Lenox Community Preservation Committee
January 26, 2009
Minutes
Members present: Roscoe Sandlin (RS), Midge Sandlin (MS), Joe G. Strauch (JGS), James Jurney, Jr. (JJ), Jim Sorrentino (JS), Fred Keator (FK) and Joseph Kellogg (JK).
Scott Pignatelli (SP) and Olga Weiss (OW) absent.
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
RS opened the meeting at 8:00 PM.
FK made a motion to approve the November 24, 2008 and January 12, 2009 minutes, seconded by JS and approved unanimously.
RS distributed copies of the proposed FY10 budget and he gave a brief overview. Discussion ensued regarding how to reallocate funds. MA will forward an email she received from the Community Preservation Coalition. RS stated that a letter will be sent to St. Ann Church regarding their late application.
Housing Authority – Curtis Porch Project
Martha Joyner, Executive Director of the Housing Authority opened by introducing the Housing Authority members in attendance: Cynthia Nasman, Marjorie Pero, Cathy May and Marjorie Sandlin. Tom Barthelette, DHCD Construction Manager, was also in attendance to answer questions.
Ms. Joyner offered an overview of the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority manages 122 units and serves approximately 140 individuals per year. She noted that she will receive $57,000 from the state capital budget program for building improvements. This money will be used for general property management and her main focus is on maintaining the apartments for the tenants.
She thanked the CPC members for their FY09 recommendation to spend $15,000 on Phase One of the porch restoration project. To date the Housing Authority has spent approximately $5,000 on landscape removal and an architect’s review of the porch restoration. The architect recommended that the Housing Authority begin the restoration work with the roof. Mr. Barthelette stated the DHCD did allocate $18,000 in FY09 for the restoration of the brick walkway to the porch and this project will go to bid in shortly. He also noted that there might be federal stimulus money available; however, that is an unknown at this time.
The Housing Authority requests $15,000 for Phase Two of the restoration project. Ms. Joyner stated that she is attending a training session next week to learn about the new state capital management program. It is unlikely that there will be significant new dollars available for the restoration work. Ms. Nasman stated that last year the CPC asked if local contractors could donate the labor for the project. She reviewed this request with the state. Ms. Nasman and Mr. Barthelette stated that the work cannot be “donated” by local contractors. The Housing Authority has raised $2,400 in private contributions for the porch restoration project.
JJ questioned why the town should pay for the restoration of a state building. Discussion ensued regarding the use of town funds on a state building.
JJ asked about the phasing program. Ms. Joyner explained that the architect divided the project into two parts: the roof and the railing. The roof will be approximately $37,000. The Housing Authority hopes to use the remaining FY09 CPC funds, FY10 CPC funds and other fund raising and grants to fund the roof restoration. FK asked about long range goals and questioned why the roof needed to be done first. Ms. Joyner and Mr. Barthelette stated that the architect recommended that the roof will protect porch and it should be completed first.
JS questioned if the state had a preventative maintenance program. Ms. Joyner explained that she makes every effort to make repairs with the money she receives from the state. The emphasis is on the apartments. The historic porch is a low priority for the state.
Roche Reading Park – Lenox Library
Rob Akroyd, Greylock Design Associates and Denis Lesieur, Lenox Library Association offered an overview of the project. The complete reconstruction of the reading park is approximately $700,000. CPC money will be used to remove existing vegetation, re-grade the park and begin work on the plaza area that is slated for tented functions. The request is for $75,000. The town has included $100,000 in the capital budget for improvement to the reading park and this will serve as the match. Mr. Akroyd noted that by starting with this portion of the project the Library will have a potential revenue source by renting the plaza area for events such as weddings. The project is allowed under open space and recreation because the property was purchased with CPA funds. JK asked if the income generated
by renting the plaza area will go into the general fund. It was agreed that the Library Association should review this matter with the Board of Selectmen and resolve this issue.
FK and JS questioned the capital budget as the match and asked if the Library Association planned to conduct any private fundraising for the reading park. Mr. Akroyd stated that at this time private fundraising is focused on the operating budget. JS questioned if there was adequate parking for large event. Mr. Akroyd stated that there is a large public parking facility located behind Legacy Bank. FK asked about the long-term maintenance of the plaza area and questioned if the library association can manage special events. Mr. Akroyd said that currently the library rents the Wells Gallery and has experience managing events.
There was a great deal of discussion regarding the cost of the overall project the ability of the library association to raise money for the other phases of the project. JK suggested private fundraising efforts such as selling personalized blocks for the plaza area. He noted a positive example of a project in Sheffield. St. Ann Church was also noted as an example. Mr. Akroyd stated that they also hope to receive in-kind contributions for local contractors.
Cemetery Survey and Historic Plaque Program - Historical Commission
Suzanne Pelton represented the Historical Commission. JJ is the Historical Commission Chairman and serves as the representative to the CPC. Ms. Pelton asked to withdraw the Historical Commission’s application for $16,000 for a survey of the Town Cemetery on Greenwood Street. The Historical Commission recently learned that they did not receive the matching Mass Historic Grant for this project.
Ms. Pelton stated that the Historical Commission requests $3,000 to pay half the cost of date and name plaques for historic buildings in Lenox. She noted that the town initiated a similar project in 1997 but it did not come to fruition.
The proposed signs will be hand-painted on wood. The Historical Commission discussed the project with an experienced sign maker from the Boston metro area and he indicated that the project budget is accurate. She noted this is a small – grassroots project. She introduced Michelle Day who is a resident of Lenox and hopes to be part of this exiting project. JJ noted that it is a small investment but speaks to the town’s commitment to preserving its cultural resources. Ms. Pelton said ten homeowners have indicated that they would like plaques.
FK asked how long the signs will last. Ms. Pelton said she did not have an exact number but believed the signs will last fifteen to twenty years. FK also suggested that the signs should go before the Historic District Commission.
JGS questioned if this was an allowable CPA project. He also questioned who will monitor the information on the signs. JJ suggested that the Historical Commission will complete the research on the historic building. There are approximately 250 houses built prior to 1923 that are considered historic.
RS said it is a wonderful program but questioned it the town should allocate CPA funds. Discussion ensued regarding the fact that most homeowners could easily pay for the entire cost of the signs. Ms. Pelton concluded by stating that this is an important historic preservation project.
Members discussed the Community Preservation Coalition Preservation Award project. The consensus was that an application will not be filed this year.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved: 2/9/2009
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