Community Preservation Committee
January 30, 2012
Minutes
Members present: Albert Harper (AH), Dia Trancynger (DT), Joe G. Strauch (JS), Olga Weiss (OW), Kate McNulty-Vaughan, (KMV), Eugene Chague (EC), and Anthony Patella (AP). Members absent: Frederick Keator (Chairman) and Catherine May.
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
KMV offered to serve as acting-chair and called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM.
DT made a motion to approve the January 9, 2012 minutes as written. Seconded by JS and the Committee voted 7-0 to approve.
Discussion ensued regarding the Committee’s continued membership in the Community Preservation Coalition. The yearly dues are $1,500. AH made a motion to renew the membership with the dues to be paid from the administration account. EC seconded the motion and the Committee voted 7-0 to approve.
Review FY ’13 Applications and Budget
The Committee discussed the FY’13 applications. The Committee received nine applications. MA has scheduled the application presentations for February 6th and 13th. The Committee reviewed the presentation schedule. Discussion ensued regarding the FY’13 applications.
AH said he will not participate in the review of the Lenox Land Trust application because he a direct abutter to the proposed Lenox Land Trust project. KMV and EC explained that the Lenox Land Trust proposes to fund a conservation restriction for approximately 270 acres of open space bounded by Undermountain Road, Cliffwood Street, Yokun Ave and Parson’s Marsh. Discussion ensued regarding the location of the property and the fact that OW might also be an abutter. OW will review the maps and determine if she is an abutter. If she finds that she is an abutter she will recuse herself from the review of this application. Discussion ensued regarding the Lenox Club inclusion in the Land Trust application. The Committee instructed MA to discuss this matter with Kevin Sprague,
President of the Lenox Land Trust. KMV and MA offered general information regarding conservation restrictions.
AH asked about CPA project accountability. MA explained that recipients enter into a contract with the Town regarding CPA funds. The recipient must provide documentation of performance to receive CPA funds. The Town Accountant reviews requests for payment. JS explained that for the last couple years that the Committee has invited recipients to attend a CPC meeting and offer a progress report on their projects. Committee members agreed this is a good practice. Discussion ensued regarding monitoring practices for not-for-project organizations. MA said the Committee has limited experience with best practices for monitoring not-for-projects because the majority of projects have been for government agencies. The Committee may need to investigate this matter.
The Committee discussed the role of matching funds. MA said that traditionally the Committee has viewed CPA funds as “seed money”. However, there are no rules or regulations that require matching funds. The Committee discussed the idea of developing a formal policy regarding matching funds. DT does not want to see the Committee trapped by a policy. OW agreed with DT and suggested that the Committee should have the discretion to review the applications on a case-by-case basis.
OW stressed the point that the Church on the Hill Cemetery is owned by the Town and the Historical Commission is the project applicant. The Church on the Hill has submitted a separate application for steeple restoration. MA offered information from the Community Coalition regarding church preservation projects. CPA funds for a private religious institution are allowable provided the project advances a public purpose. The Coalition estimates that at least two dozen church restoration projects have been funded with CPA funds.
KMV asked OW and AH about the role of volunteers in the restoration of the Church on the Hill Cemetery. OW explained that the current request is to hire a consultant who will offered professional guidance on restoration. Historical Commission members have attended workshops and understand that some work can be completed by volunteers. Other work must be done by restoration experts.
The Committee did not offer any specific questions regarding the Planning Board, The Mount Stable Restoration or the Village Improvement applications. The Committee discussed the proposed location of the Ventfort Hall elevator. Discussion ensued regarding the stated need for the elevator to accommodate caretaker access.
The Committee discussed the need for a larger room to host the project presentations. MA will determine if the Board of Selectmen Meeting Room is available. The Committee agreed to continue with the past practice of asking applicants to limit their formal presentation and allow time for questions.
DT said she talked to the School Department regarding the Library. In prior meetings, the Committee discussed the idea of having the students restore the shutters on the Library. She was informed that this is not an appropriate student project.
OW made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. JS seconded the motion the Committee voted 7-0 to approve.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved: February 6, 2012
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