TOWN OF STOW
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes, August 8, 2005, Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Present: Community Preservation Committee members Bob Wilber (Chairman), John Bolton, George Dargaty, Laura Spear, Karen Gray, and Associate Member Margie Lynch
The meeting was called to order with quorum at 7:39 PM
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – None
BILL AND MINUTES
July 25, 2005 minutes: George moved, Laura seconded and approval was unanimous to accept the minutes as amended
Redemption of Matured Bonds Notices: Received confirmation notices for 2 bonds ($50,000 and $95,000). Action Item: Deb will find out what the original amount invested was and make sure that the interest was reinvested into the CPC account.
NEWS AND VIEWS
· Action Item: Deb will update the CPC distribution list (once members and associate members are confirmed) and forward it to all CPC members.
· The CPA emailed a file documenting eighteen bills that would amend the CPA. The document includes a summary of each bill and the CPA’s position on each. A member suggested that we regularly check with the CPA for updates on the bills.
· Received written confirmation from the Conservation Committee that Kathy Sferra has been appointed as their CPC representative.
· The Master Plan Committee is sponsoring a Joint Boards Meeting on August 17, 2005.
· Welcomed Karen Gray as the newly appointed CPC representative from the Historical Commission.
ACTION ITEMS
· Dave, General Bylaw Review: not sure if they have connected as of last Friday
· Membership: Action Item: Deb will ask Linda Hathaway for copies of documentation
· Laura, Maple Street: all set, Jacquie Cronin should move the funds
· Deb, detailed budget reports: Received reports from Jacquie
· Action Item: John will look into the cost of Quick Books & meet with Deb to discuss. Action Item: Deb will work on creating a Quick Books budget file for CPC.
· Laura, West School Parking: Action Item: Laura will contact Ernie and send an email out to the committee
· Laura, Black Smith Shop: funds were moved, project closed
· Bob, email list of planners to Laura: all set
· Laura, EOEA: Karen Kelleher did not have any information. Laura ran a search but could not find any additional information. Action Item: Bob has an old email; Deb will look through files for it or get it again from Bob.
· Bob, letter to DHCD: Bob has the drafted letter. Action Item: Bob will email the committee the letter and the DHCD’s response to the CPC’s initial letter.
· Deb, Associate members status: emails have been sent to each associate member. Bruce Fletcher has responded that he would like to remain a member. George believes Chris Way may be too busy to continue as an associate member.
· Bob, photos for web site: Action Item: Bob will email them to Deb. Deb spoke with Susan Flint Hosier who also has some photos and will make a disc for Deb.
· Deb, CPA Project file: distributed to members Action item: Deb will forward email to Karen Gray
MARTIN’S LAND (parcel of land along Sudbury Road and Assabet River)
· John suggested that perhaps some restrictions could be implemented in order to prevent the misuse of the access ramp after the improvements are made (specifically related to motorized vehicles on the river).
· Bob agreed and thought a lot could also be accomplished through the design of the access ramp.
· Margie suggested adding a restriction(s) in the actual conveyance documents (from the Martin family to the Town.)
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP – discussed under News and Views and Action Items
GENERAL BYLAW REVIEW – discussed under Action Items
CUSHING PROPERTY – Chapter 61B
· Joint Boards Meeting: A lot of interest from different committees and boards, including the School Committee, Recreation Committee, Open Space Committee, CPC, and Conservation Commission.
· Two separate consultant reports will be done: a report specifically for the School Building Committee & a mixed use report for several committees.
· The School Building Committee plans to immediately proceed with their consultant.
· Steve Dungan was appointed, as the point person, to head a working group of committees interested in a mixed use report
o These committees have expressed an interest and have funds to help pay for a consultant’s analysis of the land.
o The report will include analysis of the land for multiple uses including, Recreation, Open Space, Affordable Housing, and possibly market units to help off-set costs.
o The working group hopes to have a draft RFP to give to Bill Wrigley by Monday, send the RFP out to 3 consultants on Tuesday, and receive three bids back by Friday.
o John questioned the need for 3 formal bids. If the cost is kept to within a $25,000 limit – would three bids be required? If three bids are required, are phone bids good enough?
o If it looks like a good site for the school then the mixed use plan needs to wrap around the school site.
o If it does not look favorable for the school then it gives the mixed use proposal more flexibility
· Laura stated that another issue remains: the 70 acres has yet to be clearly defined on a map. This will make it difficult for consultants to accurately report on the land. Bob said that of the 106 acres, the owner definitely did not want to include the home and 3 acres surrounding it in the offer. It is believed that the owner did not realize that, under Chapter 61B, by starting the process with a buyer she has opened the door to the Town’s first right of refusal on 103 acres - not just the 70 acres referred to in the offer.
· John mentioned that the assessor’s office received the official dated purchase and sale. There was nothing in this document that clearly mapped out the 70 acres. There was something included in the appraisal but this is not an official document. He does not know if another office has received something since then.
· John’s initial (conservative) appraisal of the land indicates that this would be a good price for the land.
· There seems to be enough interest (from several committees/boards) for the Town to exercise its right of first refusal. The committee discussed that the language should be kept broad, allowing for flexibility related to the land use(s) and funds used for project(s).
· Bob also mentioned that if the Town has control over the Cushing property, it may also have some say in what happens to two other properties (in that area) that may be changing hands.
· George mentioned that regardless of how the land will be used, it will take some “selling” at the Town Meeting.
· Laura questioned if Steve Dungan’s working group had adequate representation from all interested committees. Bob believed that it did. He is also happy to share the draft RFP with anyone interested. He suggested that when the consultant is ready to do a presentation and receive feedback; this might be a good time to get even more representation and involvement from the committees.
· Laura moved that the CPC appropriate a maximum of $15,000 from administrative funds to pay for a consultant’s fee for a mixed use study, John seconded and approval was unanimous.
· It was discussed that (hopefully) other committees will contribute to the consultant’s fee. Action Item: Laura will approach the Planning Board, and Bob thought that Kathy Sferra was going to approach the Conservation Committee.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES
· Action Item: Laura offered to attempt a first draft for two of the articles: Red Acre Road ~ Open Space and Red Acre Road ~ Affordable Housing (both to rescind the current projects.)
UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEED RESTRICTION PROGRAM – discussed under Action Items
NEW PROJECT IDEAS
· Margie thought the Stow group that is working on the Assabet Valley trail project may expect some funding from the CPC. Bob thought there might be an article at the Town Meeting about this. Action Item: Margie will approach the group and suggest if they have any expectations of using CPC funds that they should contact the CPC to discuss this (preferably before the Town Meeting.)
· Karen said that the Historical Commission is interested in installing a sprinkler system for the Town Hall. It was agreed that this had been discussed by the CPC and the committee is very receptive to receiving a formal request. Action Item: Karen will work with the Historical Commission and submit a formal request.
NEXT MEETING Monday, September 12, 2005 at 7:30PM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Deb Seith
CPC Administrative Assistant
| 
