FINAL
Present for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Chairman, Andy Goldman, Warren Doty, Jane Slater, Lisa Burkin and Chuck Hodgkinson. Bill Rossi, Allen Healy, John Eisner and Tim Carroll were absent.
The meeting came to order at 6:02 PM. Ms. Goff welcomed Lisa Burkin to the Committee.
TOWN’S SQUIBNOCKET PROJECT: Chuck H. outlined how this project is proceeding with the working timeline. He also reviewed the CPA Park & Recreation appropriations that Town voters have already approved for the project and the estimated expenses against each. He pointed out that the $410,000 appropriation for the 100-year lease for an additional ¼ mile of beach to the west of the current Town beach will be significantly lower than originally estimated. This is because a total of 5-6-acres of ocean and Squibnocket Pond shore front land will be leased instead of the original 11-acre plan. This lowered the 100-year lease cost from $400,000 to $200,000. He also estimated a total amount of $260,000 may be needed for the lease cost and
legal expenses.
He continued to explain that the Town received two grants of $280,000 from Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to pay for the Town’s permitting and construction costs for the original plan. $20,000 of the FY 2015 grant was spent and only $52,000 of the FY 2016 $280,000 grant will be spent by this June 30. The balance ($228,000) had to be forfeited. Permitting delays for the homeowner’s causeway portion of the project did not allow construction to start as originally planned. There is still no indication the grant program will be offered in FY 2017.
The current plan that was approved by voters on February 2, 2015 is significantly different than the original plan. Consequently, the budgeting cost estimate to build the voter-approved plan is $350,000. In order to issue the Requests for Proposals -- currently planned for this June – the project must be funded. Chuck H. suggested transferring $150,000 of the $410,000 beach lease appropriation to partially fund the construction.
The Committee discussed options for funding the balance ($200,000) and agreed this should not come from the CPA fund reserves. It preferred to hold the funds in reserve for future affordable housing projects. Mr. Doty then suggested the option of seeking the $200,000 needed from available funds in the Treasury (free cash).
After brief discussion a motion was made to recommend to voters at the April 25, 2016 Annual Town Meeting the transfer of $150,000 from the current beach lease appropriation to partially fund the construction cost. The motion was seconded and with no further discussion passed unanimously with five in favor.
2015 ANNUAL REPORT: The draft 2015 CPC annual report was reviewed. After discussing several changes a motion was made to approve the annual report as amended. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with five in favor.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COALITION DUES: Chuck H. explained the annual dues for the Coalition will be $875. A motion was made and seconded to pay the Coalition dues. With no further discussion it passed unanimously with five in favor.
LETTER REQUESTING CPA FUND RECORDS: Chuck H. shared a letter from an attorney in Washing DC under the freedom of information act seeking the details of any CPA fund applications or appropriations for religious purposes. The subject is the separation of church and state. He continued to explain Chilmark has never received an application nor paid an appropriation for this use and asked for permission to respond accordingly. The Committee agreed.
ADMINISTRATION
The November 18, 2015 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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