s environment, but we’re doing the best we can with what’s available.”

Sarah Morrissey is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was published in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.

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