Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2006
This meeting was the annual public informational hearing as required under M.G.L. Chapter 44B, section 5.
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) held a meeting in the Mural Room, Lower Level of the Town Hall on Thursday, February 16, 2006 beginning at 8:00 a.m. Members present included Chairman Holly Morris, Tony Kelso, Pat Loring, Sarianna Seewald, and George Wadsworth. Nancy Bennett and Brendan Keohan were absent.
Also present for the discussions were Joe Grady, Conservation Administrator, Frank Mangione and Melissa Donohoe from Fiscal Advisory Committee, Christine Stickney, Planning Director, Angela Scieska from the Planning Board, Bill Campbell and Diane Bartlett from the Local Housing Partnership, and Kay Foster and Edward McGlinchey.
PUBLIC FORUM
No subject was brought forth.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
The CPC discussed each article being sponsored by the CPC at Town Meeting.
Article 22 – Mr.Wadsworth made a motion that was seconded by Ms. Loring.
Motion: to see if the Town will raise and appropriate, or transfer, upon recommendation of the Community Preservation committee, from the Community Preservation Act Fund, in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44B such sums of money as it determines necessary for the expenses and charges, including, without limitation of the foregoing, wages, salaries and expenses for operation of the Community Preservation Committee, all for the Fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007 inclusive, in accordance with the following schedule, which is incorporated by reference herein – Salaries $20,000 and Expenses $60,000 for a total of $80,000.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 23 - Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Kelso.
Motion: to see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the Community Preservation Act., M.G.L. chapter 44B, Section 6 for the purposes of Open Space, Community Housing (Affordable) and Historic Resources (Preservation) and to meet this appropriation, transfer a sum of money from the Community Preservation Act Fund. Set sum in each bucket being estimated at $203,844.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 24 – Mr. Kelso describes the project. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money, $35,000, ($17,500 from open space and $17,500 from historic) from the Community Preservation Fund to restore and construct two fish ladders on Island Creek and to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow a sum of money for the purposes of this article.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 25 – Ms. Morris explained the project which was restoration of 30 windows at the Alden House. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money, in the amount of $30,000 from the Community Preservation Fund for the purpose of this Article and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into certain agreements with the Alden Kindred of America, Inc. on terms deemed by the Selectmen to be in the best interest of the Town, and to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow a sum of money for the purposes of this article.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 26 – Ms. Morris explained the purpose of the article which was to reallocate the money used to purchase the Congress St. (Merlet) parcel in 2002 from the general CPA Fund to the housing portion of the Fund. The amount to be transferred is $256,000. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Kelso.
Motion: to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Accountant to transfer upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money in the amount of $256,000, expended for the purchase of a parcel of land identified on Duxbury Assessors Map as parcel 020-500-005 acquired for the purposes of community housing under Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting in June 2002.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 27 – This article is the proposed purchase of the Loring and O’Brien bogs. Total request for the article is $281, 000 to include the purchase prices and associated costs, legal, stewardship and conservation restriction. Mr. Grady also explained that the Conservation Commission is seeking authorization to enter into a agreement with a cranberry grower to manage the bogs for the Town for 10 years. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Ms. Seewald.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money in the amount of $281,000 from the Community Preservation fund to acquire for conservation purposes with a permanent restriction under MGL chapter 184 three parcels of land, approximately 36.82 acres in area, identified as parcels 140-055-000, 140-054-000 and 100-901-038 on Duxbury Assessors maps and for costs related thereto and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to solicit grants or receive gifts for said purchase and further to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow a sum of money, and to authorize the Conservation Commission under MGL Chapter 40 section 8c to manage the properties and to enter in an
agreement of up to ten years for management of the bogs.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 28 – This article is the proposed purchase of the Nudd bog. Total request for the article is $237,000 to include the purchase price and associated costs, legal stewardship, conservation restriction and $25,000 for the existing irrigation equipment. Mr. Kelso made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money in the amount of $237,000 from the Community Preservation fund to acquire for conservation purposes with a permanent restriction under MGL chapter 184 a parcel of land, approximately 23.9 acres in area, identified as parcel 100-901-037 on Duxbury Assessors maps and for costs related thereto and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to solicit grants or receive gifts for said purchase and further to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow a sum of money, and to authorize the Conservation Commission under MGL Chapter 40 section 8c to manage the properties and to enter in an agreement of up to ten years for management
of the bogs.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 29 – The purpose of this article is to return unspent money from completed projects back to the Community Preservation Act Fund. Two projects, Swanson land purchase and Town Green have unused funds. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Accountant upon recommendation of the CPC to rescind unused money allocated to a specific project and transfer said money back to the Community Preservation Fund.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Article 30 – This article relates to a proposed land swap with an abutter at the Congress Street housing parcel (020-500-006). Ms. Morris indicated this article may be indefinitely postponed so no action was taken at this time.
Article 31 – Mr. Wadsworth explained the article was to hire a housing consultant for one year. The funding request was $30,000. Mr. Bill Campbell presented a draft description of the consultant’s position. Ms. Scieska spoke in favor of the proposal. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded.
Motion: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate upon recommendation of the CPC a sum of money in the amount of $30,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to hire a Housing Consultant and further to authorize the Town Manager to enter into an agreement with the Housing Consultant on terms deemed to be in the best interest of the Town and to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow a sum of money for the purpose of this article.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Other Comments - Ms. Loring read two statements from David Hines and Ruth Rowley who could not be present at the meeting. Mr. Hines recommended the CPC develop a long-range plan for the next 5 years. Mr. Hines commented that the CPC needs to do more education to explain what the CPC does and suggested signs be posted on the projects where CPA money has been used. Ms. Rowley also recommended a long-range plan. Several other people, Ed McGlinchey, Angela Scieska, Diane Bartlett, Bill Campbell also spoke on importance of educating the public. The CPC will continue discussion on this issue at a meeting after Town Meeting.
The CPC scheduled site walks of the proposed Loring and Nudd land acquisitions for February 25, and March 4, 2006.
PROJECTS UPDATE
Mr. Grady reported that Town Counsel feels the lease with Habitat for Humanity on the Congress Street parcel is sufficient for a housing restriction.
Mr. Grady reported the land transaction for the Cushing parcel is completed.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
The CPC signed a bill for legal services regarding preparation of the purchase and sales for the Loring and Nudd parcels.
The CPC reviewed the minutes of 2/2/06. Mr. Kelso noted a grammatical error. Mr. Kelso made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: to approve the minutes of 2/2/06 as corrected.
Vote: 4 – in favor; 0 – opposed; 1 – abstention (Loring). Motion passed.
Ms. Loring left the meeting at 9:45 a.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – POTENTIAL LAND ACQUISTIONS
At 10:02 a.m. Ms. Seewald made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth to go into executive session.
Motion: to go into executive session to consider the taking, purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property which, if discussed outside of this session could have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the governing body.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken: 4 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
At 10:30 a.m. Ms. Seewald made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth to reconvene into open session.
Motion: to reconvene into open session.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken: 4 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
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