Monson Community Preservation Coalition
January 6, 2009
Members Present: Karen King, Dennis Swierad, Steve Slozak, Leslie Duthie
Members Absent: Bill Skillman, Robert Presho
Others Present: Mary Swierad, Steve O’Shea
7:00pm
Discussion of December minutes. Dennis notes that LD left out Mary in those attending. LD will fix. DS moves to accept minutes with changes. SS seconds, AIF
KK suggests that other committees have minutes on line. Asks that we post minutes. LD says she has meant to do that, will contact Gaylin to have them posted.
KK also says we need a link to the application, and the application needs to be updated to an August 31, 2009 deadline.
DS and Mary met with the MA Historic circuit rider regarding Memorial Hall, she suggested that he hire someone as a historical preservation consultant. Money for this preservation consultant could come from the MCPC administration budget.
This consultant would number each window and detail each part of the project including needed work on the doors. The consultant would indicate three or four levels of preservation work that need to be done. The Historic Commission could then propose grants for the amount of work to be done each year to preserve Memorial Hall.
DS makes a motion that the Monson CPC support research into the cost for a historic consultant to evaluate costs and specification for historical repairs of Memorial Hall. SS seconds. AIF
DS will report back to ask the Monson CPC to designate funds for this work, now that the committee has approved the search.
LD asks if DS has been in touch with the other Memorial Hall Committee?
DS has also coordinated with the Memorial Hall Committee. They like this direction, and are happy that DS and the Monson historic society are involved since we are discussing a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Steve O’Shea is interested in seeing what we do with particular interest in recreation. He is an elected member of the Parks and Recreation Committee.
All agree that it would be good to see a proposal from the Recreation group.
Steve O’Shea says he would too now that it looks as though the budget may be cut further.
KK suggests that we need a better liaison with the senior center. The Monson CPC has discussed setting up funds to provide money for senior supports – ramps, chair lifts, railings, door knobs etc. that would help the elderly stay in their own homes longer.
DS agrees, he would like to see that seniors were benefiting from CPA funds.
KK feels it is important to let people know, we need to reach out to seniors to let them know there is money available. Suggested that the CPC go to a senior luncheon and talk about what they could do.
Someone to talk with Judy White to set up a fund and administer requests from seniors. CPC could designate money to be used for this kind of work.
Announce Grants are open on MPACT. Press has been sent to newspapers. Also an ad for the clerk.
LD had to change the ad to reflect similar salaries between clerks in town – School Committee and Finance Committee each pay their clerk $12.50. She spoke with Debi Mahar who said that all pay should go through the town, meaning that taxes and SS would be withdrawn from salary.
KK makes a motion to pay the clerk $12.50 which is comparable to other clerks in Monson. LD seconds. AIF.
LD has heard that the Finance Committee would prefer that the grant moneys be voted on at the Annual Town meeting, not the Special in the fall. They feel it provides greater transparency. More people attend the spring meeting. LD suggests that now that we have been through the process once, and seem to be moving forward with a second grant round, that if grants which are not quite ready or come it late, or were passed over in the fall might be considered for the spring of 2010 Annual Meeting. This might help us get grants before the Annual meeting.
DS said we could consider that.
Have letters of Congratulations been sent to the grantees from the Special Town Meeting?
Do we have some kind of document that spells out the expectation of the grant. Who will register the deed restrictions at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds and who is responsible for paying that fee? We should also request pictures and report to the press once projects are done.
DS suggests the Administration funds be used for registering Deed Restrictions. What do these look like, do we use a template. LD says there is one for land conservation but is unfamiliar with templates for historic sites. It seems that we discussed this once before. LD will look in documents on computer to see if we have any of these.
KK said she had a discussion with Elaine Devine. Elaine said she was sorry for the misunderstanding, that she would accept any payment that we decided was fair. Stated that Bill had asked her for different formats, there were changes in design. Elaine put a lot of time into this project.
DS suggested no more than $50.00. No motion made.
8:10 – SS makes a motion to adjourn, DS seconds. AIF
Next meeting Feb 3rd.
Respectfully submitted by Leslie A. Duthie
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