Community Preservation Committee
March 12, 2012
Minutes
Members present: Chair Frederick Keator (FK), Albert Harper (AH), Dia Trancynger (DT), Joe G. Strauch (JS), Olga Weiss (OW), Catherine May (CM), Kate McNulty-Vaughan, (KMV), and Anthony Patella (AP). Members absent: Eugene Chague (EC).
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
FK called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
JS made a motion to approve the February 27, 2012 minutes with corrections. Seconded by AP and the Committee voted 8-0 to approve.
Discuss Project Funding
FK suggested that the Committee look at town projects first and not-for-profits second. He went on to discuss the need for a better planning between the Committee, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and the Finance Committee for Town projects.
JS said that when CPA started he viewed it as a way to fund projects that would never be funded otherwise. Open space preservation is important. Funds should not be used for small projects that can be done privately.
OW said that things have changed since CPA was passed. She was informed that CPA legislation was passed in Boston because of the need to preserve the state’s historic resources.
DT said that she wished there were other Town resources for historic preservation projects such as the cemetery. The reality is that insurance costs continue to take a larger share of the budget. CPA is the only source of funds for historic preservation and open space projects. She favors reserving funds for open space.
AH sees the Committee as stewards of the CPA funds. The Committee has a fiduciary responsibility to be good stewards of finite CPA funds.
KMV said the Committee is a thoughtful and wants to be careful with Town funds. Overall, Town Meeting has not been impressed with the CPA projects. However, the Committee has worked with the applications received. She believes many people supported the passage of the CPA because it provided an opportunity to fund open space projects. It is time to fund an open space project.
CM asked if the Town put any funding into historic buildings prior to the adoption of CPA. FK said there is a five year Capital Improvement Plan. The Capital Improvement Committee oversees this plan. Discussion ensued regarding the need to meet with the BOS earlier in the process and to plan for Town projects. DT suggested that the Committee meet with the BOS in September to discuss Town projects. The consensus of the Committee was to coordinate a planning process with the BOS.
AP said everyone has good intensions on how to proceed. Open space is a priority. However, we shouldn’t just give the money away. He agrees with AH comments regarding the need to be good stewards.
The Committee agreed that the Library, Sawmill Brook and administration are fixed costs. The consensus of the Committee was to allocate $281,231 to these fixed costs.
The consensus of the Committee was to discuss the projects in the following order:
1. Lenox Housing Authority – Curtis Porch
2. Planning Board – Open Space and Recreation Plan
3. Lenox Land Trust – Undermountain Preservation Project
4. Historical Commission – Church on the Hill Cemetery
5. Village Improvement Committee – Roche Reading Park
6. Affordable Housing Trustees – Affordable Housing Trust
7. Church on the Hill – Steeple Restoration
8. The Mount – Stable Restoration
9. Ventfort Hall – Exterior Elevator
1. Lenox Housing Authority – Curtis Porch
The Committee discussed the fact that this should be the last year of this project. It has been a successful project. DT made a motion to recommend $28,000 for the Curtis Porch project. OW seconded the motion and the Committee voted 8-0 to approve.
2. Planning Board – Open Space and Recreation Plan
The Committee discussed the amount of funding. Some members felt it should be less than $20,000. Others felt it should be fully funded. DT made a motion to recommend $20,000 for the Open Space and Recreation Plan project. OW seconded the motion and the Committee voted 8-0 to approve.
3. Lenox Land Trust – Conservation Restriction
OW, AH and DT recused themselves from the discussion. JS made a motion to deny funding this request. CM seconded the motion. Discussion ensued regarding the application. KMV is distressed regarding the negative recommendation. The CPC has been discussing the need for an open space project. The Land Trust has presented a viable project. She thinks it should be funded. Other members felt the project was not well developed and not ready to move forward. Members discussed the idea of banking money for open space. FK and KMV suggested that the Committee vote on the motion on the table. FK called for the vote. The Committee voted 4-1 to deny funding. OW, AH and DT did not vote.
The Committee discussed banking funds for open space. Some members recommended that the Committee bank $250,000. Others recommended that more money be banked and others recommended less. The consensus was to bank funds for open space and to table discussion regarding the amount to the March 19th meeting.
4. Lenox Historical Commission – Church on the Hill Cemetery Restoration
The Committee agreed that the Church on the Hill Cemetery is an important project. JS question the amount of funding for headstone restoration. FK suggested that the Town needs to make a long term commitment to the project. Discussion ensued regarding the idea of bonding for the restoration work. The consensus was to fund the restoration plan. JS suggested $20,000 since this was the amount the Committee recommended for the Open Space and Recreation Plan. JS made a motion to recommend $20,000 for the Church on the Hill Cemetery Restoration Plan. CM seconded the motion and the Committee voted 8-0 to approve.
5. Village Improvement Committee (VIC) – Roche Reading Park
JS has a degree in horticulture and he thinks the plan is flawed. It is his professional opinion that this is not a respectable plan. AH believes the park is a focal point and improvements are needed. FK said that a few years ago the Library submitted a far more expensive and elaborate request for Roche Reading Park. The project did not receive CPA funding. He believes this is a more reasonable request. However, he stressed the need for better coordination with the BOS and Finance Committee regarding Town projects. DT said Roche Reading Park needs to be improved. She said that Roche Reading Park is more user friendly than Lilac Park. OW is struck by how dedicated VIC volunteers are to community service. The members work very hard with limited resources. DT
made a motion to recommend $20,000 for Roche Reading Park improvements. AH seconded the motion. Discussion ensued regarding the amount of funding. KMV made a motion to amended DT's motion by reducing the amount to $12,000. JS seconded the motion. FK said that it is almost 10:00 PM and recommended that the Committee table the motions and resume discussion at the March 19th Meeting. The Committee agreed and the motions were tabled until the March 19th Meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved:
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