FINAL
Present for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Chairman, Steve Lewenberg, Lisa Burkin, Warren Doty, Bill Rossi, Jane Slater and Chuck Hodgkinson. Ebba Hierta and Rodney Bunker also attended. Allen Healy and John Eisner did not attend.
Ms. Goff brought the meeting to order at 5:30 PM and opened the public hearing at 5:32 PM to receive public comment on two requests for CPA funds and consideration at the planned November 19, 2018 Special Town Meeting.
- The first is the Housing Committee’s request for $100,000 of CPA Community Housing funds to re-fund the Town’s affordable rental assistance program. The program is managed by the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority. Mr. Rossi representing the Housing Committee explained we have four units that have participated in this program for quite a long time and the landlords have asked for a rent increase. The Housing Committee agreed to increase their base rents + 25 percent. Chuck H. explained the monthly rent assistance cost for these units will increase to about $3,100 and there is a possibility two more apartments will join. The remaining balance from the last CPA appropriation is under $19,000 which with the increase and two more units will last between 3-4 months. He explained the
Town’s policy is to fund this program with enough resources to allow the addition of a few units and supporting them for at least six months after an annual town meeting date. If for some reason town voters do not approve a future appropriation this will leave at least six months of continuing subsidy funds while the tenants make alternative plans.
After brief discussion a motion was made to recommend the $100,000 CPA Community Housing request to Town voters at the November 19th Special Town Meeting. The motion was seconded. In discussion Chuck H. distributed a schedule of current CPA fund balances and suggested transferring $100,000 from the Undesignated Reserve Fund balance to the Community Housing Reserve to pay for this request. The motion came to a vote and passed unanimously with six in favor.
- Ms. Hierta reviewed the Library Trustee’s request for $4,000 of CPA Historic Preservation funds to restore the wood flooring in the original Library building circa 1790-1820. She added this building was moved to the present site around 1950 and is also an important part of Chilmark’s cultural history. It was obtained from the estate of Katy West, the last member of Chilmark’s historic deaf community.
Mr. Bunker explained how the historic pine flooring will be meticulously restored to preserve its antique character. Chuck H. explained if recommended and approved by voters this can easily be funded from the current Historic Resources Reserve Fund.
Ms. Slater added the Historical Commission voted unanimously to recommend this project to the CPC. After brief discussion a motion was made to recommend the Library Trustee’s $4,000 Historic resources preservation request to voters at the November 19th Special Town Meeting. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with six in favor.
Chuck H. distributed draft warrant articles for these CPA fund requests. After reviewing each a motion was made to approve the two warrant articles as drafted. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with six in favor.
Next Meeting: The next meeting and public hearing to review CPA fund requests for consideration at the April 2019 Annual Town Meeting will take place on Monday, November 5 @ 5:30 PM.
Administration
The April 18, 2018 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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