Community Preservation Committee
Minutes of Meeting June 13, 2007
Senior Center Conference Room
Present: Peter Hall, Chair; Dorothy Dolan, Janet Erickson, Barbara Gray, John Ketchum, Elaine McIlroy, Victoria Pecoraro, Jan Plaue, Judy Taylor
Absent: Katie Sugg
Chair Peter Hall called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
Plaue moved to approve the minutes of May 23, 2007. Gray seconded, and the motion carried 6-1-0.
Plaue moved to approve the agenda. Gray seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Hall reviewed the material he would present at the public hearing June 14, 2007. Plaue expressed disappointment in the low number of responses to the questionnaire. Taylor spoke about getting responses from a wider audience. Pecoraro said even though the responses were low, the survey was a means of educating the public about the CPA funds.
Erickson distributed information on a historic district meeting for Friday, June 22. She said she would like to make this hand-out available at the CPC hearing.
Plaue said that she believed the Application #07-01for the Historic Museum and the Application #07-02 for Preservation Hall should be considered together. Dolan disagreed with that approach; she said it would be okay to think about them together, but they should be dealt with separately. Hall noted the amount of unallocated money and the funds allocated for historic preservation and said that the limited amount compelled CPC to consider the two applications together.
CPC members discussed approving lower amounts than requested so the funds would not be depleted. Ketchum discussed the use of bonding as an option. Hall said bonding requires a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting.
McIlroy moved to approve Application #07-01 for the Historical Museum, a request for $270,000. Dolan seconded.
In the discussion that followed, Ketchum further explained amortization of loans. Gray discussed fund raising for projects, specifically the amount the Historical Society had so far for the museum. Gray said she wanted to see reports on fund raising for both applications. Erickson said the Historic Museum data had not yet been compiled. Plaue expected more information on museum fund raising at this meeting, but no representative from the Historical Society was present. McIlroy said that the Historical Society had grants they planned to apply for in fall, but they needed to have the property in order to be eligible. Ketchum questioned the difference in figures on total cost quoted in the application. Hall said that once CPA money was granted to a historical preservation project, the building has
to have historic restrictions placed upon it.
Plaue said that hiring a secretary/manager is needed for dealing with the details of funding, planning and follow-up for projects. Erickson said the Historic Museum planning had been done by professionals. CPC considered letting representatives for the projects speak briefly at the hearing Thursday night.
More information on fund raising and the total cost of the project was considered. Taylor pointed out the specifics of the Historical Society’s financial request.
Dolan called for a vote. Ketchum said that CPC should step into position as a lender so that the money comes back to CPA funds if the project does not go forward. Dolan said CPC should go forward with the $270,000 request by the Historical Society. .
Ketchum made an amendment to the motion to approve Application #07-01. The amendment specified that CPC hold a first interest on the property.
The amendment was seconded by Pecoraro. The amendment carried unanimously 9-0.
The vote was taken on the original motion, and the motion to accept Application #07-01 with the amendment carried 9-0.
Wellfleet Preservation Hall‘s Application #07-02 was then considered. Peter
Hall suggested offering a similar amount of money for the Preservation Hall request. Peter Hall said the money allocated should be considered as coming from the historic allocation and the unallocated pot.
Peter Watts from Affordable Housing was present to express a concern that the Preservation Hall request for $800,000 was too much to allocate when the money was needed for Affordable Housing.
Anne Suggs from Wellfleet Preservation Hall (WPH) came forward to discuss what money was needed to secure the building immediately. Suggs said the beginning stage of repair of the roof had been done last week. That repair had come out of the Town’s General Fund. Suggs addressed Watts’ comments and said the WPH committee intends to pursue major fund raising. Suggs said the WPH had always considered CPA funding as appropriate to the project. She did not have detailed information on specific fund raising for WPH.
Suggs explained the Referral for Project (RFP) that WPH had responded to. The building they bid on is the sanctuary and a small section connecting to the rectory. The rectory portion is still slated for demolition, she said. Ketchum discussed the bank’s desire to obtain a portion of that area for a drive-through window. Suggs said that the RFP had not yet been accepted. She explained that the RFP would convey the sanctuary portion of the building to WPH for a nominal fee. The deadline for the proposals is June 22, 2007. Dolan said that part of the RFP is the reversion of the ownership to the Town if the project does not go through.
Plaue asked if any part of the building could be considered for commercial enterprise. Suggs said that utilization of the property for rental fees would generate income, but no section was to be partitioned off for a business venture. Suggs said WPH would like to hear CPCs decision sooner rather than later. Hall reminded her that CPC only places the project on the next Town Warrant.
Ketchum wanted to know that there was a particular amount of money raised and/or committed for the project before CPA funds were requested. Suggs said that the support of the whole town was needed in order to make the project happen. WPH has an active fund raising underway and commitments, but they have been holding back until the RFP process is complete, she said.
Suggs said that there is another 335 Main Street RFP which has been sidelined; it covers the entire property, not just the sanctuary. Getting WPH going is a part of the larger plan for a mixed-use RFP.
Watts asked if there were examples of non-profit organizations setting up community/cultural centers in other towns. Suggs said there were others, both within the state and all over the country.
Gray asked if money requests could be allocated over a period of two or three years. Hall and Ketchum believed that this could be arranged.
Suggs said that as of this time there are no other applicants for the RFP. Ketchum asked about the need for another community hall in Wellfleet. Suggs discussed the seasonal influx but said the events planned for WPH would be happening year round. Suggs mentioned classes and other programs that could be offered through leasing of the space.
McIlroy said it was premature to vote on the application before WPH had the RFP. Suggs offered to supply any additional information. Dolan suggested that WPH reconsider a lower figure. Plaue suggested something more in the order of $100,000 a year for the next three years. Gray suggested more money for a three year period.
Gray moved to approve $200,000 each year to be allocated for the next three years contingent on WPH gaining the RFP. Dolan seconded. Taylor returned to the discussion of housing needs vs. cultural needs of the community. She believed that space needs for cultural events were already met. She indicated that she could not support the project since it did not meet critical housing needs. Pecoraro spoke on the importance of maintaining Main Street as a viable, historical area. Pecoraro advocated creating a balance of CPC funds for all the categories, not just allocating funds to Housing.
Taylor elaborated on the critical need for community housing. Hall indicated that Wellfleet Preservation Hall was strictly a Wellfleet issue. McIlroy said there is a Housing project application that will be coming before CPC by the July 15 deadline.
Ketchum indicated that he was not in favor of the motion on the table because of the large amount to be allocated and because of fundraising issues. Plaue suggested making the amount to $100,000 per year for three years.
Gray amended her motion for Application #07-02 to allocate $150,000 each year for three years. Dolan seconded. Dolan expressed the importance of the historic preservation of the building on Main Street. Suggs said she appreciates the needs of Housing; however, she said that WPH would be glad to receive any amount of money that CPC suggested as an allocation.
McIlroy again suggested waiting until the next meeting before making a decision. Hall moved to table the decision. Gray seconded. The motion to table a decision carried 8-1.
Suggs said that they would rewrite some of the language on historic restriction registration. She will also supply more information on fund raising and the operating budget. The RFP is available for examination in Town Hall. The WPH will be invited to present when the vote is taken.
Wellfleet CPC members will carpool for the CPC Roundtable to be held June 20 at the Harwich Community Center.
At the next meeting, June 27, 2007 at 9:00 a.m., Katherine Roth of the Community Preservation Coalition will be present to offer advice. McIlroy suggested sending Roth specific questions in advance.
Janet Erickson reported on developments on the Uncle Tim’s Bridge project and displayed 1976 photos of the bridge. She said there is a possibility of additional funding from a private donor. Hall discussed bridge footings material from an environmental point of view. Dolan said that the Town had not yet filed the project with the Conservation Commission. Hall said that the Town Administrator had asked about placing an additional request for project funding on the fall Special Town Meeting.
Gray moved to adjourn. Taylor seconded, and the motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Peter Hall, Chair
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