TOWN OF STOW
Community Preservation Committee
FINAL Minutes, June 27, 2005, Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Present: Community Preservation Committee members Bob Wilber (Chairman),
Laura Spear, George Dargaty, Corinne Green, Ernie Dodd
Also Present: Deb Seith and Margie Lynch
The meeting was called to order without a quorum at 7:40 PM.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Margie Lynch of West Acton Road introduced herself and expressed interest in becoming an associate member of CPC. She has a law degree and worked in environmental advocacy in Wyoming before returning to Stow. She is interested in land use and Smart Growth issues and said she would like to work to preserve Stow’s character. CPC members present supported her proposal, but a formal vote could not be taken without a quorum. She has also applied for a position on the Stow Housing Partnership committee.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT UPDATE
Bob informed the committee that Deb Seith accepted the job offer [administrative assistant] with CPC and would be coming to the meeting later in the evening.
NEWS AND VIEWS
· Bob said that he received a letter from Ashley Cork, an intern for Grow Smart Rhode Island, who is doing research on Massachusetts CPA projects incorporating affordable housing and open-space and conservation land components. She is looking for information on the Red Acre Road, Kunelius project, which was approved by Stow voters and which included CPC funding for both components. Bob said he would respond - that it is a project we would like to do, but it is on hold because the Trust for Public Land defaulted.
· Bob described an EOEA RFP he received inviting municipalities to respond to protect present and future drinking water supplies by preserving key land parcels. The maximum grant size is $500,000 and can be used for land acquisition and conservation restrictions.
[Ernie Dodd joined the meeting at this time.]
· With a quorum in attendance, Laura moved, George seconded and approval was unanimous to appoint Margie Lynch an associate member of CPC.
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BILLS AND MINUTES
June 13, 2005 Minutes: Laura moved, Corinne seconded and approval was unanimous
to accept the minutes as amended.
Bills: West School Project - Ernie moved, Laura seconded and approval was unanimous to accept the bill for $120.75 from Berlin Stone for black topping the sidewalk to the front door. Ernie said plans to make the school ADA accessible may include a small wooden ramp to the door.
NEWS AND VIEWS CONTINUED
· Bob said the APR for the Moseley property has been completed. Reviewing the finances, he said that the APR purchase protecting 18 acres of land was made possible with $190,000 from the state, $11,000 from CPC, and $11,000 from Stow Conservation Trust (with funds transferred to the Trust from The Trustees of Reservations) and the generosity of property owners, Elizabeth and Philip Moseley. Town Meeting approved CPC funds for the project totaling $18,600 but the contribution was reduced by $7,600 thanks to support from The Trustees of Reservations Agriculture Mitigation Fund. One of the key fields used by Applefield Farm will be protected for
agriculture forever, Bob said.
CPC agreed to return the leftover funds to open space reserves. Laura moved and Ernie seconded to remove $7,600 and any applicable interest from the fund appropriated for the APR and return it to the open space reserve account. Approval was unanimous. Action Item: Laura will notify Jacquie Cronin.
· Bob introduced Deb Seith to the committee and welcomed her aboard. Action Item: He will arrange for her to meet with Susan Hosier to review responsibilities. Laura will provide Deb and Margie with copies of community preservation act and DOR information. She said she will meet with them in the next few weeks to review projects.
· Summer meeting schedule: members agreed to meet on July 25, with an August meeting TBA, if needed. September meetings are on Sept. 12 and 26.
FY06 COMMITTEE UPDATE:
· Laura said the Planning Board had reappointed her as their representative to CPC. She reminded members that all need to be reappointed by their boards by Sept. 1.
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· Bob said he received an e-mail from Pat Perry saying she can no longer serve as the Conservation Commission’s rep. to CPC because she has moved out of town; a new rep. must be appointed. Pat said she would continue as an associate member.
GENERAL BYLAW REVIEW
· Bob received an e-mail from Jack Clayton kicking off the project. Action item: Since Dave had specific ideas regarding conflicts between the bylaw and town charter and is CPC’s “procedural expert,” Bob said he would ask Dave to be CPC’s liaison to the review committee to offer input on aspects with an impact on CPC.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE
DHCD still has not responded to Bob’s letter regarding CPC’s affordable housing deed restriction program. He has had some dialogue with Sarah Young of DHCD. He reviewed the merits of the program in increasing affordable housing in town while preserving architectural diversity. Other towns are interested in it. Ernie said it is ideal for small towns that don’t have adequate CPC funds to buy land for construction including affordable housing units. Action Item: Bob said he will draft & distribute a cover letter from CPC to DHCD for review.
BRAINSTORMING ABOUT NEW CPC PROJECTS
A member asked whether there was any word on the School Building Committee bringing forward a proposal for fields as part of a school building project. Corinne said they are still investigating parcels to purchase.
Corinne said the Recreation Commission is investigating access to and use of undeveloped town-owned land at Pine Bluffs for playing fields and also suggested the location to the Stow Soccer Club who is interested in purchasing land and creating new fields. Ernie questioned whether the current fields should have been built because of the way the land was gifted to the town. He suggested investigating Don McPherson’s airfield property. The Recreation Commission is also investigating taking over management of a small parcel of land along Sudbury Road and the Assabet River (adjacent to Barton Road) that was gifted to the town at 2004 ATM by Craig Martin. Paper work has not yet been completed between Martin and town but will be soon. The commission would request stewardship from the Selectmen. The Recreation Commission wants to improve the land for a canoe landing. The project could involve Boy Scout help.
Bob confirmed that CPC funds can be spent on a recreation project since the committee has reserved 10% of its funds annually for the three required categories: affordable
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housing, historic preservation and open space. The funds do NOT have to be SPENT on open space prior to undertaking a recreation project, Bob said.
The CPC originally decided it would be a grant-making organization, but Bob thinks it may be time to be more proactive and initiate our own projects.
Margie Lynch suggested surveying landowners to see if any are interested in giving conservation easements on their property. Bob said the new Open Space Plan includes a list of potential/desired projects including some for recreation purposes. Bob supported a person-to-person, low-key approach.
Action item: Laura will send an e-mail to CPC regarding meeting dates, make edits to meeting minutes and distribute them, and will add Margie Lynch’s name to the CPC Web site.
Action item: Bob asked Deb to compile a list of CPC projects sorted by the three categories (affordable housing, open space/recreation, historical preservation) to use to stimulate ideas amongst groups/committees for applications for funding. He said the CPC Coalition is a resource for the list.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Corinne Green
CPC member
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