TOWN OF STOW
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes, October 19, 2005, Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Present: Community Preservation Committee members: Bob Wilber (Chairman), Karen Gray, Dave Walrath (Vice-Chairman), Kathy Sferra, Laura Spear, and George Dargaty
Associate Members: Jim Sauta and Margie Lynch & Administrative Assistant: Deb Seith
The meeting began without a quorum at 7:40 PM.
Committee Member Kathy Sferra joined the meeting at 7:50 PM.
ACTION ITEMS from OCT 12th
· AI: Cushing Property: purchasing the lot on Walcott Street early ~ Bob reported that he and Kathy spoke with Jon Witten and this option is now being considered for the new P&S that the Town is negotiating with the Owner.
· AI: Deed Restriction: Deb is waiting for final approval of the “draft documents” and will have them posted online by November 1st. The current documents were passed around so that people could make notes on them.
· AI: Public Meeting Announcement at Town Meeting: Deb spoke with Ed Newman (Moderator). Ed said that since the Deed Restriction program is not part of the business of the evening we can not have a slide. He did say that if the meeting also included a discussion about the Cushing Property then we could have a hand-out available for people at the Town Meeting. He also suggested posting a notice on Channel 9.
· AI: Submit blurb about Public Meeting & Deed Restriction Program to Council on Aging (COA) for their newsletter. Deb emailed with Suzanne Morin and the COA newsletter is going to print next week. New Action Item: Laura will write a press release for the program & email it to Deb. Deb will contact Suzanne tomorrow & let her know this information is coming.
· New Action Item: Margie will extend an invite to the Stow Housing Partnership (SHP) for our November 10th meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:30PM and at 8:15PM we will start discussion on the Deed Restriction Program.
CUSHING PROPERTY – CHAPTER 61B
· Bob announced that we have a 15 minute block allotted for the Cushing Presentation at Town Meeting. The CPC and Conservation Committee will be co-presenting. Beals and Thomas (the planning consultant) will be there to answer questions.
· Bob also remarked that there is a growing group of concerned families/parents in Stow that are viewing the Cushing Property and New School Project as an “either-or” scenario. The Committee agreed that this is not the case and we should do what we can to get accurate information out to this new group.
· Residents should not view the Cushing Project as an obstacle for future projects. The CPC has the capacity to fund multiple large projects.
· Residents should also be aware that using CPA funds limits what you can later do with that land (i.e. CPA funds can only be used for affordable housing, historical preservation, and open space/recreation).
At 8:00 PM Kathy and Bob had to leave to meet with the Board of Selectmen.
13 CRESCENT STREET
· Deb passed around the plans that were approved by the Zoning Board.
· The house is zoned for 3 bedrooms.
· Karen asked if we could tie into Town Water.
Committee Member Laura Spear joined the meeting at this time.
GENERAL BYLAW REVIEW
· Dave distributed a handout which stated the current bylaw and some questions to consider. He felt that the Committee needed to consider these questions and possible solutions.
Membership Question ~ Stow Housing Partnership vs. Stow Housing Authority
· Margie asked if would make sense to have a member from the Stow Housing Partnership (SHP) as a CPC member instead of someone from the Stow Housing Authority. The SHP has advisory capacity with the Board of Trustees for the Stow Housing Trust. The Stow Housing Authority acts on specific government actions and works for the DHCD (they do not advise the above mentioned Board).
· Laura provided some information regarding the Stow Housing Trust and its Board of Trustees: The Town voted to participate in a “Stow Housing Trust”. Money that goes into the Trust is overseen by a Board of Trustees. Funds can be put into the Trust enabling the Board to act quickly on properties that may become available (without having to wait for the next Town Meeting to acquire funds). The Board must be made up of 5 people (one of which is the Town CEO). In Stow the Town CEO is actually the Board of Selectmen (of which there are 5). Therefore, there are technically 9 people on the Board of Trustees for the Stow Housing
Trust. Work is being done to re-word the bylaws.
· Dave mentioned that the CPC can have up to 9 members and some committees are required to have a representative on the CPC.
· Margie also mentioned that the Affordable Housing Trust may want to have a member appointed to the CPC.
8:55 PM Dave had to leave the meeting
9:04 PM Kathy and Bob rejoined the meeting (we now had a quorum ~ Bob, Kathy, Laura, George & Karen).
CUSHING PROPERTY – CHAPTER 61B DISCUSSION CONTINUED
· Kathy reported that the Conservation Commission voted to support the Cushing Project. She said they especially liked the link between the two areas of open space because this would help protect Stow against future land development.
New Concerns
· Bob restated his concerns about the growing group in Town that sees Cushing and a School Building Project as an “either-or” scenario.
· Kathy mentioned that Michael Wood (superintendent of schools) suggested in a meeting this week that people vote against the Cushing Project and “save” the funds for another property where a school can be built.
· Laura mentioned that whoever owns the Cushing Property may also have a say in what happens to other adjacent parcels.
· Bob again urged that we get the message out that this is NOT an “either-or” scenario. There are sufficient CPA funds that allow for the funding of multiple large projects. He also mentioned that there is the ability to bond.
· Kathy has been working on a response. It was agreed that the CPC should formally send out an email stating the CPC’s position and dispersing the facts about the Cushing Property Project. Action Item: Kathy and Bob will work on the response and post it on the school list server. Everyone is encouraged to “get the word out” regarding what this project is about and how CPA funds can be used.
· Action Item: Laura will ask the Stow Soccer Club for their support. Jim mentioned that they have roughly $10,000 to contribute to soccer fields.
· Margie did not believe that the SHP was prepared to make a statement for or against the project. Action Item: Margie will clarify this and send out an email.
· Bob reminded everyone that there is a Joint Boards meeting tomorrow evening and encouraged all members to attend and show their support for the project.
Funding
· The appraisal information is due tomorrow. It will attach values to each component of the concept plan.
· Bob mentioned that we may want to consider bonding. Bonding would make it even more clear to the voters that the CPA will have additional funds available. Bob asked when we should take a formal vote on how much money the CPA can commit to this project. Jim suggested we take a vote tonight and amend it (if need be) after we receive the appraisal figures.
· Bob also stated that the Stow Conservation Trust (SCT) voted to commit up to $100,000 toward this entire concept project (not just open space/recreation). The SCT worded their motion so that, if needed, the $100,000 could be used to cover the Town’s municipal interest costs for up to 4 years; alleviating some/all of the burden of these costs on tax payers.
· Kathy moved that the Committee recommend expenditure of up to $1 million plus applicable interest from CPA funds toward the acquisition of the Cushing Property, contingent on appropriate appraisal documentation, with payment made by bonding if deemed advisable. Karen seconded and approval was unanimous.
· Action Item: Deb will change the meeting time on October 24th to 6pm. All members of the CPC are urged to attend this meeting prior to Town Meeting. At this time the CPC will have the appraisal numbers and can amend the vote taken tonight if needed. Action Item: Deb will send out an email on Friday & Monday reminding members of this time change & the need for their attendance.
· Action Item: Deb will contact Bill Wrigley and ask if he can come up with any figures regarding cost and schedule for bonding $1 million of CPA money and $800,000 of municipal funds.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Thursday, October 20th 7PM Joint Boards Meeting – All members strongly encouraged to attend!
Monday, October 24th 6PM Prior to the Town Meeting – All members asked to attend as a vote may be taken regarding funding for the Cushing Project.
Thursday, November 10th at 7:30pm (prepare for Public Meeting)
Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm at Town Hall (Public Meeting - Deed Restriction)
Monday, November 28th at 7:30pm (sort & evaluate info DR)
Monday, December 12th at 7:30pm
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Deb Seith
CPC Administrative Assistant
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