Last modified: Sunday, June 10, 2007 12:09 AM EDT Hearing on Patrick's proposal set for Wheaton BY SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTON - A legislative committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday at Wheaton College on portions of Gov. Deval Patrick's Municipal Partnership Act. The 1 p.m. hearing at Hindle Auditorium is one of five hearings across the state being held by state Sen. James Timilty and the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. The Municipal Partnership Act proposes several changes in state law to help lower costs of operations for cities and towns and to allow them to raise revenue beyond the property tax. The hearing Wednesday will deal with aspects of the bill pertaining to loosening the rules for cities and towns when they borrow money. Local meals taxes and other highly controversial aspects of the bill will not be the subject of the hearing. Patrick has proposed that cities and towns be allowed to stretch out the payments on bonds floated for major purchases and construction projects. For instance, payments on the purchase of land could be stretched to 30 years rather than 20 in order to reduce the annual cost to cities and towns. Other expenses, such as pollution remediation, could be paid for through a five-year loan, rather than as a one-time budget payment. A committee spokesman said numerous local officials are expected to attend the hearing.