Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-12-CPC-min Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, October 12, 2017 Parker Room Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 3:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Richard Wolk (Vice-Chair); Charles Hornig, David Horton, Joe Pato, Robert Pressman, Sandra Shaw, Melinda Walker. Jeanne Krieger joined the meeting remotely at 3:10 PM due to her physical presence being unreasonably difficult. Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth Mancini Other Attendees: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to the CPC, Phil Hamilton, Chair, Conservation Commission; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM and noted that the Board of Selectmen had authorized the release of the appraisal conducted for 44 Adams Street so the CPC was not required to discuss the project in executive session. 1) Ms. Kosnoff reviewed updated CPF balances with the Committee and reported that the fund had $1.8 million available for appropriation at the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The Committee also questioned if Ms. Kosnoff had prepared updated debt projections so they could consider those obligations. She advised there was approximately$20 million in outstanding debt obligations for CPA projects. 2) Mr. Hamilton updated the Committee on the Adams Street land acquisition. The property had appraised for$1 million and an additional $25,000 would be required for legal fees and closing costs. Mr. Hamilton clarified that the request originated from the Board of Selectmen, not the Conservation Commission. Mr. Kelley, the original project proponent, was unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Hornig, who had requested an adjusted appraisal prior to the meeting, believed $1 million was too high due to the existing conservation and access easement on the property. (The original appraisal did not consider the easement). The Committee did not received the adjusted appraisal prior to the meeting. 1 Mr. Pato relayed the sentiment of the Board of Selectmen. The Board requested the CPC advance the project to Town Meeting for broader review. If the CPC did not recommend the project to Town Meeting, the Board would not seek alternate funding for the purchase. Ms. Krieger left the meeting remotely at 3:40 PM. The Committee discussed the possibilities of ordering a second appraisal and calling an additional Special Town Meeting but ultimately decided against both due to time constraints. The Committee preferred to see the requested revisions to the existing appraisal. Ms. Krieger re-joined the meeting remotely at 3:53 PM. Several members took issue with the Board of Selectmen's request of the CPC to recommend the project so Town Meeting could deliberate. They noted that Town Meeting relies on the gate-keeping authority of the CPC to recommend worthy projects and the Board of Selectmen was taking away that authority by asking the Committee to forward the proposal to Town Meeting for voters to weigh in. The Committee discussed recommending a lesser amount to Town Meeting. There was also discussion about the distribution of potential gift money to fund the difference between the appraisal and the purchase price. Ms. Kosnoff discussed funding options for the purchase, noting that the current balance in the Community Preservation Fund could adequately cover the purchase price. Mr. Horton made a motion to recommend $875,000 for the acquisition of the parcel of land at 44 Adams Street. The motion was seconded. Further discussion ensued regarding the purchase price and how it compared to other pieces of land acquired by the Town. Mr. Hornig questioned if the motion on the table could be conditioned on receiving a revised appraisal. The Committee agreed that it would endorse whichever cost was lower, the updated appraisal or$875,000. Ms. Fenollosa opened the meeting for public comment. Supporters of the acquisition cited the proximity of the land to the Fiske Elementary School and the benefits to both students and teachers. Others noted the importance of preserving and enhancing an important vista in Lexington. Potential accessibility benefits were also discussed. Several residents also spoke in opposition, noting that the existing conservation land and vista would be preserved even if the additional parcel was not 2 acquired. There were also concerns about spending $1 million for a small parcel of land. The motion to recommend $875,000 for the acquisition of the parcel of land located at 44 Adams Street failed in a roll call vote (4-5). Mr. Hornig made a motion to recommend $675,000 for the acquisition of the parcel of land located at 44 Adams Street (subject to a revised appraisal). The motion was seconded and further discussion ensued. Mr. Wolk thought the CPC's method of approving reduced funding was unproductive. He expressed concern about authorizing an amount below the purchase price. In a roll call vote, the CPC voted to recommend $675,000 for the acquisition of the land located at 44 Adams Street (6-2-1). After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to fund the acquisition with available cash, allocated as follows: $275,000 appropriated from the Open Space reserve and $400,000 appropriated from the Unbudgeted Reserve. 3) Ms. Fenollosa briefly explained that the request made by LexHAB for supplemental funds for the development of community housing on the Busa property would need to be indefinitely postponed. She received a call from Bill Kennedy who advised there were issues which could not be resolved before Special Town Meeting. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to indefinitely postpone LexHAB's request to Special Town Meeting for supplemental funds for the Busa property. 4) The CPC also discussed changes that needed to be made to its Report to 2017 Special Town Meeting#3. After discussion and a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to approve the report, as amended. 5) After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to approve its submission to the 2017 Annual Report. 6) After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (8-0-1) to approve the meeting minutes from the CPC meeting held on May 18, 2017. After a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 5:16 PM. 3 The following documents were submitted at the meeting: 1) Draft Report to 2017 Special Town Meeting#3 2) Draft Meeting Minutes- 5.18.17 3) Draft 2017 Community Preservation Committee Annual Town Report Submission 4) Community Preservation Fund Balances 5) Appraisal-44 Adams Street 6) Letter of Support- Greenways Corridor Commission 7) Letter of Support- Keith Ohmart 8) Letter of Support- Email from Joyce Murphy to Charles Hornig Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Mancini Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 4