Lenox Community Preservation Committee
March 27, 2008
Minutes
Members present: Roscoe Sandlin (RS), Midge Sandlin (MS), Andrea Winter (AW), Joe Strauch (JS), Olga Weiss (OW), Joseph Kellogg (JK) and Fred Keator (FK), John McNinch (JM) and Scott Pignatelli (SP).
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
RS called the meeting to order at 5:10 PM. RS noted this is the final CPC meeting before Town Meeting. The committee must decide on the funding recommendations, the warrant format and the presentation to Town Meeting.
JK suggested that the warrant article be in the same format as the town budget warrant articles. The moderator will read the warrant and ask the audience to vote to hold items that need additional discussion. FD suggested three warrant articles – one for each funding category. Members discussed the warrant article format and the presentation. Motion by FK and 2nd by OW to have a “housekeeping article” as suggested by the Community Preservation Coalition and to have an article for funding recommendations to be in the same format as the town budget warrant article. RS will give the presentation and answer questions on behalf of the committee. The motion passed unanimously. RS will prepare a power-point presentation. RS asked MA to contact the applicants
and ask them to supply two pictures for the power-point presentation.
Town of Lenox - Baker’s Pond Project
Members agreed to consider this project as a $60,000 request instead of the $45,000 as requested in the original application. Members discussed the need for the project. JS suggested there is no spillway and questioned the money for the project. FS suggested that $60,000 is too much to spend this year. A more appropriate amount is $30,000 and they can apply again next year. RS suggested it would never to a real swimming facility. Members discussed the need to save money to buy open space. JK noted that at the Planning Board neighborhood meetings – citizens said the preservation of open space is a top priority. JK suggested that many citizens support the idea of using CPA funds for purchasing open space. FK suggested that the town needs to maintain the open space
that it currently owns. JS suggested that open space can be left in a natural state. RS stated that Joe Nolan is in the audience and asked Mr. Nolan if he had any additional information regarding Baker’s Pond. Mr. Nolan said that a great deal of effort was put into working with the state to have the property deeded to the town and $30,000 will not pay for the proposed Baker’s Pond project. Motion by FK and 2nd by JM to allocate $30,000 for the Baker’s Pond project - final vote 7 yes and 2 no – motion approved. (After a discussion of funding allocations for all the projects - SP made a motion to increase the Baker’s Pond allocation to $60,000 and 2nd by JM – 5 yes and 4 no – motion approved.)
Town of Lenox - Community Center Windows
Discussion ensued regarding the need for the project. AW asked if the CET energy audit is complete. RS and MA said they do not have a final report. AW questioned if this is a good historic preservation project. JK noted that the HDC will have the final approval regarding replacement windows. FK and SP suggested this should be a town capital budget expense. Motion by FK and 2nd by SP to allocate $0 to the Community Center windows, 4 members yes, 4 members no and 1 member abstained – motion failed. Discussion ensued regarding the project. MS noted that she worked at the Community Center and the windows are in very bad condition and need to be replaced. The town will save money because of the current heat loss. AW said she talked to CET and generally they do not
recommendation replacement windows. The town should consider insulation and new storm windows. JM said he is the Community Center Representative and his committee favors the windows – he is obligated to represent the interests of the Community Center Board. JK stated that it is his understanding that the Community Center windows will be same as the windows in Town Hall. He stressed that the windows in Town Hall are top quality windows. He worked on a historic restoration project for the Town of Stockbridge and they used aluminum windows to control rehabilitation costs. Lenox is proposing a quality replacement window that will preserve the historic character of the Community Center. RS reminded members that the windows are in the Capital Improvement Budget for $65,000. The project would be funded through the Capital Improvement Budget and CPA. JS noted that the windows are not part of a comprehensive energy plan and he
questions if the replacement windows will provide energy savings. Motion by JK and 2nd by MS to allocate $50,000 for the Community Center windows - final vote 6 yes and 3 no – motion approved.
CDC South Berkshire – Saw Mill Brook Housing Project
Members discussed the need for affordable housing and the Saw Mill Brook project addresses this important community need. However, members are not comfortable allocating CPA money to pay for Phase 1 costs. Members discussed CPA money for Phase 2. The consensus of the committee was that it would be appropriate to allocate CPA funding for Phase 2 architectural and engineering costs. JK said that it is his understanding that Tim Geller is reviewing a pilot program that would allow Lenox to count 100% of the units toward its 10% affordable housing requirement - provided the town contributes at least $200,000 toward the project. This would be very positive for Lenox if Mr. Geller brings this pilot program to fruition. Motion by FK and 2nd by JK to allocate $40,000 for the Sawmill Brook
Project for Phase 2 engineering and architectural costs - final vote 8 yes and 1 no – motion approved.
CDC South Berkshire – Aspinwell Housing Project
Motion by JS and 2nd by JM to allocate $0 for the Aspinwell project – final vote 9 yes – motion approved.
Smitty Pignatelli – George Bisacca Cannon Restoration
Motion by JK and 2nd by JM to allocate $5,000 for the George Bisacca Cannon restoration – 8 yes and 1 no – motion approved.
Lenox Housing Authority – Curtis Porch Restoration
Motion by JK and 2nd by MS to allocate $15,000 for the Curtis Porch project. Discussion ensued regarding the fact that it is a state building and the state should maintain it. SP is frustrated with the state and noted that the town does not have the power of the pen. The state should take care of the building. AW stated that she shares this frustration but the state does not maintain the building and it is an important historic asset. She also noted that the Housing Authority is looking to restore the porch in a historically appropriate manner. FK questioned if $15,000 can accomplish anything. Martha Joyner, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, stated that the $15,000 can be used for the architectural project feasibility study. She is hopeful that if she
can show a town match – the state will allocate the money for the porch project.
RS asked if there if there were any addition comments. Hearing none - he asked for a vote on the motion - final vote 7 yes and 2 no – motion approved.
Westinghouse Streetlamp Partners – Westinghouse Streetlamps
Motion by FK and 2nd by MS to allocate $70,000 for the Westinghouse Streetlamps. Discussion ensued regarding the need for the project. FK questions the need for the project. He understands that some may see it as an immediate need because the town is proposing sidewalk improvements in the capital budget, and the street lights should be installed prior to completion of the sidewalks. FK does not view this as an historic preservation project – and questioned why it has to be the Westinghouse lights. RS said he is very much in favor of this project. It is part of a “village blitz” to improve the key commercial district. The lights are part of an overall plan for the village. OW believes the streetlights are necessary. AW said this
project is an historic preservation project because the lights are replica Westinghouse Streetlamps. If the town proposed a standard decorative street light she would question its historic preservation value. She also noted that the BOS formally voted to adopt the Westinghouse Streetlamp as the official style for lighting in the village. FK questioned why AW considers the streetlamps historic preservation but not the windows for the Community Center. He is concerned about the long term cost burden for operation and maintenance of the lights. The current cobra lights are not attractive but they provide lighting to the district at an affordable cost to the town. JM is concerned about the limited focus of the project. RS noted the Westinghouse lamps are a part of the bigger capital bond package and Church Street was view as a starting point. RS asked if there if there were any additional comments. Hearing none - he asked for
a vote on the motion - final vote 1 yes and 8 no – motion failed. Motion by OW and 2nd by JK to allocate $100,000 for the Westinghouse Streetlamps - final vote 6 yes and 3 no – motion approved.
Church on the Hill – Clock Tower Restoration
Motion by FK and 2nd by JK to allocate $17,000 for the Church on the Hill Clock Tower restoration – 8 yes and 1 no – motion approved.
Lenox Affordable Housing Corp. (Trinity Church) – Affordable Housing Website
Motion by JM and 2nd by JS to allocate $0 for the Lenox Affordable Housing Corp. (Trinity Church) affordable housing website project – final vote 9 yes – motion approved.
Discussion ensued regarding the overall proposed budget. JK noted that the CDC has allocated $317,000 for projects with an additional $19,875 for the required 5% administration cost. Total allocations equal $336,875. The CDC estimated the FY09 funds available at $397,500. The CDC can save the remaining money for future projects. Members discussed a motion to approve the overall CPC recommended FY09 budget. RS asked if members were satisfied with the budget and if any member wished to revisit the individual project allocations. SP made a motion to increase the Baker’s Pond allocation to $60,000 and 2nd by JM – 5 yes and 4 no –
motion approved. JK made a motion to approve the project allocations as discussed and voted on this evening as well as the 5% administrative cost and $60,000 debt service for the library 2nd by OW – final vote 7 yes and 2 no – motion approved.
JK made a motion to approve the March 6, 2008 and February 14, 2008 minutes with minor typographic corrections and 2nd by OW – final vote 9 yes – motion approved.
Meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
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