Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) held a meeting in the Mural Room, Lower Level of the Town Hall on Thursday, November 30, 2006 beginning at 8:00 a.m. Members present included Chairman Holly Morris, Tony Kelso, Brendan Keohan, Pat Loring, and George Wadsworth. Nancy Bennett and Sarianna Seewald were absent. Also present were Frank Mangione, Fiscal Advisory Committee, and Joe Grady, Conservation Administrator.
PUBLIC FORUM
No subject was brought forth.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
The CPC discussed the potential warrant articles for 2007 Annual Town Meeting. The list of articles included:
· 10-10-10
· Administrative budget
· Closeout of old projects
· Water Enterprise Fund Transfer – Unused funds for Delano property
· Tarkiln Plans & Specifications
· Historical Survey
· Synthetic Turf Athletic Field
The CPC had received a funding request from the Local Housing Partnership regarding the Grange, but that project was postponed. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: The CPC votes not to include the Grange project on the list of warrant articles for the 2007 Annual Town Meeting, however if the project goes forward the CPC may consider adding an article to the Special Town Meeting.
Vote: 5 in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
The CPC discussed the funding request from Duxbury P.R.I.D.E Field Inc. for the turf fields and determined at this time to only have a placeholder in the warrant for the project since the CPC was not ready to make a recommendation on the project. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded.
Motion: the CPC votes to have a placeholder for the turf field project in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, but with no recommendation for a dollar amount at this time.
Vote: 5 – in favor; 0 – opposed. Motion passed.
The CPC had voted at its meeting on 11/2/2006 to recommend the articles for the historical survey and Tarkiln plans & specifications.
GUIDELINES & GOALS DISCUSSION
Ms. Loring led the discussion since this topic was a follow-up to the last CPC meeting with David Hines and his group of concerned citizens. Topics of discussion include setting goals and priorities for the next 5 years; only buying land; being gatekeepers for projects; conducting a town-wide survey to determine the pulse of the community; and re-educating the community about the Community Preservation Act (CPA).
The first item of discussion was being gatekeepers. The CPC agreed the first task is to determine whether a project meets the criteria of the CPA. Members also discussed whether the CPC should filter out projects before going to Town Meeting. Mr. Wadsworth suggested that if a project is not supported unanimously by the CPC then the recommendation to Town Meeting should also include a minority report. Mr. Keohan commented that most projects are too complex to have a structured policy and that projects need to be looked at individually. The consensus of the CPC was that Town Meeting is the place to decide whether a project is right or not. It was also recommended that the advocates of a particular project, not the CPC, be the primary presenters at Town Meeting. Mr. Kelso recommended that projects be a
collaborative effort with multiple funding sources rather then the CPA being the sole funding source.
The CPC discussed whether to set financial goals for each of the three major purposes (open space, historical preservation, and housing). Ms. Loring questioned what happens if a worthwhile project came forward and there was not enough allocation for that particular purpose. This discussion also encompassed whether to buy only land. It was noted that buying just land may limit what can be done for historical preservation and housing.
The CPC recognized a need to communicate better with the community; to do more outreach; and to hold public hearings for each project prior to making a decision. The CPC discussed doing a survey to learn what residents think about the CPA. Ms. Loring reported that the Open Space Plan survey, which is ready for print, includes several questions regarding the CPA. Rather than delay doing a separate survey, it was recommended that the questions regarding CPA remain on the open space survey, and have the introduction emphasize that the survey also includes questions about the CPA. It was noted that after tabulation of the questionnaire the CPC could then decide whether a second survey dealing just with CPA was necessary.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Wadsworth presented a pie chart on projected expenditures of the CPC through July 2007. Ms. Loring commented the pie chart would be a helpful handout for Town Meeting.
Mr. Wadsworth agreed to ask the Finance Director if he could determine anticipated receipts for next year.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
The CPC reviewed minutes for the meetings on 11/2/06 and 11/16/06. The CPC postponed action on the minutes for 11/16/06. Ms. Loring made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Wadsworth.
Motion: to approve the minutes of the meeting on 11/2/06, as written.
Vote: 4 – in favor; 0 – opposed; 1 – abstention (Morris). Motion passed.
The CPC signed bills for legal services from Town Counsel.
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m. and the members went to a site visit for the synthetic turf athletic field project.
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