OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
MINUTES: Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Present – Judy Brainerd, Glen Collins, Dave Read, Sue Horton, Sue Haley, Keith Johnson.
Also Jeff Havlick.
Approval of Past Meeting Minutes
Motion: Dave motioned, Glen seconded to approve minutes from meeting dated September 29, 2004. Minutes approved.
Land Acquisition:
Mumford property purchase & sale agreement has been signed. Don’t know when closing will take place.
Hatch property – still ironing out details.
Keith and Judy still need to review list of properties to determine priorities for purchase
Open Space Management Plan:
The Plan is nearing completion and can be put on the web site when completed.
The Open Space Brochure is also nearing completion
Old Business:
CPA -
Keith, Laura and Judy attended a BOS meeting where information on the Community Preservation Act was discussed. The BOS in general felt that residents had little appetite for adding a tax for the CPA to that which already exists for the Land Bank and will therefore not support that option. Mark Robinson was also present and mentioned ways in which some Towns are involved, such as Chatham with the Land Bank and the CPA and another town where they have set aside 50% of CPA funds to go towards open space purchases. The BOS discussed the option of setting aside a percentage of CPA funds for Open Space use. In addition, setting aside a percentage for affordable housing was mentioned.
BOS are planning a Special Town Meeting on December 13th for a town vote on the CPA.
Judy also attended a separate CPA presentation for Cape-wide Land Bank members at which Mark Robinson said that there is little political will to continue in the Land Bank alone. Presenters from the “CPA Coalition,” a group charged with helping towns implement the CPA, explained the options and flexibility available to a town CPA committee in making decisions on how to expend CPA funds. A helpful handout from the CPA Coalition was distributed. It is estimated that the State will have enough money in the CPA account to provide 100% matching funds for about 5 years; after that the match may drop to around 80%.
The Open Space Committee discussed options for getting our concerns addressed in the Warrant. Our interest came down to getting assurances that the required CPA Committee has representation on it from the Conservation Committee AND from the Open Space Committee. Judy will suggest that the Open Space Committee will support the CPA at the 10% level for open space, but with a proposal that the by-law that creates the committee specifies that open space members are represented.
It is not currently known what will happen to the commitment for $75,000 capital expenditure for Open Space in 2005.
Town Website –
The Town website is looking great and has information on Open Space including monthly minutes.
1651 Forest:
15 mockernut hickories have been planted and are doing fine as are all the elms.
Conservation Commission:
Nothing new to report
Next Meeting – November 17th at 7:30. Note this is the 3rd Wednesday in November due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Sue Haley motioned for calling meeting to a close, Dave Read seconded.
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