2012-07-24-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Community Preservation Committee Meeting Tuesday, July 24, 2012 4:30 pm Reed Room Town Offices Minutes Present: Members Wendy Manz, Norman Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Joel Adler, Betsey Weiss, Sandra Shaw, Richard Wolk , Jeanne Krieger as well as David Kanter, liaison from the Capital Expenditures Committee, and observer Bob Pressman. The meeting was called to order by Chair Wendy Manz at 4:30 pm. Updates Passage of the CPA Legislation – Marilyn Fenollosa reported. To clarify the use of funds for historic preservation the distinction between maintenance ( i.e. painting) and capital improvements (i.e. new heating system) has been spelled out. Use of funds for capital improvements is now allowed. CPA funds can now be used to fund non-profit institutions to hold, monitor and enforce land restrictions. Enforcement of historic restrictions, for example, involves expenditures for such tasks as monitoring, enforcement and legal fees. These services can now be provided by a third party and funded using CPA funds. The reference to a structure being eligible rather than listed on the State’s Historic Inventory has been deleted to clarify the definition of qualification for historic preservation funds. Definitions have been loosened to permit broader use of CPA funds for recreation purposes. CPC funds can now be used to rehabilitate recreation structures, i.e. for replacement of equipment, even if the recreation land was not acquired with CPA funds. The open space allocation can now be used for active as well as passive recreation capital expenses. Housing funds may now be used to provide grants to individuals who qualify for community housing rather than just institutions. This change will enable CPC funds to be used to write down purchase costs. Cities can now access CPC funds if they vote to dedicate a minimum 1% of their tax levy and can use previously encumbered funds from certain fees and assessments to further increase their municipal contribution. Towns may choose to exempt the first $100,000 of commercial valuations from the CPC levy, as they have previously been able to do with residential valuations. The Community Preservation Coalition is presenting a webinar on the improved CPA legislation, Thursday, August 2 at noon.